Hundon's hunger leads to success

Which only makes his accomplishments on and off the football field all the more remarkable. Since his year in West Point, in what Hundon calls "the turning point of my life," the record-breaking San Jose SaberCats receiver has carried his status as one of the Arena Football League's best players and local role model as a badge of honor.

For the past two years, Hundon has worked as a group supervisor in the San Mateo County juvenile probation department, counseling troubled teenagers. He serves as a motivational speaker and father figure, advising teenagers on the ways of the world thorough his own, hardened experiences.

He is the main figure in the SaberCats community relation efforts, representing the team in various functions and regularly speaking to local high school students.

"I really make it a point to make all the functions," Hundon said. "I remember seeing how some of the athletes I looked up to and how they treated young kids. Some of them were pretty rude. I didn't want to be like them. It's important to be a responsible leader in the community."

Hundon was particularly touched when a former teen he used to counsel in the San Mateo probation department, along with her mom, approached him last year at a Warriors game.

"She says hi and then her mom comes up to me and says how highly her daughter thought of me and how motivating I was," Hundon said. "You really don't know how actively teens are listening sometimes, so it was nice to see I made a difference."

Hundon, at 33, has already experienced more ups and downs than many will in a lifetime. He is the jack-of-all-trades in the sporting world, having played in four professional football leagues: the NFL (1996-99, Cincinnati Bengals), the defunct XFL (San Francisco Demons, 2001), the AFL (2001-present) and the Canadian Football League last fall.

He graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2001 for the magazine's Xtreme Football League preview edition.

Proving the doubters wrong

Of course, no one thought Hundon would end up playing in four different leagues, let alone one. Hundon, a 1988 graduate of Jefferson High, weighed a meager 98 pounds in his freshman year. He ballooned to all of 150 pounds by the end of his senior year. Hundon was constantly teased growing up and remembered all the comments as to why he would never make it to the big time.

Too skinny, they said. Too small. Not fast enough. Too weak.

"All the older guys in high school laughed and told me I would get broken in half playing football," Hundon said. "Now some of those same guys come and watch me play. That's what keeps me going - to prove people wrong. Right now everyone is saying I'm too old. It's a personal challenge and I love to respond to the doubters. In life all a man wants is respect."

No doubt the 6-1, 176-pound wideout has paid his dues. Hundon played at City College of San Francisco in 1989 and '92, earning team MVP honors in the latter season after hauling in 31 passes for 890 yards (his 29 yard per catch average led the nation) and 10 touchdowns. He was inducted into the CCSF athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

Hundon spent two years at Portland State from 1994-95 and signed with the Bengals in '96. His best year in the NFL came in '97, when he played in all 16 games and had 16 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

Hundon has been moderately successful in every league, but it's in the AFL, aka the "Indoor War," where he's really excelled.

He is the SaberCats all-time leader in touchdown catches (86), receptions in one game (14) and single-season reception leader (98). Hundon's 2002 campaign was one of the greatest offensive displays for a receiver in league history.

He had 98 receptions for 1,464 yards and a whopping 35 touchdowns - and that was just in 14 regular season games. In three postseason games, he had 25 catches for 312 yards and five TDs, including a scintillating eight receptions and three touchdowns against Arizona in ArenaBowl XVI, powering San Jose to a blowout win.

Talk about saving your best for last. Hundon was simply in Nirvana.

"Winning a championship is the ultimate feeling," Hundson said. "It's the highlight of my career and something every athlete dreams about. I worked all my life for that and to win one is pretty miraculous considering I was too old or small to play."

So how does a skinny and not particularly fast receiver seemingly get better with age? By running precise routes and working like a demon in practice and in the weight room.

"It also doesn't hurt to have experience," Hundon said. "You have to know your limits, play smart and not get too greedy."

San Jose, which is one of the AFL's class organizations, is once again in the hunt to win this year's ArenaBowl.

Tragedy makes Hundon stronger, success sweeter

Hundon's toughness makes him an iron man in a league that hands out an award by that exact title. Last year he had hernia surgery after the first game of the season and was told by doctors that he would miss six to eight weeks. He ended up coming back a month later.

Despite myriad physical ailments over the years, Hundon has suffered far more mental anguish. He lost two of his uncles five days apart in 1992 and suffered through two divorces, first in '96 and the second in 2001.

"I was very close to my uncles and when they died I dedicated my football career to them," Hundon said. "With my failed marriages I just didn't get the support from my wives. But you learn through these experiences and it serves as life lessons."

Hundon has two children, Jade, 9, and Jalen, 4. The two were in Hundon's arms two years ago when the SaberCats won the ArenaBowl in their home arena before a sellout crowd of 16,942, amid a snow of ticker tape, booming fireworks and the song "We Are the Champions" blaring in the background.

It was enough to make Hundon well up with tears. He soaked in the moment, and at that point realized all the heartache and heartbreak he went through, all of the countless hours he put in was worth it.

"This," Hundon said, "is a dream come true. I couldn't have asked for anything more."