Coach John Wooden: Our "Intergalactic Treasure"
by Nestor on Jun 3, 2010 5:51 PM PDT
in Coach
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PrintUPDATE (N) 7:24 pm PST: From UCLA:
FYI, any report as of this time that Coach has passed away is not accurate.
Stay strong Coach. GO BRUINS.
There is a lot of conflicting information out there right now.
What we know is this. Coach Wooden is in grave condition and is battling for his life. It is looking very tough for him. It is hard for us to think about anything else besides thoughts and prayers for Coach. So let's keep him in our prayers and our thoughts until we hear something definitive from UCLA.
Meanwhile, for now we will leave up two videos. One from 805Bruin celebrating his wonderful life:
And another one cherishing him our intergalactic treasure (yes, we have posted this once but we can't share this video enough):
The Washington Post has a pretty incredible slide show of Coach through the years. For now I will share with you the poem Tele posted in the first thread:
Once I was afraid of dying,
terrified of ever-lying,
petrified of leaving family, home and friends.
Thoughts of absence from my dear ones,
brought a melancholy tear once,
and a dredful fear of when life ends.
But those days are long behind me,
fear of leaving does not bind me,
and departure does not hold a single care.
Peace does comfort as I ponder,
a reunion in the yonder,
with my dearest one who is waiting for me there.
-Swen Nater
We LOVE YOU COACH.
GO BRUINS.
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Just want to send my best wishes
sad news for the entire Pac-10 family.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
I think we need a new word
We need something else to call Howland and Neuheisel and the others. I think the word “Coach” ought to be retired. No one wears 42 any more in the majors (or shouldn’t if they do.) Surely no one else should be called “coach.”
How about no one should be called coach
once they retire. John Wooden continued coaching well after he stepped out of Pauley, and that is why he is so deserving of the title today.
i agee with that...
Coach wanted to bring up people of integrity and have them have an effect on their families and communities around them….in essence Coach is teaching others and in turn they can coach those around them become the best that they can be……sigh……….i never thought the day would come….
The last one to wear 42
is Mariano Rivera. The other 9 players who wore 42 when it was retired have since retired themselves.
naming
It is just an idea but referng to Mr. Wooden in the future how about just calling him “THE COACH” I think that says it all for a man who gave so much of himself to not only the sports world but to the world. I too pray for you we need our heroes.
The word should be retired at least at UCLA
Just like no one wears 42 in the majors (with those exceptions) to honor Jackie Robinson, I think our school at least ought to retire the word “coach.” At BN, if the word “Coach” is used with nothing else, we all know who it means. I think that ought to be school-wide. C. Howland already has done that to an extent, calling himself the Caretaker. I think Caretaker Howland ought to lead this referendum, too. We can address the heads of the various programs as “Manager” or “Mentor” or “Leader” or “Chairman” or any of a dozen other names. But “Coach” ought to be reserved exclusively for Coach.
I couldn’t use that word with CHP or CTS, but that was different. I don’t mind using it with our current group of leaders. I just think that would be a good sign of respect for probably the most influential (and clearly the best loved) man ever to set foot on our campus.
SO sad
I am just hearing this news. I knew one day I would see this news on BN and have been dreading it. We have been so lucky to have him as long as we have. My thoughts are with him and his family. WE LOVE YOU COACH!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
COACH - You are the BEST and we all LOVE you!
Please get through this. Our prayers are always there for you – especially now. I am a teacher and have always used your “pyramid of success” in my classroom and in my life. It is posted in my room where everyone can see it all the time. You are such a SPECIAL PERSON. You are a true angel here on earth. Please get well.
Coach Forever
Another battle to win. We all lose the final one, but hopefully Coach isn’t done yet. May he continue to grace this world with his presence.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Jun 3, 2010 7:42 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Coach will leave the way he lived
with faith and vision. I think he chose his time to get back to Nell and that’s why he stopped eating.
How blessed this world is to have had him for so many years. And, now Nell gets him back.
I am too choked up to write more. As one of the lucky ones to have been a student when Coach was active, and to have been blessed to be a yell leader and on the floor where I could hear, observe, and once in a while chat with him, parts of me carry his mark.
Losing family can be anticipated. But, one is never ready for the inevitable.
For myself, I pray for him to survive. But, for Coach, if his time has come, I pray for an easy journey.
sjh
by Class of 66 on Jun 3, 2010 7:53 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
Cool Interview of Coach that Reminds us he is Much More than a coach
Go here. It is a long interview but great. A sample of how he was a pioneer on Civil Rights in pre-UCLA days at Indiana State:
I had an African American boy on my team. He wasn’t a starter. He was probably the twelfth man on a 12-man team. He didn’t get to play very much, but he was a member of our team and dressed for every game, was with us for every game. They did not permit black players to play in the National NAIA Tournament at that particular time, so I refused the invitation because of that. Now the next year, since that first year I was at Indiana State, I had 11 freshmen and one sophomore on that team, so I had them all back the next year. No one beat anybody else out. I still had the same 12 players the next year and we were invited, again. We had a better year. We’d had a good year the year before, but that next year we had a really better year. We were invited again and I refused. But through this youngster’s parents, and through the NAACP, they felt it would be a good thing, that it might open the doors in a sense. I was persuaded to do that, to take him. He couldn’t stay in the hotel with us. He could eat in the hotel if we ate in a private room. He couldn’t eat in the dining room. So we had our meals in a private room and he stayed with a black minister and his wife in Kansas City. He would sit with us in the game and we had no problems. He was accepted.
by DCBruins on Jun 3, 2010 8:03 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Coach Wooden is an amazing man
He’s an inspirational coach, teacher, and leader. He has touched the lives of many players and students. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. If this is his time to leave, he will be with Nell once again.
Lurking...
… because of the baseball series this weekend. Just wanted to drop a quick note to say that Coach Wooden will be in this LSU fan’s prayers. He’s a true legend, not just as a coach, but as a real teacher of young men. Godspeed. Coach Wooden was and is everything that is right in sports.
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com
That's very kind of you, P
I’m glad Coach means the same to you as he does to us.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
Bill Walton on Coach's situation
He is respecting the Wooden family’s request not to give out information on Coach’s condition, but did tell CBS that he visited Coach at UCLA Medical Center two days ago.
formerly bruinhoo
Watching Lakers and . . .
. . am really sad. Puts things into perspective and I don’t really seem to care about anything right now, even the stupid NCAA ruling on the cheating trojans tomorrow.
Just saw this news on ESPN after the Laker game and came here.
Coach, you’re in my prayers. May God grant you healing and strength, in whatever form He feels is best.
God bless, sir.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Same
Talk about a swing in emotion from being stoked after the Lakers win to hearing about Coach. The picture I have with him is one of my most cherished memories. God bless Coach.
There is joy amidst all this painful sadness
We rejoice that we knew him and could see with our own eyes his handiwork and hear with our own ears his graceful incantations to goodness, decency, education and character.
For what it's worth
I live across the street from the UCLA Hospital. Earlier this evening there were at least a dozen police officers standing outside, preventing people from congregating. All of the police are now gone.
I don’t want to speculate, but I figured this would be important to share with fellow Bruins.
Why would the police object to a vigil under these circumstances?
Their priorities are a little off. If I were in the vicinity, I think I would be there. Actually, I don’t think I could not be there, if you know what I mean. (Still having trouble being articulate, sorry.)
+1
I just arrived in TN but I would want to be there too. It’s 1am and I just can’t go to bed. Even though the realist in me knew this day was coming, I still can’t believe it may be here.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
The Police are Likely there for the Media
Reporters and the media are not exactly tactful in these situations and have been know to behave inappropriately, especially in a situation like last night when there were conflicting reports he died. .
nice
great stuff nestor thanks for the vids. God Bless the coach!
"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that count's"
John Wooden.....
We all honor And respect you Coach
Coach… I am praying for you and your family. This is such horrible news to sleep to. Although I was not a student during your tenure as the coach, I respect all that you have done for UCLA when I was a student. Your presence at UCLA was, is and forever will be engrained into UCLA culture. It’s an honor to be associated with UCLA… It’s an even bigger honor that we had Coach Leading the way at UCLA.
by UclaCO2007 on Jun 3, 2010 10:26 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
No matter what
I know God has a spot reserved on the bench for the All-Heaven Bball team once Coach is ready.
RESCUING DANCE MUSIC FROM THE BLAHS
Not only that
God has a place reserved for him in the most amazing, inspiring human beings team,
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
So sad...
But I can’t believe that BSPN had that pig SC homer Smith reporting on Wooden. Now I don’t know what to believe based on her great track record of breaking news that never happened.
Coach
I honestly don’t have the words to express the groundswell of emotion I feel right now but I hope Coach Wooden is not in pain and has peace in his heart. However this turns out I am awed by the love around him right now.
I love you Coach Wooden.
You have been there as long as i’ve been on this earth. Get well and god speed.
YOU DON'T KNOW THE POWER OF THE DARKSIDE.....
Make each day your masterpiece.
I don’t really know what to do right now, but I know that in Coach’s honor, I’m going to make tomorrow as good as I possibly can. And the day after that, too.
We're havin' too much fun today. We ain't thinkin' 'bout tomorrow.
Coach Changed Everyone With Whom He Came in Contact
As a student in the 70’s, Coach was just the leader of my favorite team, the UCLA basketball program. I admired him for his skill and excellence. My lasting memory was that he would chat with my girlfriend as he walked the track after suffering a mild heart attack. It was incomprehensible to me that such an icon would be so accessible and friendly. As the years passed, through his books, interviews and TV programs, I realized that he was so much more, a man guided by principle who lived his values every day, and passed them on to everyone interested in listening to him. After the passing of my dad in the 1990’s, I unconsciously looked to him for guidance, always fallling short of his standards, but able to look to his principals as a path to which one could aspire. I have never met the man, but he comes as close to a family member that a stranger could ever be. His condition brings a profound personal sadness, but it is only a personal sadness for me. I am not sad for him because he has been waiting to reunite with his beloved Nell for decades. His strong faith in God’s providence has long ago put him at peace. I am sure his family will greatly miss him. Coach’s legacy as a man will never leave us. He has given us the gift of his indelible wisdom and love for his fellow man, much of which was passed to him by his father. He stands tall in history like Lincoln, Gandhi and Martin Luther King who lived for more than just himself, taking the responsibility of moral leadership, but at the same time living a life of humility without excess. The world is better for his living, and suffers a loss with his passing.
Wonderful post..
Thanks so much for posting that.
My main personal recollection of Coach was living a few doors down from him in Encino. Back in the mid-70s, my parents owned a condo around the corner from him. Several days a week, as I was leaving for school I’d see him walking briskly down the street in his UCLA warm-ups carrying a walking stick. I would always wave and say, “Good morning, Coach”, and he’d smile and wave back. A few mornings he’d be the first to wave, and that would make my day.
May the Lord bless Coach Wooden and his family at this difficult time.
I may work with the Waves, but I'm still a Bruin!
Coach and his family are in my prayers tonight
My dad loves to tell the story of my very first UCLA basketball game. As we entered Pauley for the first time, Coach happened to be standing by the entrance we were going through, the door dislodged and began to swing shut, and Coach reached back and held the door for us, a simple gesture that was routine for a man of his character, but one that was quite memorable for my father.
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
I heard Coach speak once during my time at UCLA.
And once was enough. I’ll forever remember the moment and the wisdom he passed along. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, that God may ease their suffering. But, I feel confident that Coach will be just fine regardless of what happens next.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
PS: Swen Nater is a Bruin.
I’m sure many of you are aware of that. Just thought I would point that out in case anybody was unaware. How appropriate that he wrote the poem Tele quoted for this occasion. And, how appropriate that coach quoted one of his own players.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
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