True Grit
Tony Mercado
Monday December 26, 2005
In the fourth quarter of Arena Bowl XVIII against the Arizona Rattlers, Hundon took a blow to the face and went down hard. Television cameras zoomed on his face as he walked to the sideline, catching the crimson streaming down the side of his nose and onto his chin.
He said later he couldn’t figure out where the blood was coming from, assuming it was from the nostril. Turns out cartilage had actually pierced the skin, but instead of sitting out, Hundon ran back onto the field. A few plays later, he caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Grieb.
That’s tough.
"I was in a lot of pain. My face was just killing me," Hundon told me recently. "But you know, it couldn’t have been a better scenario."
The SaberCats went on to win 69-62 to capture its second Arena Bowl championship. Hundon had a role in that first title in 2002 as well, scoring three touchdowns in a 52-14 rout over, that’s right, the Rattlers.
For Hundon, that first championship is special because it came at the expense of a team that earlier in the year had spoiled the SaberCat’s quest for an undefeated season. In that match-up, Hundon remembers dropping a key pass that could have net the ‘Cats a touchdown.
He cried after that game.
"No one knew that. I took it hard for not holding onto the ball and I really blamed myself because we could have done Arizona in," he recalled. "From that point on, it was just a goal to win it all. I knew we were going to see Arizona again."
He smiled.
"And that’s why Arizona got what they got."
Even before that game, Hundon had validated the whispers flying from one defensive back to the other around the league: "He’s not the one you want to get downfield." "He’s one of the toughest to cover."
"I always wanted to dominate," he said. "When I got into the game, I wanted my opponent’s plan to be that you had to stop me."
In four years with the SaberCats, Hundon defined the term, "offensive specialist."
He’s one of the top receivers in club history, setting season records with 1,464 receiving yards and scoring 35 touchdowns while playing in all 14 games of the 2002 title winning season. He’s the franchise career leader in 100-yard receiving games with 22 and ranks second in receiving yards – 4,648 – and touchdown receptions with 99.
SaberCats fans are going to miss Hundon this year, as much for his grit and skill on the field as for his after-game gentlemanly ways that endeared him to so many in the stands.
I’ll remember him as a big crowd favorite. And guess what? San Jose will stay with him for a very long time as a place that was receptive and supportive when other places weren’t. Stints in the National, Canadian and Xtreme football leagues can’t compare to the one he experienced in this town.
He won’t forget standing in the tunnel leading to the field at HP Pavilion and seeing for the first time in the stands someone wearing his jersey number. Hundon was so moved, he ventured over to the gentleman after the game to thank him.
"I can’t even explain what an awesome and overwhelming feeling that was, and still is," he said. "San Jose fans are truly the greatest."
Although a cervical spine injury would keep him off the field for all of 2005 and finally force him to walk away from the game, Hundon’s eyes are toward the future.
He’ll continue doing probation counseling at San Mateo’s Juvenile Hall and would eventually like to get into radio or television with the SaberCats. He says the team has the potential to win a few more Arena Bowls and was glad he could be part of bringing a winning tradition to San Jose.
"I feel I did a good job conducting myself," he said. "Just being able to play and get support from the fans. They were always so respectful and I have to thank all of them for that."
No, James. Thank you.
Tony Mercado holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Jose State University and spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter in the Bay Area. He now works in the public relations field, but continues to enjoy writing about the local teams and the positive impact its players, coaches and dance squads have in their communities.
