Most folks know Rod Hundley as the announcer for the Utah Jazz games on radio and television. He has the distinction of being the only NBA player who is also an NBA announcer. With a unique style and familiar voice that have made him one of the most popular and well-recognized broadcasters ever, public perception can often be deceiving.

I had heard rumors about Hot Rod Hundley that made me wonder who I would be encountering. Contrary to what I had heard, rather than meeting a hard drinking, womanizer who is only concerned about pinching pennies, I encountered a caring grandfather and a man who has done more for children's causes than most people can even begin to imagine.

So much of who Hot Rod is today was influenced by his tough upbringing in Charleston, West Virginia. Abandoned by his parents at an early age, Rod learned early on to fend for himself. He quickly learned not to grow too attached to any one person or place. His formative years were ones that didn't offer a lot of stability. In his young mind, the only thing he knew he could count on was basketball.

As he tells it, 'I went from basketball, then education, then pro player, then broadcasting.'

When his career took off, he was able to occasionally visit his birth mother when he would go to Washington, D.C. He remembers how hard she had to work to support herself. When she could find work, she was a waitress or found jobs in hotels. Rod's mother lived a tough life until she passed on at the age of 82.

Never knowing his father, Rod had to determine his role as a father for himself. One of the saving graces for Rod was his experiences as a kid at the YMCA.

'I used to sneak into the Y so I could stay off the streets and I would have somewhere to spend my days. There was a guy that would help me get in. I spent most of my time playing basketball.'

Another favorite place for Hot Rod to hang out was the Boys and Girls Club. It was these experiences in his formative years that are evident in the time and energy he gives back to nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA.

The first opportunity I had to see Hot Rod 'in action' was at The YMCA's Sports Night to benefit kids. As one of the YMCA's primary fundraisers each year, with Hot Rod in the driver's seat being roasted, the organization was able to raise $'95

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