What you didn't know about Rodney Stuckey

We ain't coming back quite yet, but soon enough. It's looking like the week after the fourth of July. Since we love you all so much, here's one from Brandon to keep you busy. Don't worry, while Rupes is trading in his balls for a dustbuster, we're stockpiling A-Game material for a grand return to form.

NBA Rookie Rodney Stuckey garnered plenty of praise for his performance in the 2008 playoffs. The kid showed maturity while playing on the biggest stage for professional basketball and should see even more playing next year for the Pistons. Detroit, say hello to the future of your team. And it certainly looks bright. However, there are some things you don't know about Mr. Stuckey.

You see, he went to college at Eastern Washington University, the same four-year school that I am attending. Instead of Stuckey's two year jaunt, I've managed to put up an impressive five-year career at the Harvard of the West Plains. While serving as the photographer for the Athletic Department there, I took most of the photos you'll see of him playing at EWU. This gave me a unique look into the life and times of Rodney. One time he asked me for a copy of the photos, but I couldn't give him the photos because... get this... they would be considered a gift by NCAA regulations. WOW!

There's also the time that not one but three of us from the local student newspaper interviewed him during practice. Keep in mind that he was already projected first-round in the NBA draft and was a local celebrity. We were all nervous. Stuckey was a stand up guy, and was super nice, but he had to laugh at my introduction I gave him before the interview.

"Um... hi Rodney, I'm Brandon Hansen, you know... the photographer... I take photos of you during games."

"Yeah, I know you, why did you introduce yourself? We've already talked before."

I'm socially inept.

The coach would let him in the game at any time. If there were a weaker coach in Div. I than Mike Burns of EWU, than that person must have either been a rain forest fern in a suit or brain dead. But his lack of coaching ability have Rodney all the playing time he wanted and he became the first freshman in Big Sky Conference history to be named the MVP of the league.

Rodney Stuckey also was single-handedly responsibe for the self-destruction of my liver before I got my job as the photographer of the Eagles. Since there's nothing to do in Cheney, Wash. there is a small but heavily loyal contingent of EWU fans that stream in Reese Court that are drunker than a Canadian during the Stanley Cup finals. We'd get even drunker for Rodney's games.

If you've ever blacked out during a college basketball game and have to check the score later, you know what I'm talking about. We would take straight shots of vodka after getting off work at 5 p.m. to be ready for a 7 p.m. game. I think I once took seven shots in an hour period, and took a pop bottle filled with alcohol to the game.

.... I was also wearing an EWU swimcap, and an EWU basketball t-shirt, giving me the appearance of a huge red condom. Wow!

Here's some other things you guys may not know about the former EWU Eagle.

1. He once parted the court in Missoula, Mont. (University of Montana) and got frogs to fall from the sky in Ogden, Utah. (Weber State)

There are a series of divine occurrences circling his collegiate career. Numerous times, the fans at Reese Court (in Cheney, Wash. EWU's home court) saw the man hover a few inches over the court while going coast to coast. There was also the time he cured a blind man by throwing his sweaty towel into the crowd).

2. He founded Eastern Washington University

Actually before he played here, we had pretty solid AAU team.

3. He appeared on numerous grilled cheese sandwiches cooked in Cheney

For some reason, Rodney Stuckey's face or the number "3" would show up on toast when cooked in the city of Cheney. Officials sent out a boiling water mandate but it didn't seem to help.

4. Iron Man was actually based on the life and times of Rodney Stuckey

Robert Downey Jr. was an interesting choice to play him, but they did capture his humble beginning in the Seattle-area. My only theory is that he built the Iron Man suit in the new Computer Engineering Building we had on campus.

5. 18,000 students claim to be his friend

And keep in mind that under 10,000 people go to school at EWU.

So please, when you watch Stuckey, keep in mind that he came from a school that only packed about 2-3,000 fans in the stands, but were drunk and crude (I told a little fat Montana Grizzly fan who looked like they were in grade school to go shove another hot dog down their throat). Keep in mind that he lived in the cold-ass town of Cheney, Wash. for three years in a row. Keep in mind that the Big Sky Conference turns out NBA players like Arkansas churns out intelligent people.

Keep in mind, that Rodney Stuckey is freakin' amazing.