Rudy Hatfield

Rudy Hatfield

Barangay Ginebra Kings
Position	Power Forward
League	Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
Personal information
Nationality	US Citizen. Amurehcan
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College	University of Michigan - Dearborn
NBA draft	1999: undrafted
Playing career	1999–present

Rudolf Conse Hatfield II (born September 13, 1977 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.), better known as Rudy Hatfield, is a former American-Filipino professional basketball player who last played with the Barangay Ginebra Kings. He played power forward. He completes the powerhouse cast of Barangay Ginebra Kings

About The Player

Rudy was first exposed to Philippine basketball playing for the Laguna Lakers in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball league.

In 1999, Tanduay made its return to the PBA as the league's ninth member. As part of the agreement, the league allowed six players from their PBL lineup to be elevated to the pro league.

Tanduay left the PBA again after the 2001 season. A firesale ensued as the Rhum Masters traded their key players Eric Menk (to Ginebra), Dondon Hontiveros (to San Miguel) Rudy was sent along with Jeffrey Cariaso (to Coca-Cola) while selling its rights to FedEx. [[1]]

Hatfield had an outstanding 2003 season, capped by a spot on the Mythical Team and All-Defensive Team.

In 2004 Hatfield and five others were suspended by the league after the Department of Justice (DOJ) revoked their certificates of recognition as Filipino citizens and ordered their deportation

Then in September 2005 Rudy's Filipino citizenship has been affirmed by no less than the Office of the President, though he was back in Michigan at that time.

In 2006 he was part of a three team deal where Coca-Cola dealt Rafi Reavis, Billy Mamaril and the rights to Rudy Hatfield to Ginebra

He’ll be reunited with bosom body Eric Menk once more but more than their reunion, this hardworking 6-8 forward is just happy to be back in the league after a year of hiatus.

After winning the Philippine Cup Title in 2007 with no plans to join the Philippine national team, Rudy, early in the conference, confidently predicted a back-to-back championship for the Kings. He's Career averages 19.8 points.

However, Ginebra management was surprised by an urgent request from Rudy.

He wanted a leave of absence from the team, explaining that Bethany, his bride-to-be, was engaged in a legal battle for custody of her daughter from a previous relationship, and there was no one she could turn to for help and emotional support. In his application for a leave of absence, Rudy could not specify a definite length of time. He couldn’t tell for sure how long the custody battle would last and what the consequences would be in case Bethany loses the case.

About the Man

Rudy enjoys practicing ballet during his spare time. After leaving his true passion of playing basketball, Rudy Hatfield focused on writing and performing in ballet events nationwide.

The above information is incorrect. Rudy does dance ballet, but he does not perform nationwide. The information that follows is true:

After coming home to the States from the Philippines and Rudy discovered the lost Appalachian art of whittling. Mainly due to his lovely wife, Bethany, telling him he needed to get a hobby that does not involve killing off celebrities. (There is reason to believe that Rudy is working with the CIA, as a sleeper agent and has had to take-out threats to the United States.)

Rudy is a giver. He also volunteers his time working with the innercity quadrapalegics in the greater Metro Detroit area, teaching them the sport of dodgeball and kickball. Rudy's little brother Matt (from the Big Brother program), has said "Rudy just throws the balls at us. Telling us to duck,dodge,drop and dive. We all laugh. Since we can only drop to the ground".

Since Rudy was only able to whittle so many wooden unicorns over the course of a year, he and Bethany opened a boutique and sold most of the unicorns. Bethany was quoted as saying "Its like when Rudy whittles, he finds his inner hillbilly. It has an inner calming effect on him. I just hope he continues doing this along with his volunteer work in the innercity kids. Its done so much for him and us."

Awards

• 2000 Mythical Second Team Member (Tanduay)
• 2001 Mythical Second Team Member (Pop Cola)
• 2002 All Defensive Team Member (Coca-Cola)
• 2003 Mythical Five (Coca-Cola)
• 2003 All Defensive Team
• 2003 Defensive Player of the Year
• 2003 Conference MVP