John Wooden dies at 99; UCLA basketball coach won 10 national titles

LA Times ^ | June 4, 2010 | Bill Dwyre and David Wharton

[Stat Man]

Leave it to the LA Times to dishonor the memory of one of the greatest men in the history of Los Angeles -- a six page article about him never once mentioning that he was a devout Christian, or even that he was a Christian.

The best they could do was: "His final years were kept busy by resurging interest in his life philosophy" (gee, wouldn't your readers be interested in what that "philosophy" happens to be?)

...and also: "Advocates of the teaching system Wooden developed, which was based on such traditional values as cooperation and responsibility"

Yeah, that would be "traditional Christian values" perhaps? Sheesh!

Even Wikipedia manages a paragraph about Wooden's faith and that it was more important to him than basketball.

And so it goes on... lamestream media executives trying still trying to figure out why people don't want to pay to be lied to.

[TennTuxedo]

May Wooden rest in peace.

However, Wooden would have never won a championship without Sam “Papa Sam” Gilbert.

[Le Chien Rouge]

John Wooden wasn’t just a basketball coach but a mentor of life for many young men.

They don’t make coaches like Wooden anymore.

RIP

[AFreeBird]

He’s coaching the All-Stars now....

RIP Coach

[MozarkDawg]

“Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.” -John Wooden carried this note with him everywhere, written by his dad.

That's beautiful, thank you for posting.

RIP to a truly great man where it counted, on the inside.

[TMA62]

John Wooden, Basketball legend and Purdue Alum, RIP. My prayers are for you and the family.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Indeed, I noticed that too. I remember that game and remember the players (for the most part) The Great Dick Enberg called the gamen Notice how quickly they went off the air, no interviews, no nothing. All that game did was end UCLA’s 88 game record streak and was only one of two or three losses in Walton’s career.

Also no 3 point line either. ND had green high tops (or at least Shumate did) and I think gold socks. Crazy game, a classic I’ll never forget.

[popdonnelly]

First time in awhile I’ve shed tears over the passing of a famous person. The World could use many more John Woodens.

[savedbygrace]

I recall his run to 88 consecutive wins, at least from about #50 on. That’s a greater feat than the 10 championships, IMO.

[devere]

“However, Wooden would have never won a championship without Sam “Papa Sam” Gilbert.”

An ugly and innapropriate cheap shot.

Mr Wooden was alive for 99 years, and you could have criticized him during that time when he had an opportunity to answer.

[Buddygirl]

Mr. Mojo,
How about putting together a post or a thread, and letting us know what you learned from Coach Wooden. We will learn what you learn! Thanks!

[TennTuxedo]

It is just God’s honest truth.

[Mr. Mojo]

We learned some of the same things he taught his players -- his Pyramid of Success, first and foremost. Those lessons were given every day, and include class participation -- we had to discuss what exactly each building block meant to us personally. That was the life part.

The basketball part was mostly the fundamentals, starting with how to put on our socks correctly...lol. Coach knew that most basketball players (especially kids) pretty much only practiced shooting, so he primarily stressed passing and rebounding fundamentals in his drills. And he made us do them until we got it right. ...hours every day. He did show us the correct way to shoot, and encouraged us to use the glass (backboard) whenever possible.

Some of Coach's former players also stopped by to give instruction -- Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard, Sidney Wicks, etc. That was a real treat.

One of my fondest memories of the camp was sharing the Cal Lutheran College dining hall with the Dallas Cowboys, who were there for training camp. So we star-struck little sports fanatics got to dine with gridiron legends like Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, and Bob Hayes.

I highly recommend Wooden's books. ...two in particular -- They Call Me Coach, and Wooden. Both contain detailed descriptions/analyses of the Pyramid of Success.

[MikefromOhio]

And just like a leftist to bring up stupid things in a thread honoring the man’s life and achievements.

[Mr. Mojo]

Nope, it's not the truth at all. Wooden had already won 2 NCAA titles ('64 and '65) before Gilbert came on the scene. And btw, UCLA won 5 of their 10 titles without either Alcindor or Walton -- 65, '66, '70, '71 (when Walton was a freshman, and Wooden never played freshmen), and '75. The players on many of those teams were far from superstars, but Wooden's coaching brilliance had them playing to the best of their abilities -- like well-oiled machines.

[Mr. Mojo]

Not only is TennTuxedo classless (and probably incurably envious of UCLA's success), he's dead wrong.

(See my above post).

[Mr. Mojo]

65, '66, '70, '71, '75.

Slight correction: '64, '65, '70, '71, '75.

[Wolfstar]

You two still want to mock what I was saying about "comes in threes" being myth? Rue McClanahan died on Friday and John Wooden died yesterday. We were discussing this subject when Dennis Hopper died on the 29th, Gary Coleman on the 28th, and Art Linkletter on the 26th. Other American celebrity deaths recently include:

Eddie Barth, a character acter best know for his role on the old Simon & Simon series. He died the same day as Gary Coleman.

Ali-Ollie Woodson, soul singer, one of The Temptations.

Dorothy DeBorba, of the old Our Gang movies.

[TennTuxedo]

Gilbert was on the scene before Wooden won a title. That is a fact. Sorry, if the truth burst your fantasy bubbles.

[Mr. Mojo]

You’re wrong — he showed up in the late ‘60s. You pulled your “facts” straight outta your posterior. Envy will kill ya, boy.