RIP Hot Rod, I remember the time when he joined the Lakers broadcast booth for 6 games back in 2009. He's said the best schooling he ever got was from Chick Hearn in '67-'69 when he began his broadcasting career. You could hear some of Chick's influences in his calls, it was great to have him guest announce, sure wish he could've stayed in LA much longer.
RIP to also a West Virginia basketball legend, and one of the original LA Lakers when the team moved west from Minneapolis. Great broadcasting career and he did indeed learn from the master. Was also a bit of a rascal and hell raiser. He will be missed.
Man, sad to hear. Was a great guy from stories I read.
I remember reading a story where him and Elgin Baylor were sharing a cab after Elgin scored 70 points and Hot Rod scored 2. Hot Rod tells the cabbie, 'hey, between the two of us, we scored 72 points tonight!'
RIP Hot Rod, I remember the time when he joined the Lakers broadcast booth for 6 games back in 2009. He's said the best schooling he ever got was from Chick Hearn in '67-'69 when he began his broadcasting career. You could hear some of Chick's influences in his calls, it was great to have him guest announce, sure wish he could've stayed in LA much longer.
I just remember his last year with the Jazz. At the end of the game, the telecast caught Kobe going up to hug him and give props. Hot Rod was grinning ear to ear pointing at Kobe,"You're the best! You're the best!". A great moment.
Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 6054 Location: My own little piece of reality
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:53 pm Post subject:
RIP.
He was a fun guy to listen to. _________________ “There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it.” --Amanda Gorman
Aww, shh. It's bizarre, but a couple days ago, I had a random memory of the Kobe game winner in Milwaukee about 6 yrs ago. Hot Rod did that gm w/ Joel.
Lest it be forgotten, Hot Rod became more known as the Jazz color commentator, but that guy NEVER stopped being a Laker at heart. He was one of the Laker affiliates on a 1972 show hosted by Curt Gowdy which reviewed the 1962 Finals in which LA lost Gm 7 at the final buzzer. You can see the glumness of the Laker members while that bastard Red lights up a stogie as they replay the final secs. Hot Rod was a Laker, that's not to be gotten twisted.
Further, I have a 1985 retrospective which I haven't uploaded, but it was Riley in studio with Jim Hill after the Lakers finally won at that rat trap. They showed bits from a few of the old guys and as the Lakers looked liked they were finally winning, Hot Rod said he called up teammate Tommy Hawkins (another great guy, used to go on Joe McDonnell's show all the time) and Tommy told Hot Rod, "I've got my uniform on!" (haha) A bunch of the old Lakers must've been watching that game that night hoping they'd break thru.
In 1987, the Jazz (tip of hat) gave Kareem a 40th bday cake and on LA's next trip there, Chick was calling his 2000th straight and they brought him and Marge out to midcourt. Both scenes shown on the 87 champ vid. No doubt AT ALL that Hot Rod and Frank Layden (a personal friend of Chick, Pat, etc) were the force behind getting those nods of recognition on their home court for the opposing Lakers. That's when the Jazz had more class.
Stu's out for a few games, the Lakers call up Hot Rod, and he comes out to do color in Milwaukee and Detroit, etc.
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