Anderson Jersey Retired in Front of Packed House Dec. 8, 2004 – Fullerton, Calif.
Former Cal State Fullerton senior Rodney Anderson finally caught a break
this week.
The former Titan basketball player, who was the victim of a random street
shooting in 2000 that left him paralyzed from the waist down with limited
arm movement, is one of the latest beneficiaries of ABC Television's hit
show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In a whirlwind seven days, a new
home is being constructed for him and his family in Los Angeles, they
are enjoying a week's vacation in the Bahamas and the University conducted
a ceremony in Titan Gym on Wednesday night to retire his No. 4 jersey.
Above, posing after the ceremony are, from left: Rev. Carl Washington,
Pres. Milton A. Gordon, junior forward Jamaal Brown, Athletics Director
Brian Quinn, Vice President for Student Affairs Robert Palmer and men's
basketball Coach Bob Burton.
The scheduled broadcast date is Feb. 13 or Jan. 30 for the Top Ten-rated
show, which draws an average of 20 million viewers.
The ceremony was equal parts enthusiasm, nostalgia and emotion. President
Milton A. Gordon told Rodney1s story while a large projection screen showed
a montage of Rodney1s childhood, from infancy through action shots of
him in his Titan uniform during his 1999-2000 freshman season. With former
teammates Ike Harmon, Brandon Campbell and Kenroy Jarrett among the crowd
of nearly 1,500, Rodney was hailed for his perseverance, ever-present
smile and determination to graduate. The Rev. Carl Washington, a former
California assemblyman, thanked Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the University
and the crowd on behalf of the Anderson family. He also accepted Cal State
Fullerton banners and blankets for the new home from Associated Students'
president Phil Vasquez.
Junior forward Jamaal Brown stepped forward and removed his sweatsuit
top and then his No. 4 jersey and presented it to Washington to hand to
Rodney upon his return on the following Saturday. The climax of the evening
came when a permanent replica of Anderson1s No. 4 jersey was unveiled
near the rafters adjacent to those of former Titan greats Leon Wood, Bruce
Bowen, Cedric Ceballos and Greg Bunch as well as women1s stars Nancy Dunkle
and Eugenia Miller-Rycraw.
The successful event was the result of tremendous cooperation on only
a few days' notice by many campus departments. Student Affairs helped
rally a crowd. The CSUF Foundation provided free hot dogs and drinks.
Athletics staged the event including preliminary entertainment in the
form of photographer Matt Brown's photo essay from the 2004 College World
Series and a performance by the five-time defending national champion
Titan dance team.
Physical plant mounted the replica jersey. Public safety assisted with
parking and security for the production company. Public Affairs coordinated
publicity. Kinesiology and health science and recreation adjusted pre-finals
class and activity schedules. Help also came from off-campus, most prominently
Bruce Webster of Large Screen Displays in Santa Ana, which provided the
projector and video screen.
Anderson's story will be retold by ABC. As if the shooting wasn't tragic
enough, a year after that incident Rodney1s father was involved in a serious
auto accident that led to the amputation of several toes. Financial problems
mounted. A federal program promised more wheelchair accessibility to their
early 20th century home, but then the contractor abandoned the project
before its completion, leaving gaping holes.
Through it all, Rodney has shown remarkable courage and goodwill. After
a year of hospitalization and physical therapy, he returned to school
in Spring 2001. A bachelors degree in human services is only a semester
away and then the plan is graduate school. Marriage to his longtime girlfriend,
Monique Allen, also is in the near future.
Rodney played in 24 games before the near-fatal shooting. The former baseball
and basketball star at L.A.'s Washington High School averaged about 3.5
points and the Titans were looking forward to seeing his tremendous athletic
ability develop. Despite his misfortune, Rodney has been a regular spectator
at Titan games over the past four years and even the current players who
never knew him as a player have been touched and inspired.
