Roberto Garza plays for Bears, his heritage

MIAMI (AP) _ Thousands will party this weekend in South Florida, a celebration that will stretch all the way to a tiny town in Texas, 15 minutes from the Mexican border. That's where Roberto Garza

Wednesday, January 31st 2007, 6:01 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) _ Thousands will party this weekend in South Florida, a celebration that will stretch all the way to a tiny town in Texas, 15 minutes from the Mexican border. That's where Roberto Garza grew up. And now, he's in the Super Bowl.

His high school will hold a pep rally Friday. There will be a community gathering on Saturday, the day before Garza and the Chicago Bears play the Indianapolis Colts.

Though not the first Hispanic to do so, making the Super Bowl is just the latest achievement for the favorite son of Rio Hondo, a town of 1,600. A `Roberto Garza Day' is already held every Dec. 2, even though Mayor Santiago Saldana plans to move it up, once Garza returns _ as he does ever year.

``It's a special feeling to know they are behind me. Ever since I've been in high school I had a big following,'' said Garza, the Bears' starting right guard. ``And even my career in college and ever since I've been in the NFL, they've been proud of everything I've done. This is a special week to be able to come to the Super Bowl and represent my little hometown and all my friends and family.''

Garza, one of 19 Hispanic players in the NFL, has done extensive charity work while also promoting the game, starting in Atlanta while with the Falcons, the team that drafted him.

``He's a great inspiration, not just for the whole town, but for our whole valley,'' Saldana said in a telephone interview. ``He's a down-to-earth guy. I've know his family for a long time.''

Garza comes home every year for about six weeks, soaking up the Texas sun and fishing. His parents, Mexican immigrants, still live in the same house where he grew up. His mom is a janitor and his dad works for the county.

``I just love going down there and spending time with the family and friends and just enjoying the Texas weather,'' he said. ``It's a great small town.''

Garza considered a career in the military after high school and then heard a recruiter tell him that football was not a game for Hispanics.

``That's exactly what happened,'' Garza said. ``I'm glad I didn't listen to him. Here I am in the Super Bowl.''

The 6-foot-2 Garza, who now weighs 305 pounds, was a much leaner 230 out of high school. With no real options for continuing his football career with an athletic scholarship, he went to Texas A&M-Kingsville as a walk-on and become a three-year starter, earning all-conference honors three straight seasons.

``I was fortunate to take advantage of the opportunity,'' Garza said.

The Falcons took him in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. He battled back from knee problems two years later and joined the Bears as a free agent in 2005.

He moved into a full-time starting role this season after starting seven games a year ago. He'll be trying to clear a path Sunday for Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson against a resurgent Colts run defense.

``Garza came in and fit in really well,'' tackle Fred Miller said. ``He's played absolutely great this year, done everything the coaches asked.''

Garza knows he will be bearing more than the Bears' No. 63 on his jersey when he charges onto the field for the Super Bowl. He'll be lifting the spirits of a tiny farming community where he is beloved.

``I'll go out and try to play football,'' Garza said. ``I'm fortunate that my parents do come from Mexico and all my roots are from Mexico. I truly believe that and I will really take it on myself to send a good message.''