RIP: Hot Rod Hundley

[herdgadfly]

Rodney Clark Hundley died today - he was 80. May he rest in peace.

Hot Rod was more than a basketball player, he was a performer. After I read about his death, I searched the internet for entertaining stories about Hundley and found this SI gem from 1965. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

This is a story about Rod Hundley and West Virginia.

A Little Slice of Heaven

 

[jocktalker]

Rod was a guy who really enjoyed people and life. He was a great interview and always delivered a punch line with that famous broad grin.

 

[Tim Hensley]

He was a great ambassador for the state and the game. He came back to Charleston last year and they named a facility where he hung out as a kid after him. Seemed like his old man was a pool shark on the West Side.

Loved us and Huntington as much as he did the Mountaineers. They played a lot of pick-up games down here back then. I remember that he was televising a network game back in 1971-72 season and his colleague mentioned Marshall being ranked eighth. Rod said -- and this was his exact quote: "As always, Marshall University has a fine basketball team. They like to run, and if given the opportunity, they'll run you right out of the gym!"

RIP, you delightful "Clown (that is the name of his book)."

 

[Herdmeister]

I saw him in a game against Canisius his senior year in Morgantown. He went to the line to take two foul shots in a rather tight game. He took the first one as a right handed hook shot and the second as a left handed hook shot, He made one of two.

 

[FluffyZuppy]

Rod loved people from WV as well. He would frequent game watch parties in the PHX area for years just to hang out with fellow West Virginian's.

 

[Tim Hensley]

Read the SI link that Herdgadfly (thank you, Sir!) put up. Great story about Rod and his interface with all West Virginians -- not just WVU.

 

[sistersville]

I went to his basketball camp in 74 abd 75. A lifetime of memories in those two weeks. His camp was at Salem College.

 

[assassin61]

Good read

 

[sinjin79]

I also attended Hot Rod's basketball camp during that time. I still have the camp certificate. I recall Hot Rod showing up for demos and to speak with the campers. He was still making hook shots from half court. lol
At night he would jump in his car and head down I-77 to Charleston for the night life. Then be back at camp the next day.

My late father played baseball with him at Charleston High. My dad was a sophomore catcher on the team when Rod was a senior pitcher. My dad said Hot Rod had those long arms and could throw a nasty breaking ball. He had potential to play professional baseball as well.

His first book, 'Clown' is a must read if you can get your hands on one. His manager said it is no longer published.

 

[sistersville]

Sinjin I got my certificate out and hung it on my wall. Hot Rod signed them . My friend won the free throw trophy in the federal division
I made the all star team. Ricky skaggs brother went with me the 2nd year and lost to Harold Wicks from greenbriar west.