New Rudy Call

Last May Juan and I announced an open invitation to join the Wahluke Eagles. Before the kids tried out, we both discussed the need to really evaluate the new players and show that we were serious about accepting new players. Well two players quickly caught our attention. The first was Joey Joseph and the second was Rudy.

Joey Joseph played with us the initial season from October to December. Joey Joseph (Little Cub) is an exceptional player. He cut his teeth with the Wapato Little Cubs (our arch-rivals). He came to Mattawa and made an immediate impact on the playground. And when he joined us for the first season in Fourth grade he made an impression with his demeanor. He worked hard, got along with everyone, and set a sterling standard of behavior. Loosing Joey Joseph was hard so when he came back he was met with open arms.

The second player was Rudy. Rudy is short but explosive. He has the grin of a Cheshire cat especially when he is around Freddy When he sees Juan or I, he can quickly shift to an expressionless look. But beneath the boyish sense of trouble and the bland looking student was the heart of a basketball player. Rudy is tough on defense, like Freddy he has no compunction about diving for a loose ball. Rudy can shoot, like Tony he can make his three pointers. Rudy hustles, like Gabino (Pickles, Afro-Dude) and Oscar (Catfish) he hates to loose and he never gives up.

So even though our next game is around 24 October 2006, the Wahluke Eagles are preparing. We picked up Rudy and were reunited with Joey Joseph. Watch out. Deep in the corner of Grant County lies Mattawa. Forgotten and under estimated like their parents, these sons of the frontier are practicing and waiting for their chance to show they belong.