Over the years, Ron Boone learned many things from Hot Rod Hundley, the Utah Jazz's longtime and notoriously thrifty broadcaster who died Friday.
"He taught me a lot," Boone said, smiling slightly. "... He taught me how not to spend money on the road."
Speaking Saturday night in the EnergySolutions Arena media room, which is named in Hundley's honor, Boone provided some personal glimpses of his late colleague prior to the Jazz's game against Oklahoma City.
"I got to know him very, very well — not only in the broadcast booth, but on the golf course," Boone said. "We became very, very good friends. … He was a special person to me."
Boone and the rest of the current Jazz television and radio team received word of Hundley's death an hour before Friday night's game in Denver.
"It was a very sad moment when we got the call," he said. "It was tough to broadcast a basketball game and focus in on what was happening. … He was a legend in everything — from basketball to friendship to basketball. I was just happy to be a part of his life."
Craig Bolerjack, who replaced Hundley as the TV voice of the Jazz in 2005, knew his predecessor for 30 years.
"One thing about Hots, he embraced you," Bolerjack said. "He embraced me … [and] we forged an incredible relationship."
Bolerjack nearly broke down when recalling their talks when Hundley decided to give up his television duties and do only radio.
"He gave me his blessing to take this job and run," Bolerjack said. "… You have to love him, baby. I know I always will."
Listen to Hundley's top 10 calls.
Travis Henderson, the Jazz's vice president of TV broadcasting, remembers starting with the organization when he was 23 and quickly being befriended by Hundley.
"He was a terrific basketball player, a Hall of Fame broadcaster and even a better person," Henderson said. "That's what I will remember."
As a tribute to Hundley, every Jazz player will wear a black stripe on his jersey for the remainder of the season. The team also held a moment of silence before Saturday's tipoff.
