Rogers Resolve
By Chris HansenNational Director of Scouting
Posted Wed, 01/16/2008 - 09:11 Tierra Rogers lost her father to a sensless act of violence, something her father was an activist against.
Tierra Rogers’ basketball has been a big part of her life and relationship with her father. That relationship was interrupted, tragically, when Terrell "Terray" Rogers was shot to death at halftime of last Saturday's game between two of the Bay Area's top teams, Archbishop Mitty and Sacred Heart Cathedral, where his daughter is a star guard.
One of Tierra Rogers' initial reactions was declaring to family friends that she wanted to abandon the basketball career that was so meaningful to her father. She has since realized that continuing her career was something Terray Rogers would very much have wanted.
“He wanted the best for his kids," said Chris Stallworth, a family friend whose daughter DeNesha also is a highly regarded Bay Area recruit. "He never graduated high school. He wanted (Tierra) in the best possible situation to go to college.”
Guy Hudson, another family friend who also has trained Tierra Rogers, said, “We've had two or three conversations already. She’s going to be stronger. She knows what her daddy wanted. She’s knows she’s special and she’s going to be somebody.”
Tierra Rogers spent time with her aunt the summer after the sixth grade. Her aunt was volunteering at one of the community service programs, so Rogers was in the gym almost every day. Hudson, who ran the gym, was surprised to discover the basketball-playing young girl was the daughter of his good friend. “Terray didn’t have an athletic bone in his body," Hudson joked.
Tierra Rogers soars for two.
She has a core support group of people she confides in which includes her family. It also includes her basketball family with Sue Phillips, the head coach of Archbishop Mitty, and her trainer, Hudson.
“We spoke Saturday night after the game,” Phillips said of her communication with Tierra, “and she and I spoke on the phone (Sunday), very briefly, just trying to reassure her that we’re all here for her for anything she needs.”
“Our conversation didn’t even revolve around basketball,” Phillips said. “It was the grieving process and reassuring her (of) the support system she has in place. To know how loved her father was in the broader community and that his passing will not be in vain. It will spark cause, greater cause for action against violence. I firmly believe those lives that he touched will continue to generate a greater movement towards the cause.”
Basketball seems small in comparison to the bigger picture of what’s important in life but those close to the family like Hudson know that Tierra understands the big things he wanted for his daughter.
Tierra was looking forward to this summer and playing for the DFW Elite club basketball team and hoping that would be the next step in elevating her game and reaching her college goals. Because of his commitment to the Rogers family Hudson is vowing to make sure that still happens, for Tierra and because it is something his friend since they were 14 years old would have done for someone else in the same situation. So while basketball initially seemed inconsequential in the midst of this tragedy it may also be the best way for Tierra to connect with her father now. It may also help her realize her father’s dream for her of going to college and making the most of her abilities.
The impact and grieving is widespread as Terray Rogers touched so many people in the community, both in San Francisco and in San Jose.
“It’s extremely tragic. I still have not come to terms with it,” Phillips said of this senseless violence. “It’s resurfacing a lot of trying times for the team. It was a really somber practice (Monday). The girls are determined to keep the faith in the human race and have basketball help with the healing process because basketball does bring a lot of joy to kids.”
Tierra Rogers to the basket.
For Tierra the hope is of course that the joy of basketball helps her heal as it did the Archbishop Mitty family when they lost one of their own. Danny McAllister was the junior varsity coach at Mitty as well as the assistant coach for the San Jose Cages club team that Tierra played on for years. On October 29, McAllister was killed in a work accident.
“Terray was very helpful to our family afterwards,” Mary McAllister, the widow of Danny and also the team organizer for the Cagers, said. “He was such a wonderful man. After my husband passed away he was very helpful to the Mitty community and helped set up a trust fund for my kids. Terray was very instrumental in that.”
The Rogers family was very close to many in the Mitty community because of their involvement with the San Jose Cagers club basketball team headed by Coach Phillips and the late Coach McAllister.
Terray Rogers giving is well known throughout the San Francisco and San Jose communities. Rogers’ son plays on a successful club football team that qualified to go to nationals in Florida last year. When he found out there were three kids that couldn’t afford to make the trip he put his fundraising hat on again. He spearheaded the raising of four thousand dollars and the entire team was able to make the trip. This past summer after talking with Stallworth about his daughter, DeNesha, and how going to the Nike Regional Skills Academy would be great for her development he found out that the trip to Los Angeles was too expensive for the family right before the busy summer travel season. Rogers stepped up and paid for the trip himself so that Stallworth could have the opportunity to shine as his daughter had.
Rogers also fought violence in his community through a crisis intervention group, Peacekeepers, that he helped found.
“I don’t want to be in the public eye for this,” Phillips said. "However, I do want to make sure his message of peace and love is stated clearly throughout this violent act.”
For informationregarding the Terrell Rogers Memorial Fund Please click the link below.
Terrell Rogers Memorial Fund
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Chris Hansen is the National Director of Scouting for Women’s Basketball at HoopGurlz.com. He leads the panel that evaluates and ranks girl's basketball prospects nationally for HoopGurlz. Chris has been involved in the women’s basketball community since 1998 as a coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. He can be reached at chris@hoopgurlz.com.
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4 You T. Rogers Fr: LiL Sis Aisia R ( www.caballaz.com)
Aye, we going to miss you. You left here so that we can be the village we should have been when you was here. I will always be a fan of the Rogers family. I left the city just because of those society issues that were becoming common. I didn't want my daughter to be exposed to what we now know as the normal. It was good to met you and hear your word of incouragement to me and my daughter. If it wasn't for you and Guy i wouldn't even know about this site simply put. You will be in our Hearts as you represent the last of a dying breed. As for your daughter, T, will be in the stands shouting more than ever making sure what you set out doesn't fall short.
You have given my little one aspirations to be all that see can be simply through example.
So I a fellow dad applaud Terray as he travels to a better place. Watch over us !!!!!!
RIP
keep your head up T.
keep your head up T. everything is going to be fine. You and your fam are in my prayers.
RIP Mr. Rogers
At peace....
Rest easy, Big Fella... You are being missed as you will be forever.
My name is Dwayne Cook..... ONE LOVE!