John Wooden Is 99 Years Old Vol. GOAT Still Goin Strong

[politics as usual 22]

Happy Birthday, coach.

His family says they will celebrate quietly.

The tallest of his red-headed former pupils, Bill Walton, has written Wooden a heartfelt and funny letter full of memories and ... play-by-play of some of Walton's favorite new albums. He even implies that Bob Dylan's newest includes two songs Dylan wrote "specifically for" John Wooden. I read the lyrics of those songs -- and I'm sure Walton couldn't mean that literally.

By total coincidence, yesterday I bought a classic Wooden book: "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court."

There are several great tales in there, but one really stuck with me.

Wooden, of course, is almost synonymous with UCLA. But here's the amazing thing. At the time he was offered the UCLA job, he was also in the running to become head coach in Minnesota, which was closer to home for him. There were some complications with the Minnesota position, though, which he wanted to get straightened out first. They said they'd call by 6 p.m. with the details of his final offer. UCLA was due to call at 7.

Minnesota didn't call, so when UCLA called, Wooden said yes to his second choice.

As he hung up the phone, it rang, and it was Minnesota. A blizzard had knocked out all the phone lines, so they had been unable to get through, but now they were offering everything he had asked for.

Had I been able to terminate my agreement with UCLA in an honorable fashion, I would have done so immediately. But I had given my word just a few minutes before.

If fate had not intervened, I would never had gone to UCLA. But my dad's little set of threes served me well: "Don't whine. Don't complain. Don't make excuses."...

I believe that things are directed in some sort of way. I'm not exactly sure how. I also believe that things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.


Talk about making the best of it: John Wooden went on to lead UCLA to what may have been the greatest coaching run in college sports history.


Best Ever

Wooden is a great book.

http://myespn.go.com/blog...9/John-Wooden-is-99.html

 

[frenchblue23]

He would still be coaching if he would, most definitely.

 

[clutchshooter]

Respect.

 

[scott frost]

Happy Birthday...................................you cheat.

 

[JD617]

Here's a good story about Wooden from a few years ago, on his 95th. I'm sure some of you have read it, but for those who haven't.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=wooden

 

[philballa09]

A man of great wisdom

.

 

[swish 22]

the definition of overrated. maybe a great person, but read up on ucla associations of the era and you will realize that he was shady.

 

[N41D]

Greatest cheater of all-time...

 

[Sonny Corinthos]

Originally Posted by Scott Frost

Happy Birthday...................................you cheat.

 

[brian cushing]

haha I knew this thread was gonna take a turn. Someone is gonna be digging up that thread pretty soon. But anyways...happy birthday.

 

[jdcurt2]

His first coaching job ever was at the high school I went to

 

[pr0phecy718]

I thought he was dead already

Happy Birthday

 

[alan garner]

Originally Posted by Clutchshooter

Respect.

 

[seymore cake]

Folks old as hell.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Good for him, but he still a cheater

 

[mben32]

Coach K>>>*

HBD Nonetheless.

 

[supersaiyan415]

can anyone explain to me how he cheated? i only started watching college melos freshman year.

 

[politics as usual 22]

@ the haters...

 

[black entourage inc]

^^I believe their was some booster/alumni guy associated with UCLA that brought in pretty much every star player during Coach Woodens' run. However i doremember it being said Wooden barred him from practice and players, and that it had nothing to do with him...But yea something like that i believe. Or could befor other reasons...Appreciated nonetheless

 

[bigmike23]

Originally Posted by Swish 22

the definition of overrated.

 

[clutchshooter]

it's been established that wooden wasnt affiliated with said 'booster'.

 

[scoopem]

thats what he gets for cheating... living to be old as hell and miserable

 

[black entourage inc]

Originally Posted by Clutchshooter

it's been established that wooden wasnt affiliated with said 'booster'.

Thanks, I thought that was the case

calling Wooden overrated...EVERYone who has played for him has goneabove and beyond to give Wooden credit for their success. Shame when one of the greatest coaches of all time is spoken about with such disrespect.

 

[jpzx]

Originally Posted by Brian Cushing

Someone is gonna be digging up that thread pretty soon.

John Wooden is overrated and acheater. And nobody will say it.

^ I won't state my opinion...but there's some good info in there.

 

[black entourage inc]

From the aforementioned thread-

and john wooden hated Sam Gilbert and use to run him out of practice when ever he came to see some of the players or ask anyplayer why they was talking to him. Did Gilbert help some of the players out? he proably did but not because wooden asked him or told him to.