WHEN DON MAJKOWSKI, the $1.7 million man, came home to Depew after his first season as Green Bay's quarterback, one of the things he did was transfer films of the 1982 Western New York All-Star Football Classic to a video casette.
Then he called a bunch of his buddies over to watch his MVP performance.
Majkowski had been injured most of his senior football season, so his play in the Classic was a satisfying finish to his local career.
For a lot of local high school graduates, no matter what they accomplish later on, their play in the all-star game belongs with their best sports memories.
This year's game, the 16th sponsored by the Kensington Lions Club and Tops Markets, will be played July 31 at Williamsville South High School.
Past rosters are something of a who's who of local sports talent.
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Dave Hollins, who set a record for the Philadelphia Phillies last year by hitting pinch home runs from both sides of the plate, had accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of South Carolina and wasn't supposed to play in the 1984 game.
He insisted upon playing anyway, and was voted the co-most valuable defensive player for the South team, along with Bert Weidner, later a Miami Dolphin linebacker. Daryl Johnston, now a Dallas Cowboy, was most valuable offensive player for the North.
The most famous line in Western New York high school history played in the game, in two stages.
That was the 1975 Orchard Park Quakers, whose season was shortened by a teachers' strike after five victories. Their line boasted Jim Burt, who just retired from the San Francisco 49ers; Craig Wolfley, still playing for the Minnesota Vikings; and Larry Pfohl, now wrestling professionally as Lex Lugar after a football career in the Canadian League and with Green Bay. Wolfley and Pfohl played in the '76 game, Burt in '77.
Three Wolfleys -- Craig; Ron, the Phoenix Cardinals' fullback; and Dale, the West Virginia guard -- appeared in the classics. Ron won an MVP award in '81.
Three Hurleys -- Bill, one of Syracuse University's all-time quarterbacks; Andy, a UB defensive back; and Marty, last year's Canisius College quarterback -- also played. Andy was a South MVP in '80. Three Doctors, Tom, Sean and Mike, also played.
Six Buffalo News players of the year have won most valuable player awards, including Johnston, Kevin Deakin, Carl Chase, Alan Copeland, Cliff Scott and Kevin Mason.
For the best individual performance in the 16 games, it would be difficult to beat the one by Todd Burks of Clarence in 1989.
The South had just completed a long touchdown drive to get back in the game when Burks took the ensuing kickoff, cut across the field and ran 85 yards for the touchdown that clinched a 30-28 victory. It was Burks' fourth touchdown of the game.
The most dramatic moment may have occurred in the '81 game.
Ron Wolfley, who carried the ball a record 26 times for the South, took a handoff from quarterback Gordie Bukaty and headed around the right side. With most of the North defense in pursuit, he threw a cross-field pass to Bukaty, who ran into the end zone for the decisive touchdown.
Proudly watching the play was Gordon Bukaty Sr., one of UB's all-time stars. Later on he saw his daughter, Lori, receive an academic scholarship. He was suffering from an illness that claimed his life a year later.
The sponsors award seven $1,000 academic scholarships to students from schools which produce the most valuable players. Players in the game are ineligible.
However, a member of this year's North squad, fullback Kevin Maney of Clarence, won a scholarship last year.
