SALT LAKE CITY, UT-
"Hot" Rod Hundley has been one of the biggest inspirations to me and my career choice of play by play announcer. While I'm just starting out, I have an absolute knowledge that his techniques and catch-phrases gave me my love for sports announcing, and they will follow me throughout both my professional and personal life. There are many things that could be said about him, but to me, these are the reasons why I hold him in such reverence:
When I think of Hundley, I think of one of the greatest friends I've ever had. He was in my life from the day I was born (as I'm sure my dad had the game on the radio or TV). Every night I'd fall asleep listening to his velvet, gravelly tones paint a beautiful picture of an amazing sport, straining to stay awake so I could hear his every word. When I was playing basketball in the driveway, I was John Stockton, and provided my every move with poorly mimicked "Hot" Rod announcing.
He was always there for me, during both the good and the bad times. Anytime I did something right or accomplished a goal, he was there that night to "congratulate" me with his West Virginian drawl. He was there (in one way or another) when I drove a car by myself for the first time; on my first date; my first kiss; my first heartbreak; every illness I ever had; the night my grandmother died, he helped make everything a little better; when I just had a plain, bad day, "Hots" was there to remind me life was good.
Point is, Larry H. Miller, John Stockton, Karl Malone, (even Jeff Hornacek), they all helped provide me with an excellent NBA team to love and cheer for. But "Hot" Rod Hundley made sure that I was able to KNOW about that team. To be a PART of that team, and every game that team played for 35 YEARS!! (23 of those during my lifetime)For that, he IS the Utah Jazz to me. And he will always be the broadcaster I try to emulate (though not replicate, as you cannot replicate a legend) through my career. If I'm ever blessed enough to be even HALF the broadcaster Hundley was, I will count it as a full life. And I'll owe it to the man whose words, voice and pure love for the game have been right there with me, through it all. "Hot" Rod... I love ya baby!
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"You're lookin' live on a ____ night, coming to you from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Jazz match up with the _________. NBA basketball is coming up next, and YOU GOTTA LOVE IT BABY!"
"With a gentle push, and a mild arc, the ol' cowhide globe hits home.”
“Stock, yo-yos, top of the key...”
“Leapin’ leaner”
“Hippity-hop”
“Good if it goes!”
“Frozen rope”
“Belt-high dribble”
“It’s in the ol’ refrigerator.”
“Looking down the barrel”
"Unbelievable."
"I cannot believe he just did that."
"Stockton to Malone."
"Russell to Stockton, Stock for 3! Stock, got it! Unbelievable!!! JOHN STOCKTON!It's over! The Jazz win it! Utah goes to Chicago! Stockton hits the 3, it's over! The Jazz are coming to Chicago! They've won the West!!!"
Austin's Sports Blog (the one place where he is ALWAYS right)
