| While
growing up in East Dallas, Kirk started playing
basketball at age seven. He said that his family
always supported whatever he wanted to do with
his life, but one thing was always certain.
"My
parents always taught me whatever you start, you
finish,” Kirk said.
That
seems to be the driving force in his struggle to
fight it out to the end. Since arriving in
Alaska, Kirk has faced a long series of
obstacles. For his first semester at UAA, he was
declared academically ineligible. His second year
brought a serious jaw injury that left him out of
the season. Why didn't he leave? Why didn't he
just quit and go back home? “I could have
quit, but it wouldn't have been fair to myself,
my family or my teammates,” he said.
This
mentality brings Kirk to his third and final year
of NCAA eligibility. Teammates say he looks
stronger and better than ever on court. His
leadership presence and overall offensive and
defensive ability is well received.
“Ed's
game makes me play better,” said Bannarbie.
You've
probably seen Kirk running around campus. A
quiet, reserved person doing homework, eating,
hanging out with friends and playing video games
like every other guy. He is just an easygoing,
laid back person ready to succeed in whatever he
does in life, blessed to play the game of
basketball. He is humble, balanced and a great
guy.
What
else is there to say? He came up to Alaska and
battled through the cold, the snow, the darkness,
the injuries and the setbacks and he has
prevailed. “He keeps coming back. He wants
to finish and he wants to finish strong and I
admire that.” Gallatin said.
Bottom
line? A Texas boy CAN survive. Ed Kirk
continues to prove that.
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Copyright
2000: The Northern Light
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