BlackAthlete.com
TONY MCLEAN
On the heels of the untimely death of Washington Redskin defensive back Sean Taylor, BASN’s final featured “Book Of The Month” for 2007 focuses on another untimely death of a football player whose impact is still being felt some 20 years since his demise.
Born into poverty but blessed with stunning good looks, charisma, and unmatched athletic prowess, the Rogerssiblings — Don, Reggie, and Jackie — illuminatedSacramento’s nightly skies throughout the 1980s.
Their highlight-reel performances on area football fields and basketball courts garnered All-City, and later All-West Coast, All-Pac-10, and All-America honors. The trio had the world at their feet.
Then, one moment — on June 27, 1986 — changed our country and our way of life forever. Just days after Len Bias’ fatal overdose, a single dose of cocaine killed Don Rogers, tearing his family apart at the seams and catalyzing an American public who demanded that the government attack the crack-cocaine epidemic.
In his new book, “One Moment Changes Everything: The All-America Tragedy Of Don Rogers”, author Sean Harvey examines a not-too-distant era when mainstream America and its star athletes, from coast to coast, were losing their careers, and their lives, to cocaine.
“Because his death happened so soon after Len Bias, Don’s life and story is often forgotten by the national press”, said Harvey, a native of Sacramento. “However, his death spawned several changes in drug policies within the country.”
Yet, as Don’ death sent seismic shocks throughout the nation, his family struggled to pick up the pieces after such epicentral devastation; and without Don’s guidance, the once indestructible Rogers family eroded into despair.
After her brother died, Jackie Rogers — once the most promising female basketball player in California — turned her back on the hardwood forever. Then Reggie Rogers, without Don by his side, embarked upon a path of ill-fated decisions that would lead him to a hell ruled by his own personal demons.
In “One Moment”, Harvey speaks of a incredible world of involving drug dealers, All-America athletes, crooked agents, the Mafia, racism, prison, a multimillion-dollar war, the changing face of a nation, and the love that kept one family together.
Don Rogers was a three-sport phenomenon who energized a forgotten corner of the world (North Sacramento). He could run, jump and tackle better than anyone in California. A role model to children, he became both an honor student and a consensus All-American football player for UCLA, where he dominated two Rose Bowls and was a favorite of fans and sportswriters alike.
Rogers went on to become a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns and was voted the NFL’s Rookie of The Year in 1984. Then it fell apart. Just one week after the overdose death of Bias, and only one day before his marriage to his college sweetheart, while in the upstairs bedroom of his mother’s home Rogers made the incomprehensible decision to use cocaine, and died just hours later.
Harvey’s book is an All-American story is about a good man whose life transcended sports, and whose death continues to spur debates about burden, love, addiction, responsibility, and what constitutes happiness in the material world.
“One Moment” also examines how the impact of Don’s sudden death still impacts the entire Rogers family and the community of Sacramento. “His loss was left a huge impact on this area and in many ways still somewhat defines it”, Harvey added.
Even though it’s been over two decades since Rogers’ death, the message that “One Moment” leaves the reader still reverberates today. This is a very eye-opening and thought-provoking book that goes beyond the sports headlines and should be read by those inside and outside the athletic world.
Tony McClean is a reporter/writer for the Black Athlete Sports Network. You can hear his sports commentaries every Saturday morning at Noon on “Sports Talk” on WCLM-AM 1450 in Richmond, Virginia(www.WCLMradio.com) .
A Good Book for Showing the Possible Impact of Drug Use on Families JOHNNY MULLENS
I remember Don Roger’s death, but I did not realize how valued he was in his family and community. The author did an excellent point in telling the story of Don, his brother, his sister, and his mother.
I was not aware that his mother moved from Texarkana to Sacramento to try to have for her a better life. The author tells the story of his brother Reggie’s frustration playing basketball at the university of Washington before he switched to football and was a first-round draft pick and gave insight into Marv Harshman and Don James. I was impressed by the story of Kenny Easley’s influence on Don.
The last few pages where Don, Jr. was mentioned were very inspiring. This book would be a worthwhile read for anyone who has been involved in drugs or tempted to be involved. It shows how someone had worked to be best in athletics had it all end so suddenly.
Buy It Now ROBERT S. WEGONER (bobwegener.com)
“One Moment Changes Everything” is one of those books you can’t put down. Sean Harvey has written the story of the Rogers family in a way that touches everyone, sports fan or not. The decision Don Rogers made that evening before his wedding has proven that even the decisions we make in our seemingly private moments, can have far reaching effects beyond our own lives. Mr. Harvey, through obvious painstaking research, manages to paint the Rogers family in a good light. This even when anyone familiar with the family’s tragic past and present might cast them in dark shadows. I feel for the family, and that is because of this book. “One Moment Changes Everything” pulled emotion out of me, the sign of an excellent book. Buy it and read it! You will be glad you did.
Heartbreaking
TRACY WHITTEN “TRACY READER”
This book changed my entire opinion about a topic I thought I knew: the Rogers family. They had been the greatest family of athletes that I had ever seen. But they seemed to give it all away. I understand that, ultimately, they are responsible for their decisions, but what an amazing and complex story! I read this book in one setting. One. It was absolutely great.
