Utah Jazz: Locke to succeed Hundley as team's broadcaster

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As far as his credentials as a Jazz fan, David Locke needed only describe the "Dr. Dunkenstein" poster of Darrell Griffith in his bedroom growing up or the Karl Malone poster in his college dorm.

Now Locke is charged with succeeding arguably the Jazz's greatest legend in Hot Rod Hundley. The 38-year-old was named Monday as the team's new radio voice -- only the second in Jazz history with Hundley retiring after 35 seasons.

"It's one thing to be able to be fortunate enough to get one of these 30 jobs that exist," Locke said, "but to be able to get the one for the team that was your favorite team when you were a kid is really, really more than I can swallow."

Jazz president Randy Rigby said Locke will call games solo, as well as continue to host his afternoon show on KFNZ 1320 AM. Between the show and the Jazz broadcasts, Rigby added, Locke should be able to connect year-round with fans.

Locke, who flashed back Monday to once having called into Jim Rome's national radio show to demand more Jazz talk, was the radio voice of the Seattle SuperSonics for the 2006-07 season before returning to Utah.

Although he was in town, Hundley did not attend Monday's news conference at the Jazz's practice facility. In fact, Hundley first learned that the Jazz were set to name Locke as his successor in a Monday morning call from The Tribune .

"As Rod and I talked about the situation, we both agreed that this is David's opportunity to be in the sun," Rigby said, "and Rod out of respect for David wanted him to be able to enjoy and have this moment for him and for his family."

Hundley, 74, described Locke as having "paid his dues" during his years in Seattle, when he also broadcast the WNBA's Seattle Storm. The two spoke Monday, with Locke thanking Hundley for his graciousness.

"He said, 'Be yourself. I'm the only person who'll get away with copying someone,' as he did with Chick [Hearn]," Locke said. "And he said, 'Just create your own style. You're going to call a lot of games and you will get better every single game you call.' "

There won't be any gentle pushes, mild arcs or cowhide globes, though, from Locke, who has no plans to adopt any of Hundley's signature phrases.

For all the statistical analysis he offers on his radio show, Locke also promised his Jazz broadcasts won't be numbers-driven. "It doesn't work," he said.

He added that his season with the Sonics helped him to appreciate the difference between calling a game and hosting a show: "I have to be prepared and I have to have done my work, but the game's the show. When you're doing a talk show, you have to prepare the show."

Chris Baum, the Jazz's senior vice president of broadcasting, said Locke has been quick to embrace live blogging as well as Facebook and Twitter. Locke very well could end up contributing to (though probably not hosting) a live blog during broadcasts this season.

"I know he's going to come prepared," Baum said. "We tease him sometimes about the size of his spreadsheets, but I know David is going to bring a work ethic to this job and bring commitment to this job."

Hundley, meanwhile, is preparing for his first season away from the NBA in nearly a half-century. He plans to live eight months of the year at his new home in Peoria, Ariz., and return to Salt Lake City for four months each summer.

"You can't get away from [the NBA]," Hundley said. "Every time you look at the sports page, there's something there. I hope the Jazz do well. I'll be watching them pretty closely."

Hundley was the last remaining member of the original New Orleans Jazz staff. He celebrated his 3,000th Jazz broadcast last season and was honored in 2003 with the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Jazz are planning a tribute this season, Rigby said, while Hundley again thanked fans. "They really made me feel at home," he said. "All over the state, everywhere I go, there's always Jazz fans."

Much of the credit for that support, Hundley added, should go to John Stockton and Karl Malone. "The following we had was incredible in those days," Hundley said. "I hope it comes back."

As the Jazz transition to Locke, Hundley spoke about being the team's radio voice: "It's a fun job to have, I'll tell you that, if you like basketball. There's no better job if you like basketball."

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