Hot Rod welcomed back

With a press room named in his honor and a banner raised to the EnergySolutions Arena rafters, the old announcer hit home Friday.

The Jazz honored "Hot" Rod Hundley as part of their game against Sacramento, celebrating a 35-year career as the Voice of the Jazz that came to an end with his retirement after last season's playoffs.

Hundley's banner features a microphone, the old music note logo and recognition of the 3,051 Jazz games he called over the years. He danced onto the court after it was unveiled and faked a hook shot to close the halftime ceremony.

The last remaining member of the original New Orleans Jazz staff before his retirement, Hundley said during the ceremony that he thought he was coming to a football state when the Jazz relocated in 1979.

"It's the NBA, Utah Jazz, that is No. 1 in this state," Hundley said. "You people have made my day, and I love every one of you."

Hundley, who had to call games from the top of the lower bowl of seats after returning to radio in his final four seasons, was back courtside Friday, sitting next to Gail Miller.

The Jazz transformed their press room into a museum of sorts to Hundley in barely four days. Hundley's basketball life is traced along one wall, starting from his days as a college All-American at West Virginia to his final call last year.

Included are memorabilia from Hundley's career, including a program from the 1961 NBA All-Star Game (in Syracuse, N.Y.), a press pass from the inaugural New Orleans Jazz season in 1974-75 and his Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I've had the complete ride, and it's been absolutely marvelous, I'm telling you," Hundley said.

Team president Randy Rigby choked up -- much as Larry Miller would have -- when thanking Hundley for all those thousands of games called. Rigby shared that he got letters from visually impaired fans thanking him for Hundley's illustrative broadcasts.

"He called the game like he played it, with excitement, color and flair," Rigby said. "He had a style and tone that was unique to Hot Rod Hundley, and it was unique in the NBA, it was unique in professional sports and it was unique in sports broadcasting."

Hundley shared the story of learning with a knock on his door in 1979 that the Jazz were moving to Utah. The man who delivered the news -- and was interested in buying his house -- asked Hundley: "You going with them?"

"Flying in here on a summer day was so beautiful," Hundley said. "The snow-covered mountains and the dry heat. You ever been to New Orleans? A lot of humidity. I said, 'Man, this is unbelievable.' "

Hundley joked that Matt Harpring was one of the best analysts he ever had -- "for one game" -- that Ron Boone couldn't get a word in during 16 years as his partner and about his "Horny for 3" call for Jeff Hornacek.

"A school teacher wrote me a letter and said, 'Can't you find another nickname for him?' " Hundley said.

Hundley is featured in four typographical portraits on the wall that were created with shadings of words -- both a list of the accomplishments in his career as well as his signature phrases, including "You Gotta Love It, Baby."

"What you're really impressed with is the fact that he had to enjoy his work and I think he showed that in his broadcasts," Boone said. "The way he brought the game into your living room. Only missing [14] games in 35 years? How special is that?"