Stuck is Poster Boy for U.S. Men's Sitting Team

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

EDMOND, Okla. (July 15, 2010) – U.S. Men’s Sitting Team player James Stuck of New Kensington, Pa. , still isn’t sure how a poster of him ended up in a major motion picture. He didn’t even know the poster existed.

The movie “The International, “ starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, was released in the United States in 2009. A scene in the movie that takes place in a doctor’s office features a poster in the background.

The athlete in the poster is holding a Molten volleyball and has a prosthetic in place of his right leg. He is shirtless, which shows off very colorful tattoos and, if one looks carefully, they can see the name “James” signed on the poster.

"That's not my signature," Stuck said. "If I had signed it you would not be able to read it."

Yes, the poster is of Stuck. He remembers having the photo taken for a story in a German magazine (click here to view the story and photo) about U.S. military members who were competing in Paralympic sports. Stuck lost most of his right leg below the knee in Iraq in December 2005, while assigned to the Army's 101st Airborne Division. He was driving a Humvee that struck a roadside bomb.

Stuck found out about the poster from friends who had seen the movie. He has never tried to find out how it ended up there.

Stuck’s mother was more excited about it than he was.

“She flipped,” he said. “She wanted to know how it got there and I told her I didn’t know.”

CROWD CONTROL

Crowds supporting the U.S. teams at the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships have increased daily, topping out at between 500-600 to support the U.S. Women’s Sitting Team in their match against Netherlands on Wednesday night.

MORE THAN LENDING A HAND

U.S. Women’s Sitting Team athlete Michelle Gerlosky (Lake Wales, Fla.) gained more than just an athletic career when she came to the University of Central Oklahoma to join the resident team.

Gerlosky, who was born missing her right hand and part of her forearm, arrived in Edmond wearing the prosthetic arm she had worn for the past 10 years. Gerlosky had played standing volleyball in junior high and high school, but had never been able to set the ball.

A visit to Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research in Oklahoma City provided her with a new arm that allows her to set.

“I love, love, love my new arm,” Gerlosky said. “It fits better. It has more flexibility in the fingers.”

Gerlosky has played an important role for the U.S. Women at the World Championships as an especially effective serving substitute.

POLL QUESTION

What has been the best part about competing at the World Championships?

Brad Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.): “Competing at this level with all these great athletes. We don’t get to face high caliber teams like Bosnia enough.”

Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.): “Playing in front of the home crowd, in front of friends and family.”

James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa.): “My mom getting to see me play. She had never seen me play before.”

Allison Aldrich (Schuyler, Neb.): “Having the home-court advantage. We aren’t used to having this many, or sometimes any, people cheering for us at a tournament.”

Nichole Millage (Champaign, Ill.): “Having family and friends support us; the big crowds. At first it was overwhelming, but as it goes on we’ve learned to feed off of it.”

Tags: Allison Aldrich, Brad Johnson, Brent Rasmussen, James Stuck, Michelle Gerlosky, Nichole Millage, Sitting Volleyball, Sitting Volleyball World Championships, U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team, U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team