Cory Lekkerkerker article

[Shamrock]

He's just livin' the dream - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - 12/22/2006


Hard to think of Cory Lekkerkerker as a wide-eyed kid. Not when he stands 6-foot-7, at a chiseled 325 pounds, and seems to barely fit inside his San Diego Chargers uniform.

But there is something childlike and compelling when he describes his joy and wonder at playing in the National Football League, for what appears to be the NFL's best team.

"This is more than just a dream," he said while sitting at his Chargers locker. "Each step of the way, I didn't know if I could play on. I've always been a little bit of an underdog."

Hard to imagine, looking at this enormous young man from Chino, who arrived in the NFL via Damien High School, Chaffey College and UC Davis, and think ... "Cory Lekkerkerker, Cinderella story?"

Local coaches back up his version of events.

Mark Pasquarella, Lekkerkerker's football coach at Damien, said the Dutch kid was "about 180 pounds" in his sophomore season, and was "maybe 6-2, 240 when he left" as a lightly recruited senior.

"I never thought in a million years he'd get to where he is now," Pasquarella said.

Said Chaffey coach Carl Beach: "He definitely was the little brother when he played for us (2000-01) with his brother Brad, who was three inches taller and stronger. "Cory was a late bloomer. It wasn't until he came back from his first year at Davis that he was huge. He did some amazing filling out."

Lekkerkerker signed with the Chargers in 2005 as a free agent, made the practice squad as a backup tackle and appeared in one game.

He has appeared in all 14 games this season for the 12-2 Chargers, playing more than half the game at tackle vs. San Francisco.

"He's done a nice job for us," Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "He's a very, very good worker. ... You'll come out here before practice and see him working by himself."

Lekkerkerker felt as if the game with the 49ers was his real NFL debut. "It was a kind of `welcome to the NFL' getting in there, going against Bryant Young, who you watched growing up. And just getting your feet wet a little bit. It was awesome."

We should forgive Lekkerkerker if sometimes he seems like a fan.

Throughout his youth, he never really thought he would see the NFL anywhere other than his television set.

And now he suits up for the NFL's hottest team.

"I don't think I could be on a better team, that's for sure," he said. "The guys, the coaches and everything, the whole organization."

He absolutely is a fan of teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, record-breaking running back and likely league MVP.

"Just every day is amazing." Lekkerkerker said. "Just a real down-to-earth, solid guy. I mean, if you saw him walking around, if you saw his attitude, you'd guess he was a construction worker. He's easy to talk to. Says hi to everybody. Not an ego at all. At all.

"He's one of the most humble guys I've ever seen. To have that much going on for him and to be that humble is amazing."

When Lekkerkerker describes Tomlinson as having the demeanor of a construction worker, he isn't being dismissive.

Lekkerkerker himself comes from a dairy-farm background and is no stranger to the sort of agrarian labor almost extinct in paved-over Southern California.

Said Chaffey's Beach: "Cory is a hard-working guy who comes from high work ethic people."

And well-mannered people, too. Beach said Lekkerkerker was a joy to coach. "Just absolutely polite and gracious," Beach said. "It's abnormal. It comes from his family, I'm sure."

Lekkerkerker said both of his grandfathers ran dairies, as did his father, Bill, "a dairy farmer till the day he died," when Cory was 6.

He said an uncle still operates a dairy farm in north Corona, and is trying to hold on to the family business as housing developments go up all around him.

Beach suggests Lekkerkerker made it to the NFL because of his willingness to outwork the competition, "and because of his discipline. He and his brother had the internal whatever-it-is to do it.

"Cory is a learner and he's smart and he can play more than one position. He could have a nice career if he can stay injury-free."

Lekkerkerker may be in the league for years, but at the moment he doesn't seem to be thinking long-term.

He's the epitome of the "just happy, really happy, to be here" guy.

He laughed and nodded when asked if he has "pinch me, I must be dreaming" moments.

"To be here, I don't know if that `pinch me' will ever go away. I hope it doesn't. I'm glad I'm here. Just glad I can be a part of it, in whatever way I'm part of it."

[BoltsPride]

The one day I do not read the local paper, and wouldn't you know it there is an article about Cory. I also went to Chaffey High school, but a long time ago. The ironic part is Anthony Munoz was in my graduating class. Just like Cory, a local kid that went on to play in the NFL. There is also a Chaffey college out here, were Cory and his brother Brad both were the starting tackles for a year or two.

[BoLT55]

He's a big dude....if you look at the picture of LT's record breaking TD when they hoist him up in the air....hes appears to be just as big as McNeill. That last name tho....you'd think that whoever started it would have stopped after the first ker (Lekkerkerker)...lol

[o-line protag]

Originally Posted by BoLT55

He's a big dude....if you look at the picture of LT's record breaking TD when they hoist him up in the air....hes appears to be just as big as McNeill. That last name tho....you'd think that whoever started it would have stopped after the first ker (Lekkerkerker)...lol

Well what's your name, I'm certain I could find something about it that could be lengthened or made shorter. The first part of your post was great, not sure why making fun of someones name needed to be mentioned. It's only four syllables, is that two much for you?

[nvcharger]

nice article thanks for posting

[bolts4ever21]

Yeah, I hope he continues to improve. Having a lineman with his size doesn't hurt. And having great coaches can go a long way in having him become a solid contributer for many years to come.