Helping Hot Rod Hundley

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some basketball legends in my day. Here’s another memorable encounter . . .

Hot Rod Hundley is a bona fide basketball legend and a bigger-than-life personality if there ever was one. He was a star at West Virginia University back in the 50’s after an amazing high school career in Charleston, WV. While in high school he broke the state’s four-year scoring record in three years. He also scored 45 points in the WV-Kentucky high school All-Star game. In college Hot Rod averaged 26.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. He scored more than 40 points in a game six times, which led to the Mountaineers scoring over 100 points in nine games. WVU was ranked No. 20 in the nation in 1955 and No. 4 in 1956. Hundley holds a varsity school record with 54 points in a single game against Furman and holds a freshmen team record of 62 points against Ohio University.

Hot Rod Hundley was Pete Maravich before Pete Maravich was Pete Maravich. He played with a flamboyant style way before his time. He passed the ball behind his back, dribbled between his legs and was known for his 15-foot hook shots. After college he was drafted #1 in the NBA Draft and had a pro career that was ultimately cut short by bad knees.

After his playing career he became famous for his broadcasting career. In the early 1970s he covered college games and I distinctly remember his style. In fact, he was Dick Vitale long before Dick Vitale was Dick Vitale.

Hot Rod was an original.

He went on to announce NBA games on TV and was the voice of the Utah Jazz from 1974 to 2009. He became quite a cult hero in Utah due to his wild and outgoing personality.

However, I remember Hot Rod Hundley for other reasons . . .

I was in attendance at a game in January of 2010 when Hot Rod was inducted into the West Virginia Athletic Hall of Fame. It was an amazing night. Hot Rod was an absolute rock star in Morgantown, a true folk hero. People just worshipped the guy out there.

Anyway, at halftime they honored Hot Rod and he spoke to thunderous applause. And as he walked off the court, somebody tossed him a ball. It was then the shouting began . . .

“Take a shot!”

“Shoot it!”

“Take a hook shot!”

“SHOOT IT HOT ROD!”

Now, what do you think a 1950’s gunner is going to do?

Yep. He took an 18-foot hook shot.

And of course, it went in.

As the crowd went absolutely bonkers, he just waved and walked off the court smiling.

After the game I was lucky enough to be invited to a get-together honoring Hot Rod in the bar of a hotel in Morgantown. After the crowd thinned a little I ended up having the pleasure of sitting at the bar with Hot Rod, shooting the breeze and sharing a few adult beverages with him. Of course I picked his brain and man, did he have some great stories to tell.

The place was roped off to keep the fans at bay, and people were constantly sending in napkins and scraps of paper to be signed by the legend himself. After awhile (and a few more beverages) Hot Rod’s shooting hand got really tired so he asked for some help. Of course I readily agreed because hey, it was Hot Rod Hundley.

End result? There are a few Hot Rod Hundley fans out there with autographs signed by someone who was not Hot Rod Hundley.

And that someone was me.

Hot Rod, Huggs and I.

Do you know what I remember most about that night, though? The thing that Hot Rod Hundley was most proud of wasn’t all the points he scored, the Hall of Fame induction or the broadcasting career. It was the fact that in 2000, 44-years after he left West Virginia University, he earned his college degree. Of all his accomplishments, to him that ranked at the top.

As the night ended and everyone was saying their goodbyes, Hot Rod Hundley stopped, turned around, and walked back to me. Then he leaned in and whispered this:

“My hand was killing me in there tonight. Thanks for the assist.”

My pleasure, Hot Rod. My pleasure.

PS- Hot Rod passed away in 2015. May he rest in peace.

Billy Hahn, Hot Rod and I.