LAKEPORT — Ronnie Cruz always seemed to have football on his mind.
“When we were kids and I used to live by his house in Lakeport, he always wanted me to play,” said Charlie Marquez, who was four years older than Cruz but often obliged him with a game of street football. “He was good then and it was just something that was meant to be.”
Marquez, now the co-owner of The Locker Room in Lakeport, was referring to the bright future in football that awaited Cruz, who went on to star in the sport at Clear Lake High, Mendocino College in Ukiah and Northern State University in South Dakota.
After graduating from Northern State, Cruz earned a spot on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs and finally made their 54-man roster in 2005, playing in 14 games. He opened the 2006 season as the Chiefs” starting fullback but his season was cut short by a torn ACL, an injury from which he is expected to make a full recovery.
The two Clear Lake High graduates — Cruz in 2000 and Marquez in 1996 — have remained friends over the years, according to Marquez, who said that Cruz will appear at his store”s grand opening on June 22.
“He was happy to do it when I asked him,” Marquez said.
The Locker Room, located at 899 11th Street in Lakeport, is a sporting goods and sports apparel store that caters to fans of all sports, and you better believe the store offers Kansas City Chiefs gear, according to Marquez.
“Oh yeah,” Marquez said. “In fact, Ronnie is supposed to bring me one of his (No. 42) jerseys and I”m going to frame it and display it at the store.”
Cruz will appear at approximately 11 a.m. on June 22 and be available to sign autographs for a couple of hours.
“He”s going to bring a picture of himself, he has between 150-200 copies, and he”s going to sign them and give them away free to the first 150 to 200 fans who show up,” Marquez said. “He”s doing it just for the kids.
“He”s a great guy and I can”t wait for him to show up,” Marquez said. “I”m really looking forward to this.”
