The Big Red Signs Off

by Nestor on Nov 6, 2009 12:33 PM PST Comment 12 comments

Missed this bit of news from earlier this week. The Big Red is not coming back to WWL this season. From the AP wire:

"As I return after a grueling multi-year, life-threatening, life-changing ordeal with back problems, it is time to dedicate the rest of my life to service. It is great to be back in the game. Thanks everybody -- for everything."

As Dan Levy noted in the Sports News, his retirement statement was vintage Walton:

Even the statement is vintage Walton, overtly congenial while explaining he’ll be dedicating his life to the somewhat amorphous ‘service’ yet not forgetting to mention his back problems were both ‘life-threatening’ and ‘life-changing’. First, obviously, you hope Walton gets and remains healthy, and can avoid the chronic injuries a man of his size undoubtedly gets stricken with throughout life, especially as he gets older.

Second, while Walton’s commentary during a basketball game is somewhat of an acquired taste – Walton, like many color analysts, often seemed more focused on being the game than commenting on it – there are few who can claim to be a better radio interview. Listening to Walton on the ESPN Radio shows ramble on about basketball and life and tremendousness and tales of transcendental journeys that always ended up with him on stage with Jerry Garcia ... well, in a way, I’ll miss those, tremendously. And this statement is not to say that Walton is going away forever. Heck, without the rigors of the NBA season, he’d have more time for interviews or podcasting on his own or whatever road by which his life twists.

There is also a piece on the Big Red in the NY Post that is worth reading.

I have met the Big Red multiple times over the years. Got his autograph couple of times during my student days when he used to broadcast UCLA games for Prime Ticket. I went down to his broadcasting table right before the game from the student section (now the Den) and asked for his John Hancock and he would sign it and say hello with graciousness worthy of a classic disciple of Coach Wooden.

My favorite memory of the Big Red though was running into him at the Copley Mall in Boston about two days after UCLA had lost to Detroit Mercy back in 99. I think Walton was in town for a Celtics game. When I went up to him and said hello and introduced myself as a Bruin alum he just yelled out to, "can you believe about our Bruins?!! That was disgraceful!" It was EPIC.

The Big Red is of course always epic whenever he is talking about our Bruins:

Gotta (Kevin) Love Bill Walton (via bbtre13)

I hope we get to hear from him time to time chiming in on our Ben Ball warriors. He will always be with us. For now, I will just end with the following lines from his favorite band:

You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel;
Get tired of travelin' and you want to settle down.
I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin',
Get out of the door and light out and look all around.

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me, What a long, strange trip it's been.

Truckin', I'm a goin' home. Whoa whoa baby, back where I belong,
Back home, sit down and patch my bones, and get back truckin' on.

What ever he does next, he will always be truckin' on with the spirit of Bruin Nation.

We love you Bill.

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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If I had to name a favorite Bruin

I refused to do that because I love the diversity that is UCLA and cannot think of a standard to use in picking just one — but if I had to, and it probably would be Bill Walton. Not just for his prowess, but for his entire being — including things like sitting in with his classmates and always having basketball in proper perspective.

I, for one, loved his analysis — the way I love to hear any bright person speak about a topic for which he has passion and in which he has great insight.

Keep on Truckin Bill, keep on Truckin.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 6, 2009 1:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Uncle Bill

Greatest ever, in such a strange and fascination and odd way. The old guard will remember when the Big Redhead had speech difficulties, which are so hard to imagine at this point. Just a gigantic spirit, always tremendous, so expansive and clear and certain that it’s all about one thing: throw it down, big man. Just throw it down.

The lyrics that come to mind as he winds down are these:

I loved my uncle, god rest his soul
He taught me good lord, taught me all I know
Taught me so well, I grabbed that gold
And I left his dead ass there by the side of the road.

Upon his retirement, many of us can say that Big Red has taught us good, taught us all we know. I’m sure he wants Bruin Nation to grab the gold and leave him behind, but it’s never going to happen. He’s just an epic dude in every respect.

by citizen zhiv on Nov 6, 2009 2:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Nestor

Saw his first game as a freshman and most of his home games during those glorious years. His last, the consolation game following the loss he’s never forgotten, wasn’t televised, and I wasn’t in Greensboro. But what an amazing career! And who’s to say: if he hadn’t wrecked his back being undercut at Wazoo, he might have gotten to the pros without ever losing a game. But my favorite note—one I always put in here—is that he (and his teammates Wilkes and Walton) were academic all-Americans, too, for their three years of playing at Westwood. He was a true oner. Never another like him. I’ll miss that wild commentary, and it’s so sad that he had two careers cut short by injury.

Many memorable games: nearly perfect against Gene Bartow’s Memphis State, domination of a very good SUC team for all three years. But my favorite may have been a narrow win at Pauley against a Maryland team that included Tom McMillan, John Lucas, and Len Elmore. A great matchup, 53-50 if I remember.

Good luck, Bill. Thanks.

by Herodotus on Nov 6, 2009 4:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Two weeks ago Big Red was on a panel at a Stanford reunion class on The Business of Sports

My 16 year old son sat in on the class not really knowing who was giving the class. Turned out it was Walton, Steve Young, and the owners of the Mariners and SF Giants. Was a real treat for my son to hear these guys talk in a fairly casual setting. Of course my son knew all about Mr. Walton since his father (me) has properly educated him on all UCLA legends. His only confusion was the Stanford tie in, which of course was Law School after his UCLA days. The best thing about Mr. Walton is his undying devotion to his undergraduate alma mater.

by 84 on Nov 6, 2009 8:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'd expect nothing less

Big Red is a Bruin through and through. The only thing you could possibly fault him for was not sending his son to UCLA, and let’s be honest, it would be complete parental negligence on his part to send him to toil under the Lizard. Big Red is no turncoat (see: Bibby, Henry).

by Tydides on Nov 6, 2009 9:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. Will never fault him for making a wise decision.

by 84 on Nov 7, 2009 8:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Walton and Wooden

Walton has shown incredible growth from his days as the prodigious rebel being forced to fit into Coach’s system of team play and his system of life. Lots of rebellion then, as the Geezers will remember. Those times are so sharply contrasted to the present, when it is clear that Walton dearly loves Coach. Sure, Walton is injects a bit of hyperbole into many things that he says, but when he called Coach the “Intergalactic Treasure” I don’t think he was just saying it for effect.

I will miss Walton. He was one of the few guys who I found worthy of listening to. The good news is that the number of announcers who I can tolerate is shrinking, so the likelihood of missing anything with the sound off is getting lower and lower.

by Fox 71 on Nov 7, 2009 7:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs