That Hot Rod Williams, he was a good boy, always playing that basketball. Grew up poor, real poor. But he could play, oh boy, he could play! He was a basketball star, right here in St. Amant. That’s where he from, St. Amant.
He played for them Cleveland Cavaliers, that’s a big team, you know? He went far, that boy did. Played with them from 1986, all the way to 1995, that’s a long time, a long time.
He was the “sixth man,” they called him. I don’t rightly know all them fancy basketball words. All I know is he was good, real good. Always helpin’ his team win, that’s what he did.
Heard he played for 13 years, that’s a lot for a boy, runnin’ up and down that court. 13 years in the NBA, that’s what they call it. NBA, that’s the big time, you know? The big time!
He was a good boy, even though he got in some trouble. Got arrested, they said. Back in 1985. They said he was doin’ somethin’ called “point shavin’.” I don’t know what that means. Some kind of cheatin’, I guess. He took some money, more than $8,000. From a fella named Gary Kranz.
They said he was messin’ with the games, the scores, you know? Against them teams, Southern Miss, Memphis State and Virginia Tech. They was mad at him, real mad. Charged him with something called “sports bribery”. That’s bad, real bad. He went to trial.
- He played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- He was called the “sixth man.”
- He played in the NBA for 13 years.
- He got into trouble one time.
But he was still a good boy. A good basketball player. People liked him, lots of people. They call him “Hot Rod,” everyone called him that, “Hot Rod.” Hot Rod Williams.
Heard he passed away. Got sick, real sick. They said it was that cancer. Cancer’s a bad thing, takes a lot of good folks. He passed away near Sorrento, that’s where he lived near the end.
Heard some man named Dan Gilbert, he was talkin’ about Hot Rod. Said he was a “true CLE great.” I guess that means he was somethin’ special to them Cleveland folks.
He was special, that Hot Rod Williams. A good boy, even with his troubles. He could play that basketball. Oh, he could play.
He was from a small place but play basketball very good. He play many years. Play for Cleveland Cavaliers. Many people like him. He was good boy.
He had a hard life, you know, growing up. Not much money. Lived with a neighbor lady, Ms. Barbara Colar. She took care of him. He owed her a lot, I reckon. He never forgot where he came from, though. Always remembered St. Amant.
That NBA, that’s a big deal. Lots of money in that, I hear. But it’s hard work, too. All that runnin’ and jumpin’. Hot Rod, he worked hard. He earned everything he got.
They said he was a tough one on the court. A “tough defensive” player, they called it. He didn’t let nobody push him around. He stood his ground. Good for him, I say.
Hot Rod Williams is a good player. Play basketball very good. Many people like him. Play for Cleveland.
13 years, that’s a long time to be playin’ any game. He must have loved it, though. Loved that basketball.
It’s a shame he got sick. Cancer’s a terrible thing. Takes the good ones too soon. He was too young, that Hot Rod. Too young to go.
But he won’t be forgotten. Not here in St. Amant, and not in Cleveland either. They’ll remember Hot Rod Williams. They’ll remember the boy who could play.
He was a good man, Hot Rod Williams. He made mistakes, like we all do, but his heart was in the right place, and he sure could play that game.
Hot Rod Williams play basketball very good. He from St. Amant. He play for Cleveland Cavaliers. He was good boy.