Thanks For The Memories Hot Rod

BY SCOTT MORGANROTH

Attention ABC, ESPN and TNT. If you want a great way to bolster your announcing crew, there is a legendary voice who just retired that might keep an open mind about doing some part-time work.
Back in 1974, Pat Summerall worked with Rick Barry and Hot Rod Hundley calling the 1974 NBA Finals on CBS which featured Hall of Famers John Havlicek, Dave Cowens of the Boston Celtics along with Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Milwaukee Bucks.
When the Utah Jazz were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Hundley retired. Hundley, 74, played six seasons for the Lakers before he retired in 1963. He would begin a broadcasting career where he worked four seasons apiece with the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns.
He was an announcer for five years with CBS where he called four All-Star Games.
The former star at West Virginia University has been broadcasting Jazz games since they were an expansion team playing in New Orleans in 1974. He made the move to Utah with the rest of the club in 1979.
Hundley has been covering NBA games for 42 seasons. He was elected to the Utah Broadcast Hall of Fame in June 2004.
Since Utah fans have appreciated his talent for 30-years, the NBA fans across the USA could only hope to see a doubleheader featuring Hundley and 75-year old Hall of Famer Hubie Brown.
It would be impossible for NBA fans to not learn anything from Hundley and Brown.
Even though Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls prevented Hundley from wearing a pair of NBA championship rings, there is no doubt Salt Lake City fans should purchase him a couple rings as a retirement gift.
If we don't see Hundley again, all the best of health and happiness "Hot Rod."
You've given NBA fans plenty to cheer about and now it's time to sit back and relax with your family. They can be proud of the fact that in 2003 that you received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the only former professional player to achieve such an honor.
But once again, I hope the networks either call, send a few e-mails or text messages to get you to reconsider.
Scott Morganroth can be reached at Scottsports33@aol.com.