Rodney Rogers: Hope for the Best

Let's say a little prayer for Rodney Rogers. The former college basketball and NBA star was involved in an ATV accident last week. As a result, he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. After his NBA career ended, Rogers returned to his native city of Durham, North Carolina where he was working for the city public works department as a heavy machinery operator. Rogers didn't need the job because he was financially set from playing professional ball but he was an outdoorsman and liked heavy trucks. Rogers also started his own trucking company and was the lead driver.

In the position with the city of Durham, Rogers was promoted to supervisor. His colleagues had no idea that he was wealthy and had played in the NBA. He was just a regular guy to them... And I might add... A good guy. Rogers also volunteered as a girls' basketball coach and he set up a computer lab at a housing complex. This is an example of when bad things happen to good people.

For those of you who don't remember. Rogers played at Wake Forest in college and for 7 teams in his 12 year NBA career. He was 6th Man of the Year in 1999-2000 and was known for hitting 3 three pointers in 9 seconds when he was a member of the Denver Nuggets. Rogers made it to the NBA finals as a member of the 2002-2003 New Jersey Nets.

Rogers was riding an all terrain vehicle in the North Carolina woods when he fell off and was injured. He was recently transferred from Duke Hospital to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, which specializes in rehabilitation for people with catastrophic injuries. He beat many odds to make it to the pros. Hopefully he can beat the odds again.