WHAT'S UP WITH TOMMY HAWKINS

AGE: 65.

HOME: Los Angeles.

FAMILY: Wife Layla, sons Kevin and David and daughters Traci andKarel.

OCCUPATION: Vice president of external affairs for the Los AngelesDodgers.

POSITIONS: Forward, center.

BASKETBALL BACKGROUND: Hawkins was the Public League scoringchampion in 1954-55, averaging 29 points for Parker High. He was atwo-time All-American at Notre Dame, where his career scoring average(23.0) is third in school history and his career rebounding average(16.7) is second. Hawkins was a defensive specialist in 10 NBAseasons (1959-60 to 1968-69) with the Minneapolis and Los AngelesLakers and the Cincinnati Royals. He broadcast Lakers games for 19years and hosted numerous TV and radio programs, including a jazzshow, before joining the Dodgers. An active community leader, Hawkinsoversees the Dodgers' speakers bureau. He's in the IllinoisBasketball and Chicago Sports halls of fame.

VELVET TOUCH: My father left us when I was 6, so my mother[Juanita] brought up five children by herself. The only time I sawhim after that was at his funeral in North Carolina when I was 11. Wetook a train. Mother was a great-looking lady who managed cafeterias.When she died, I wrote a poem for her funeral program, thanking herfor taking care of us. It was called, 'The Iron Maiden with theVelvet Glove.' I think of her every day."

THAT TODDLIN' TOWN: "I wouldn't have missed the ritual of growingup in Chicago for anything--the playground at 71st and South ParkAvenue [King Drive], White Castles, pizza and, of course, Polishsausages smothered with grilled onions and peppers with cabbage andsauerkraut. One bite, and the juice would explode in your mouth. Theroller rink at Park City on 63rd drew the finest women in Chicago.We'd go round and round to the music of Sterling Todd on the organ."

ABOUT PARKER: "It was just being integrated, so there were onlyabout 25 or 30 blacks. James Armstrong of Carver and I tied for thePublic League scoring title, but I won for making more hoops. Ididn't know how to handle my success. I saw a newspaper headline thatread, 'Hawkins Leads Preps in Scoring.' It scared me so much that Igot off the streetcar and called my mom. She said, 'Calm down, andwe'll talk when you get home.' Another article about me had aheadline, 'You're the Man.' I called my mom again and said, 'Whatdoes it mean to be the Man? I'm not even a man yet."'

ABOUT NOTRE DAME: "I had over 100 [scholarship] offers. Notre Damewas the first place I visited, but that's all it took. I was blindedby the sun off the Golden Dome. There were only 10 blacks in schooland I was the only athlete, but I was never uncomfortable. We wererated eighth my junior year and fourth my senior year with no starterover 6-5. That player was me."

ABOUT THE PROS: "I was lucky enough to have played in a great era.I played with great players such as Elgin Baylor and Jerry West inLos Angeles and Oscar Robertson in Cincinnati and against greatplayers such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit and CliffHagan. How's that for an All-Star team?"

ABOUT SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: "A wonderful fellow and a great player. Hecame into the NBA like, 'Fee, fie, foe, fum.' We haven't seen a bigman dominate like Shaq since Wilt."

ABOUT DODGERS GENERAL MANAGER DAN EVANS: "Danny's fit right in.He's shown a natural affinity for the job. His background with theWhite Sox was player development, which is the direction we'retaking. He thrives on communication. We made a bet right away that myschool [Notre Dame] would beat his school [DePaul] in basketball. Helost, so he has to wear an Irish hat and T-shirt all day to work. Thecameras will be rolling."

NOW HEAR THIS: "I give about 300 speeches a year. I spread hot airin every direction. If it moves, I talk to it."

MEETING LAYLA: "We were mutually smitten at a camera shop when Ineeded special handling of photos I'd taken in Israel, Turkey,Ireland and England. We got married after a long friendship. She'sIranian, so I had to go through proper family channels. I took herand her brother out to dinner and proposed in the restaurant. He saidyes, then she said yes."

LIFE TODAY: "I get up every morning at 4, take a long walk withthe dog at our home near the ocean and come back to listen to NancyWilson, Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, Perry Como and Jo Stafford. Mydaughters saw me one day with a headset on while wearing my oldParker letter sweater and said, 'What are you listening to, and whatis that you're wearing?' I laughed and said, 'Never mind. Youwouldn't understand."'