December 11, 2024

Bill Walton The Big Red-Head

Born in California,  Walton played for the United States men’s national basketball team at the 1970 FIBA World Championship. John Wooden recruited Bill and he played for UCLA from 1971 to 1974. Walton won the national title in 1972 over Florida State and then again in 1973 with a 87–66 win over Memphis State. In the championship game Bill made 21-of-22 field goal attempts and scored 44 points.

Don’t forget Walton was part of two consecutive 30–0 seasons and an NCAA men’s basketball record 88-game winning streak.

Bill Walton is the #4 college basketball player of all-time.

“The Wizard of Westwood” May You RIP

Forget the fact that John Wooden was voted the greatest coach in American Sports by Sporting News and forget all the NCAA records that he holds that will never be broken like 38 straight NCAA tournament victories, 88 straight game winning streak as well as 7 straight NCAA titles.  Forget the fact that he is the ONLY man to be inducted in the Hall of Fame as both player and coach. Take away all of the accolades that happened many years before so many men and boys this day were not even born yet, but please know the man for his accomplishments.

John R. Wooden has passed and seemed ready to do so many years ago to be with his beloved wife Nell who passed 25 years ago.  He continued to write a love letter to her every Sunday as he did when she was alive.  Wooden was not disliked by anyone because he was one of the greatest humanitarians of our time and spent his life teaching young men how to be a better person in life rather than just how to play a game.

I was greatly affected by this man as not only a UCLA Bruin fan, but as a fan of John Wooden’s life as a whole. He grew up on a farm in Indiana born just 9 years after Naismith’s peach basket, and became a 3 time All-American at Purdue.  He coached in high school before taking over at Indiana State and then ultimately at UCLA where he didn’t win his first championship until 16 years thereafter.  After that he could not be stopped. He once won a championship with the tallest player on the court at 6’5. His teams were so prepared mentally and physically that he would never adjust his schemes to match another team.

The Wizard’s contribution to everyone who came in contact with was extraordinary and real.  Once you had a conversation with him you knew you were not only ready to follow steps to be a better person, but you could not let down such royalty.  He will be missed not just because of his presence, but because he was too vital to mankind in this cynical world.

Rest In Peace John R. Wooden I know you are now in the place with Nell you are supposed to and want to be in.

Happy Birthday Mr. John Wooden

We would like to wish a very happy birthday to the Wizard of Westwood. John Wooden quite possible the best college basketball coach of all-time turns an impressive 99 years old today. It can be argued for days on what is the best college basketball program of all-time, but is there really any debate on who is the elite college basketball coach ever? I know the college basketball scene was a little different back in the day, but Wooden and his Bruins won seven consecutive national titles from 1967-73. UCLA and Wooden won 10 national championships in his last 12 years and during that time won 88 consecutive games at one point and also 38 straight NCAA tournament games. Unreal!

Happy Birthday John Wooden!!