CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big XII => Topic started by: UT-Erin03 on March 09, 2019, 10:07:37 AM
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Hi, all!
With his confirmation, I wanted to share an update on our beloved longtime poster CharleyHorse/HookyHornstein. He has not been doing well after suffering from a sudden severe condition that left him hospitalized since mid-Feb, resulting in surgeries, too. :03:
I don't know the details of the surgeries or exactly what is causing the most pain for him at this time, but he is still in a hospital and in recovery. I'm not sure also if he is well enough to talk, or wants to, as I corresponded via text to let him know he had a care package on the way and I was able to get some responses back which lifted my spirits. Not sure how long he will be in before getting released home, but I am praying its soon and he can find comfort quickly.
If you can send up some healing thoughts, please keep our old friend in your hearts. If you would like to send a card or anything, I was able to get the hospital info where he is currently and can likely give it out privately. I'm sure any good cheer he receives will help as he battles to get back to his life again. Hopefully he's well and in good spirits soon and can drop in for his own update, but just wanted to pass along this info to you since I was told it was safe to share.
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Very sad to here about HH health issues but hopefully he will recover and get back to his old self
Hang in there HH we miss you
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Thank you Erin. Its for sure a really rough patch for our good friend JCG.
Like with all illnesses it makes one’s friends feel kind of helpless, but at least we can send some prayers his way and add some levity to help keep his spirits up.
And, I’m cheering for Texas in solidarity with him, until he gets better.
Hook ‘em Horns and Hook ‘em JCG!
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Awe man, this is terrible news. Its dang sure the type I like the least.
Thanks for the heads up, @UT-Erin03 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=62) ... And @CharleyHorse46 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=21) , get better. Get a lot better you.
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Tough news! Hooky's not someone you ever think of being mortal. He's more of a force of nature. Irascible, silly, sometimes moody and petulant, but ever present. Sorry to hear he's been brung low for a bit.
Get better soon! We need more weedeater and bass boat stories.
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shoot, I was just in Leander playing the golf course Hooky recommended
If I had been paying attention I could have looked up the horse-pital and tried to visit the old man
I've met Hooky more than a few times and as Droog says, Charley doesn't seem to be the type that will ever have a health issue.
git well soon Hooky!!
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Sorry to hear this news. Hang in there, Hooky!
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can you provide me an address? I've got something from the community here needing to be sent... PM if you would be so kind.
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THANK YOU!!!!!
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BTW, i don't know why but I can see all your PM's from other people.... like someone asking for a MAGA hat icon, lol.
Not sure if you were aware of that or not, or if others can also see the PM I just sent to you with the address info. Or maybe I didn't send a PM like I thought and did something else, but whatever... looks like you got it!
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BTW, i don't know why but I can see all your PM's from other people.... like someone asking for a MAGA hat icon, lol.
Not sure if you were aware of that or not, or if others can also see the PM I just sent to you with the address info. Or maybe I didn't send a PM like I thought and did something else, but whatever... looks like you got it!
you actually posted it on my 'wall'.... sorta like facebook... I cleared the 'dox' off of it... so, we're good.
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Here's to Hooky with best wishes for a fast recovery and many more posts.
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I'd guessing and hopeful that we will soon get some entertaining stories about hospitals and nurses and other interesting things
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Whoa, I had no idea we have CFN walls..... I learned something new today!
I will take better precautions next time with verifying the PM process is being used. ;)
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Best wishes for speedy recovery big guy!
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Just seeing this get well & best wishes H.H. from the Frozen North.Hope you are on the 40 Acres real soon
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Hey
I've had a great life but a ough last year and a scary last month beyond my control. I'm still trying to recover. Thank you for your friendship, kind thoughts & prayers.
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I didnt like the tone of that last post.. It didnt say nothing 'bout trains, prison, mommas, or getting drunk.
We need you back in proper form, Sir ..... Soon.
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I didnt like the tone of that last post.. It didnt say nothing 'bout trains, prison, mommas, or getting drunk.
We need you back in proper form, Sir ..... Soon.
darlin
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Hey
I've had a great life but a ough last year and a scary last month beyond my control. I'm still trying to recover. Thank you for your friendship, kind thoughts & prayers.
Hey JCG.
I and Mrs. 847 had the distinct pleasure of shaking your hand a while back (at Ruby's), and sharing this little message board community with you. For probably 15 years or so? You were the first CNN refugee to show up. You cannot be done here, or in anything you've done. Please be well. Please. I look forward to shaking your hand, once again. Peace and love, to you, and yours.
847 Jim
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Hooky, we have not corresponded much directly but I love your wit, intelligence, and story telling. I pray your body responds to your treatment and we see that smart-assed Longhorn mouth of yours for another 30 years.
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Hey Slick, you and your family have my prayers for a full recovery asap. I've considered you a good friend for a long time. Be well!
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Hey
I've had a great life but a ough last year and a scary last month beyond my control. I'm still trying to recover. Thank you for your friendship, kind thoughts & prayers.
obviously, not back to full strength but, ..... still kickin!
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Hooky,
Get well soon!! I'd like to gloat to you when A&M gets to repay UT for that last game. 11 more years to go.
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Thank you all for your kind wishes. The next few days could b e pivotal for me. Drew. Thank you for the amazing box of swag!
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From all of us brotha, me just carries message.
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good luck the next few days big fella!
Hook'em Hooky!
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Thank you all for your kind wishes. The next few days could b e pivotal for me. Drew. Thank you for the amazing box of swag!
....and my sincere prayers (I don't know if there is another kind?) are with you, Sir.
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Some good news: our main man left the hospital and is home. He was there a long time.
My dear wife was hospitalized for about a month in 2016. Every day felt like three. A week was like a month. A month in there, well, it can rearrange your whole life.
No doubt JCG that you are one tough hombre.
So glad you’re home my friend.
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Glad to read this
Thanks for posting Fred
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best news I've heard all week!
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Some good news: our main man left the hospital and is home. He was there a long time.
My dear wife was hospitalized for about a month in 2016. Every day felt like three. A week was like a month. A month in there, well, it can rearrange your whole life.
No doubt JCG that you are one tough hombre.
So glad you’re home my friend.
Thanx for the update CF and hope whatever the affliction he is out of the woods
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Thank you for interest, friendship, encouragement.
They let me go but I’m very weak with a long road to recovery. The worst should be behind me now.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l50L4GYhpLc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l50L4GYhpLc)
or, of course:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn3_yCHu--Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn3_yCHu--Y)
^if you wanna take a different tact...
and since you got me going.... talking about 'covers', try this one on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoDXjhnCoA0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoDXjhnCoA0)
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Thank you for interest, friendship, encouragement.
They let me go but I’m very weak with a long road to recovery. The worst should be behind me now.
Hang in there amigo, I'm pulling for ya.
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One day at a time, HH.
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Glad to see some updates and that you are back home! We're cheering along the road to recovery with you, so please don't hesitate to reach out for anything we can do to help ease your journey back to happy & healthy days ahead. You've brought joy and good memories to me in our many years spent interacting on the many CFN board iterations, and I certainly hope to return any joy back your way if requested, big or small, and keep faith that we will see eachother again on a happier day!
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Been weighing whatto say...
Always been fortunate, healthwise. A year ago I imagined I was a 56 year old dude who felt, looked & acted about 42. Happy with family, life & career.
Then i was diagnosed with an unusual disease and in February that disease began perforating my bowels and intestines with these holes. They had to open me up for a laparotomy to repair me and then a second one two weeks later. Both were successful but possibly temporary. The month in the hospital with tubes in me has left me weak as a kitten. My world has shrunk from interest & opportunities & choices to practically being a burden on my family.
I’m thankful to be alive & I know I should sound more grateful but these a long, frustrating, confusing days (& nights) make me feel like I’m losing my identity. Thank you for your thoughts & prayers. Those 2 words will never sound trite to me.
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Good to hear from you CH
Its a great sign that the doctors let you go home
Hang in there
oh and just to let you know I mentioned that someone on my football forum had a serious
illness to my sister in law who is extremely religious
long story short you are in about 50 prayer chains all over Texas
so you got that going for ya
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i should have figured you'd have identity problems being known by so many names in these here circles... it's your style, friend, that you can't escape no matter what we call you. And that's the reason we're gonna know who you are no matter how it is you figure you're identified. Butt Hole Surfers- "you never know just how you look through other people's eyes".
so- I see you as a jovial feller who takes things just about as serious as they ought to be taken, which believe it or not gives a touch of tact to how i present myself in real life. I also see your brand of humor as a refreshing and a grounded vantage that still has ability to surprise- hence the humor part- though you ain't left the same reality we're all experiencing. that last bit "we're all experiencing" is the key to it.... your contributions round here and in our former government subsidized and/or bailed out digs of CFN and Scout now CBS/247 have always been binding- binding your world to my (our?) own and letting air and light into a space occupied by like minded (though often demented in a wonderful way) folks, which is the agent that binds this community.
way i got it figured, this set of skills you got that allows you to get by with antics like that without hardly anyone noticing (or maybe they just never said anything? am i breaking a code here?) can't possibly be limited to just here- which means you most likely have a similar appeal to those in your real world.... and that means they've defined you too.. i'm the only jerk willing to say it aloud.
point is it doesn't really matter- definitions, that is- because you don't get to do that. we do. and more to the point, in spite of the better greek tragedy's where the hero falls from grace, that's particularly difficult to reverse engineer in this electronic space. you're stuck with who you are and how we've defined you.
knowing now the nature of your predicament, I had a friend diagnosed with something akin- his was triggered by strenuous exercise, but to the same ends. very nasty. i'm at a loss of words to express how even to acknowledge it.
i once woke up an otter that got itself all snagged up in a trap. i thought he was dead at first, 'till i heard it snore... usually those critters either could care less about you or they poke around you trying to figure you out, and they almost always do comical things. this one was different in disposition on the count i figure he held me personally responsible for that trap he was in... it took some strong persuasion to get him headed in the other direction. i imagine after a brief recovery and pondering the more important things in his world, he once again found his curiosity of humans... just not on that day. that confusion sounds something like and similar at least to what you describe - but unlike you, that otter, or those hero's in the greek tragedy's, you cain't be judging yourself by a single event as compared to your entire span- not while your still shy of the event horizon, anyway.
and not while there is a helluva (I know you texan's love that word) lotta fun to still be had.
on a more direct and uninvited note: don't let yer pride get in the way of LETTING your people help you.... that SoB has a fascinating way of masquerading as 'burden' at times like these. they're there, and they no doubt want to help. lettin' them might not be easy.
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Good to hear from you CH
Its a great sign that the doctors let you go home
Hang in there
oh and just to let you know I mentioned that someone on my football forum had a serious
illness to my sister in law who is extremely religious
long story short you are in about 50 prayer chains all over Texas
so you got that going for ya
that right there is some scary mess... I mean, it's good for CH and all, but the thought passed my mind somebody may one day do something similar for me, and the last thing i'd ever need is for someone to remind the Big Man i'm still around and unaddressed...
but in all seriousness, this is a good thing and makes me proud to be somewhat a (pseudo)member of this here group.
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thinking about you and praying for you often!
and please, quit thinking about being a burden, it's not right
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When I was going through my rough GI-issues years ago (albeit not as serious as yours, but still scary to deal with unexpectedly), I ended up getting a friend who did screen-print T-shirts to make me one that said "I Hate My Guts". I would wear it every 6 weeks when I had to go to the hospital for IV-infusions that took about 4-5 hours each time, and I could tell which nurses had the same self-deprecating humor as me by who would react to my shirt and who wouldn't even acknowledge it. I'd say at least 75% would snicker and "get it", which helped minimize the hassle and nervousness of having to do the infusions each time.
I certainly hope you are able to retain your humor and positive spirit, even though I understand this is the hardest fight you have ever had to face. There is no burden to be placed anywhere, we are all on your side and ready to provide any strength, humor, commiseration, or providing we can to help ease this path. Please don't ever hesitate to lean on anyone you trust and need at any moment, as some of us would never see you as a burden but only a friend who we hope to help in any way we can.
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point blank, Charlie: What you're going through is the worse case scenario by my reckoning. I don't know what i'd do in your shoes- and i know for a fact i'd be attempting to find a shelter for my family akin to what i'm thinking you are talking about.
this is your story, dude- it's your tale from beginning to end. you're writing it. all your experiences are being drawn into some sort of confrontation with this illness, and wouldn't you know it how these things come at you is never how you figured? well, we know we all will face some serious tribulations in our lives and if we don't we were cheated by life. while all your experiences orientate towards fighting this thing, it's pretty obvious you have support from here, and that's a good thing. an even better thing is that this is still you're story and you get to write it; you may not get to read how others perceive it, but you are still the author. Write the hell out of it, Sir. Make it something (more)legendary.
@UT-Erin03 (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=62) --- great story thanks for sharing!!!
do you recall the XFL player who had the moniker "He Hate Me"? Cool story about that not a lot of folks know- he went to the Carolina Panthers and played on the practice squad, and he was injured by a team player during practice... the rest of the team had him a jersey made up that said "He Hurt Me"..... it was freakin' hilarious for both him and the rest of the team and staff... I love it when folks can see the humor above all else.
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JCG glad to hear you're doing better. This one's just for you...
A guy asks a doctor how long he will live
(https://www.redditstatic.com/desktop2x/img/renderTimingPixel.png)
So the doctor, looking at his clipboard and taking notes, begins to ask him a series of questions.
Doc: Do you eat red meat?
Patient: No
Doc: Do you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe?
Patient: No
Doc: Do you use any illicit drugs?
Patient: No
Doc: Do you drink beer or hard liquor?
Patient: Nope
Doc: Do you have any hobbies or do any activities that are risky like bungee jumping or sky diving?
Patient: No, that stuff scares me.
Doc: Do you have multiple sexual partners?
Patient: Nope, currently single and not looking.
Doc: Do you drive a fast car like a Porsche or Corvette?
Patient: Nope, a Toyota Camry.
Doc: Okay
Patient: So doctor, how long will I live?
Doc: {Looking up from clipboard} Why does it fucking matter? Your life is boring!
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:You_Rock_Emoticon:
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Glad to see your post here JCG. That's a good sign, although given that 6 days have passed since, I hope things are continuing to move in a positive direction or are at least stable.
These things are marathons, even ultras, not sprints, and I think that's one of the things that's so hard about it (and as you know I've got something dreadful like this going in my own household, for several years now). It's a long slow march and sometimes it seems like things are going backward not forward, because frankly sometimes that's exactly what's happening. It's maddening, and can lead to despair, but the resilience of the human body and psyche and spirit is really powerful.
So, like your other friends here, I join in with prayers for you, that your spirit and your body receive special care, and strength, and healing.
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just looking in for more good news.............
I'm a hopeful sort
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just looking in for more good news.............
I'm a hopeful sort
No big news. Just slow and steady recovery. My body has mostly healed from the surgeries and the condition that caused the surgeries is being held in check by meds. All the time in the hospital, howevver, left me 40 lbs underweight and unable to even walk or eat. I’m walking now with a walker. They say in several weeks I may be fully recovered. Crazy.
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dude, I could stand to lose 40, but you didn't need that, are you eating again?
I'll bet your sons have a sweet pic of you with that walker
I'm all for a full recovery in several weeks!!!!
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any good news?
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I am heartbroken. I’m so very sorry to have to share that our dear friend Jon passed on this morning. I will miss him so much. I know we all will.
http://www.beckchapels.com/m/?p=memorial&id=2170087
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Im in shock
It happened so sudden
I regret I never met him in person
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There are no words that can be said to make this okay, it will never be okay. Just heartbreaking for his family and it feels like the world is darker without JCG and his unique presence & energy.
Hopefully we can all share the truly memorable stories, chuckles, lessons, or memories we have all had with our longhorn-friend to help us get through the sorrow and void that his absence will no doubt leave.
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Please post this in memorial board. I didnt know him like someone who can say something really special can. I hate it. I hope he realized how we enjoyed his banter .
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I started one over there, I will have to add to it as I get past the sadness a bit and can get on with reflecting on all the better times we've all had together over the many years. I know many of you have been posting-pals for even longer than I have with HH, so hopefully anyone that feels compelled to share some thoughts & stories can add on.
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Shit. He reached out to me just a few days ago around Easter. We traded messages but I didn't get the chance to talk to him.
This is shocking, and heartbreaking.
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I'm crushed. I almost feel selfish for being this saddened by this news, knowing he had a wife and army of boys who have more of a right to it than I do.
I'm sure we were all expecting a tough recovery, followed by all sorts of tales regarding body functions, nurses, and relatives. To hear that he's walked away to his next adventure just has me sitting here in disbelief - waiting like, "and then what?".
Jon, our physically present interactions were limited. Your sheer force of presence made this world a happier, goofier, and more prurient place. Saying you'll be missed doesn't cover it and sounds insulting. Right now, there's just not any other coherent thoughts.
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All - Jon’s “ics&a wife” asked me for a bit of history on where our “back porch” community got started, and I wrote her the below. Does anyone have any edits to suggest? I can send an amendment.
Hi Robin, originally in about 1998 it was the CNN/SI sports forum for college football (and I believe it was specifically for Big 12 football). There were several migrations including to one called Rivals. Now it’s a place called CFB51 (which I think stands for college football Area 51 but I’m not totally sure). Jon was ALWAYS considered the most sagacious, the most hilarious and the best storyteller, throughout all these years of hanging out together online. No exaggeration!
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This is shocking, and heartbreaking.
My post on the 23rd looking for good news worried me more each day there was no good news, but I certainly wasn't prepared for this.
I feel lucky that I knew Jon as well as I did.
He was always willing to go out of his way to meet up with this yankee dirt farmer when I was in the area. I'm happy and very thankful that he did.
a true Texas gentleman
I'm deeply saddened. We all lost a true friend.
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I'm stunned. I never met him, but I've had plenty of message board encounters, some joyful, some hilarious, some of the head-butting variety. It's hard to believe that he's gone.
I'm of that age when you shouldn't be surprised to lose friends and family. My esposita and I lost a good friend less than a month ago. I have another friend who will probably not make it through this summer. Nevertheless, I'm shocked.
And I still owe him a beer from CFN days.
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"All - Jon’s “ics&a wife” asked me for a bit of history on where our “back porch” community got started, and I wrote her the below. Does anyone have any edits to suggest? I can send an amendment.
Hi Robin, originally in about 1998 it was the CNN/SI sports forum for college football (and I believe it was specifically for Big 12 football). There were several migrations including to one called Rivals. Now it’s a place called CFB51 (which I think stands for college football Area 51 but I’m not totally sure). Jon was ALWAYS considered the most sagacious, the most hilarious and the best storyteller, throughout all these years of hanging out together online. No exaggeration!"
Well I think you did perfect at a concise summary.
He was definitely one of the best conversationalists among the many people who have made up this community.
IMO, the internet can be a shallow, cruel, & dark place inhabited by people who appear to hate eachother (or other people in general), but this board in it's many iterations has attracted & maintained a sense of community like almost no other that I've been a part of, and a lot of it has to do with the sophistication & general supportive attitude towards our fellow posters that you don't see in other corners of the web.
Jon was a part of what made me feel welcomed & encouraged to keep sharing, posting, going to meet ups, and staying active in this place. It will never be the same without him, that's for sure.
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Im in shock
It happened so sudden
I regret I never met him in person
THIS ^^^^^Condolences TO his family and many good friends,like Little Big Matt,Gatorama,Mr Hoople and NU Wildcat will be missed in a big way.His stories were usually captivating and engaging and mostly believable.His proverbial presence and witty remarks were legendary.I think the funniest thing he did was creating a smug,salty Psued named ND RULES and trolled the Big Ten board in smashing fashion playing a condescending cork sucker.It was quite a riot - wished he had made more cameo's in that roll.RIP Jon
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I'm stunned. I never met him, but I've had plenty of message board encounters, some joyful, some hilarious, some of the head-butting variety. It's hard to believe that he's gone.
I'm of that age when you shouldn't be surprised to lose friends and family. My esposita and I lost a good friend less than a month ago. I have another friend who will probably not make it through this summer. Nevertheless, I'm shocked.
And I still owe him a beer from CFN days.
Yup just one head butting many,many lively exchanges.The old BIG 12 board was the Zenith of Forums from 2004 until the conference split - the conversations,remarks,barbs and exchanges were side splitting mostly and thought provoking other wise.Seize the Day wishing him well on the eternal journey
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there are flowers inbound from all of us- as pitiful a tribute as that seems while attempting to pay respect to such a character.
One of you is going to have to step up and take his role- and i wish you best of fortune in that endeavor, 'as if' it can be done.
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I'm incredibly saddened to hear of Jon's passing. I'm also very fortunate I've been able to interact with him on these boards for roughly 16 years now, and glad I did meet him in person once back in October of 2007.
You will be greatly missed, Hooky. RIP.
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If I had to ramble about my known history with Jon, well frankly that'd be the only way to do it.
I'd examined college football boards on and off, but never really joined in until the Aggie Bonfire tragedy. I think Jon was using his "Hooky Hornstein" label then on CNNSI (the whole "comments" part of the Internet was really still in its infancy - some would claim it still is)". The story he told was that he didn't realize that he wasn't supposed to publicly identify himself, so he originally registered with his real name and initials - JCG.
Of course, at that time Ray (aka Winged Helmet) ran his own site. That was a very tight group that stayed together for quite some time. Ray's generosity kept it together, and Ray's acid tongue went a ways toward breaking it up. The core of that group, from the Big 12 and Big 10 largely, tried to stay together as Dustin started his own place for awhile. WorldCrossing opened a free forum - with the added bonus of not only hosting College Football discussions, but since anyone could create a forum, lot of other esoteric topics as well! Jon and unindicted co-conspirators took delight in invading other boards and discussions, lying low and pretending to be serious for a week or two, before turning each thread into some insane parody.
Collegefootballnews became a permanent home for awhile. Eventually, like all the others, it got sold and lost message board functionality. That led us to our present place. CFB51 seems stable and enjoyable.
I've got to believe that Jon enjoyed his personality in chat and text form! I'm sure a lot of his tales were "theater of the mind" where a nugget of truth developed a more hilariously detailed surrounding, or many simply never occurred at all - but would have been too cool to simply pass over! We met together in person as large or small groups presented the opportunity, and Jon always made everyone feel welcome and like family. He was just the same in person as you'd hoped he'd be!
Time passes. Young(er) posters with worlds full of possibilities and passions become old(er) with responsibilities and works. Names with whom we'd chat in the past are either sporadic or absent entirely. We miss (most of) them, but it just happens. Through it all, Jon was largely the guy at the controls of the carnival ride. He kept the wheel turning. It may have been the same ride every day, but Jon made sure the possibility of new entertainment was always there. We were fortunate to have been part of his presence. There will always be a hole where his wit and wisdom should be.
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We met together in person as large or small groups presented the opportunity, and Jon always made everyone feel welcome and like family. He was just the same in person as you'd hoped he'd be!
We were fortunate to have been part of his presence. There will always be a hole where his wit and wisdom should be.
well said
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sorry to hear this.. I did not know Jon outside the boards, but he was good soul. I'll pray for his family. So sudden..
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The grief is eased a tiny bit by reading all these wonderful rembrances
I don’t think his family knew that much about this community of his, the back porch. I texted his wife, when I sent her the brief history thing, that he always referred to her as his “ics&a wife” describing what the initials meant, and she said “aw that’s sweet - thank you for telling me that”
It might be valuable to her and their sons to package up all these tributes to Jon from us and send them their way.
If folks are okay with that, I’ll wait a few more days, maybe until early next week and do that ...
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I'm fine with it.
It's a nice gesture.
Hopefully, the family would take it the right way.
I imagine they would, Hooky was a good man.
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just an offering:
people feel the loss the most in the coming months. right now folks are expressing their thoughts and feelings, which is also important, but... the real saddest part is in a month or so when the impact wears and folks get back to their daily routine leaving those who truly felt his daily presence alone with their thoughts..
I love the idea, and i don't consider my voice valid in the presence of those of you who were close.... but. That gesture offered would be even more valuable to the family after some time has passed. it's important they know realize they're not alone in their loss- and the value he presented elsewhere was great, too.
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On my end, there’s so much I shared in common with Jon: age, outlook on life, raising teenage boys, crazy youth that somehow morphed into settled middle age, etc, that over the years we developed a running correspondence apart from the board. We gave each other support when our fathers died, and then more recently with these health nightmares that hit both our families.
But here, it was the RRR and the constant good natured (and very deep) bullshit we gave each for now 20 years that has been such a hoot. Don’t get me wrong - I like so many Texas fans here Erin, utee, 320 and more - but it was JCG whom I loved most to tangle with. He was so incredibly witty and so devastatingly insulting. He kept me in stitches, and also digging deep to sling my own “froth” back, pretty much constantly chuckling at it all, in both directions.
You see, each of us had lived on the other side. His (as he described her) crazy Okie mom and his years lived in Oklahoma matched up well with my idiosyncratic in-laws (via my brother) and I even met my ics&a Argentine esposita (as Hooky referred to her) in Texas. So he referred to me as “primo” (and then I him) because of all our cross-border connections. I don’t think any other Okie on this board had the Texas connections I did, and I don’t think any other Texan here had all the Okie heritage and experience he had. We were like the yin and yang of the RRR hereabouts and that’s probably why i liked to mix it up with Hooky most of all.
I’m gonna miss him like the dickens. I can’t stand it really. We were supposed to be arguing OU-Texas all the way into our 80s long enough for the Sooners to catch Texas in the all time series record.
So it’s completely silly but considering all, the biggest tribute I can give Jon is to cross the Red _for him_ and cheer for Texas (just) this year in the RRR. MrN said I shouldn’t go that far, but I disagree. I gave Hooky crap about Texas for 20 years, and he always took it with such great humor, and so now it’s time to just say that it’s his year and he means more to me than any football team.
Hook’em Jon, my primo, my friend. You will always be close to my heart.
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Good observation Drew. I agree it’s weeks later when the real hollowness of the loss really sets in.
I’m fine with waiting awhile.
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Not to placate anyone's regret/grief but as Fearless somewhere pointed out he lived a full life.Still does not make sense but living his life was not a bad assignment.A little debauchery mixed in with Bible College - a little something for the body and soul
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There are just so many good Hooky stories, my mind is still all over the place trying to pin down the most memorable ones. I am certain that I'm pulling a Roger Clemens and misremembering stuff, and kinda wish I could retrieve past conversations from the old CFN days before the history disappeared to verify if my memory is accurate.
His crazy mama stories, his recollections of the old Austin days, never being the silent type & always the over-sharer but always with the intent of humor & entertainment.... it's just SO much that I am going to miss and wish I could go back in time and screen-shot some of the posts that had me stifling my laughter in my office chairs over the years.
When I first joined, I remember the off-season being almost more active than the regular season and that part of it was always a fun way to waste some time while I was trying to get through the work days at a job I didn't enjoy. I definitely posted some silly quizzes out of boredom & curiosity to see who else wanted to be silly with me, and he was always joining in on the trivial time-wasters. There was one that was a "What Kind of Dog are You?" type personality quiz, and I posted it stating that I was a Cocker Spaniel based on the results, which I thought was cute since Lady & The Tramp is one of my favorite childhood movies. In comes Hooky to let me know I shouldn't be so proud about that because those dogs are so dumb they take a wiz on the floor all the time... and sure enough, he was right. I never met a cocker spaniel that didn't pee on the ground everytime someone came in the house.
And I wanna say it was him who used to sometimes pick apart screen names, and had done it with the HuskerPower poster at one time. Something to do with eating corn and how the corn resurfaces itself to the top of the toilet bowl well after being digested, and THAT was the real husker power. Was that him, or was it BigBeefTaco? It was such a hoot that now I know I'm not even telling it right and not even sure if it was him or not because it's been a decade or so since it happened.
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Yes not a techie but would have had a blast rehashing all the jousts in cache from the BIG 12 Board,2004-2011.It really was riveting and it wasn't only Slick,some lost in the transfer,but it was the 1st thing I ever read when home.They were funny,insightful,engaging and sometimes furious.We need to carry on in tribute and style.Was not privy to the husker prick squad (that still cracks me up) as 94 reffered to them that was CNN/SI or very early CFN
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been a cornsiderable part of my life since 1997
many many good people have come and gone on the boards
Jon was one of the best all-time
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This hit me way wrong today...got Fearless' email and it didn't seem real. I only met Hooky once, but he was as gracious as the day is long and I know that those of you who knew him better than I are heartbroken.
Still recognize a lot of the same ol' mugs from 1998 (and beyond) around here...hard to believe that internet message boards are now generational in nature.
Glad to see that the Big XII Back Porch has carried on in spirit.
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It's unfortunate, that at my age, funerals bring together the most friends
but, regardless of the reason, it's always good to hear from friends
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It's been a while since I've been here, and also since I've communicated with him, so when Erin texted me this morning what had happened and that she was on her way to the memorial service, I had no idea. Ton of bricks.
This hurts. As I'm sure it does to all of you who have known him here for a long time.
I guess I first met him at the board meeting in Austin in 2007, but as we both lived there and hit it off, we began meeting up for lunch somewhat regularly whenever I was working in town. He must've called his own shots, at least as far as lunch was concerned, because no matter how spur of the moment it was, whenever I alerted him that I was working near home that day and wanted to know if he wanted to grab lunch, it was almost always a "yes." Not sure how many times we met up over the next few years, until I left.
He was everything you'd expect from his Hooky persona in person, really. All the same humor, great storyteller, never at a loss for words, charming and charismatic, and always gracious. He never minded filling me in on all his thoughts about UT, and amazingly never minded me filling him in about the coonasses from across the border. But actually, football talk probably made up less than 50% of our conversations.
In the years since I left Austin, I don't think I met with him again in person on any of my visits. Mainly I just communicated with him via text or facebook for the last few years, and that not as frequently as I now wish.
Damn.
I'd like to write something more poignant, and if this stuff is getting shared with his family or whatever, I wish I could elaborate with more eloquence in my usual TLDR style. I'm just a little numb right now. It's tough to process a world where I can't reach out to that wit and wisdom and find it readily waiting.
I sure wish I'd kept up with him more in the last year or two. Along with Utee94 and Erin, he's one of the Longhorns I've met multiple times in person, and despite how it may seem odd, I consider them friends well beyond mere internet acquaintances. I wonder if that would've surprised him to know, and I wish now instead of the infrequent and abrupt "Hey, what's up?" and "Hey did you hear about...?" that I would've told him I considered him a good buddy. No telling how many times I've mentioned him and utee/erin to my Longhorn wife. Not to go off topic (sometimes JCG liked to imagine he hated people doing that), but am compelled to tell the rest of you that despite prolonged absences, y'all are more than just names on a screen to me....and that goes triple for you, Erin and MM. This place means something to me. Y'all mean something. Hooky meant something.
Damn.
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He was everything you'd expect from his Hooky persona in person, really. All the same humor, great storyteller, never at a loss for words, charming and charismatic, and always gracious. He never minded filling me in on all his thoughts about UT, and amazingly never minded me filling him in about the coonasses from across the border. But actually, football talk probably made up less than 50% of our conversations.
nailed it!
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I've shared my experience from the final service in the Memorial thread, as well as a few photos:
https://www.cfb51.com/cfb51-memorial-board/hookyhornstein-charley-horse/new/#new (https://www.cfb51.com/cfb51-memorial-board/hookyhornstein-charley-horse/new/#new)
Please keep sharing your thoughts, favorite conversations or stories, or anything you want, as we are all grappling to understand the loss of this legacy. Life is just too short and we all should take care of ourselves & eachother when needed, and it's nice that we can still reach out to eachother during this tough time no matter how infrequent or often we still interact on these boards.
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My God. I've not been on here for a little over a week and this is a major blow to the community. Damn. Life is too short.
You were a good man, and friend. Glad I had the pleasure of shaking your hand. RIP JCG.
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my heart goes out to hooky's family and friends, including you bigxii-ers here that knew him best. my forays into bigxii territory have been few and far between since moving to the new site, but hooky was always here to greet us intruders with a humble welcome (ha! yeah right).
i didn't know him personally, but as an ambassador of texas, texas football, and bigxii fans, well, he did y'all right. i'm sorry for your loss.
here's to you and yours, hooky. cheers and hook'em.
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Holy shit..... shocking news. Haven't been around much and just logged on to see this.
HH was an internet legend... been posting with him since.... '99?
RIP Hooky. Backporch won't be the same without you.
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Wow. I haven't been around much and hadn't read this thread, This was so unexpected.
Hooky was the first to welcome me to the Forum so many years ago. I'm at a total loss of what to say.
RIP Hooky, we shall never see his like again.