Like many of my readers, my thoughts and prayers recently have featured Mandy Rook-Stephenson, who had surgery this morning. Mandy is one of my favorite former players from Union County.
The daughter of Lynn and Debbie Rook, I met Mandy when she was in, about, the seventh grade. I took my camera to Norphlet to take mug shots of the senior girls basketball team. This little nosy blonde girl walked right up to me and sort of peered over my shoulder at the camera. She looked up at me and asked what I was doing.
I found out later she was the new coach's daughter. That first impression revealed a lot about Mandy Rook. She's not shy. She's not scared of anybody. And, if she wants to know something, she's going to found out.
I liked Mandy from that moment on. Even though she couldn't shoot a lick, I enjoyed watching her enthusiasm on the defensive end of the floor. As a player, she wasn't the most skilled or the most athletic, just a scrappy, hard-nosed kid that no girl wanted to go up against.
As you stare down your toughest opponent today, I know Mandy is going to fire up with the notorious "Rook Look" and figure out a way to come out on top.
