Former Wake Star Rodney Rodgers Paralyzed.
Former Wake Forest star and 12-year NBA veteran Rodney
Rogers has been paralyzed from the shoulders down, according to his former
coach.
Dave Odom, who coached Rogers in college, broke the news
to the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.
Rogers was injured when he fell off the ATV he was riding
in rural N.C. last week.
He was transferred Wednesday from Duke Hospital to Atlanta's
Shepherd Center, which specializes in recovery from catastrophic injury.
Rogers was drafted ninth overall by the Nuggets in 1993,
after a standout college career with the Demon Deacons.
He played for seven NBA teams before retiring in 2005.
He went to work in retirement as heavy equipment operator
for the city of Durham's Public Works Department.
His agent says Rogers was set for life financially, he
just couldn't bear the thought of not working.
His boss says he wasn't even aware of Rogers' previous
career.
"I didn't even know he had lots of money. He is very
friendly, very concerned, very conscientious. We chose him because of his
ethics and his attitude. He was highly motivated. He was promoted to supervisor
six months ago," Michael Balzarano told the News & Observer.