Remembering John R. Wooden
by Telemachus on Jun 4, 2011 6:35 AM PDT
Email
Print
One year ago today the world lost our Intergalactic Treasure. We were fortunate to have him on this earth for nearly 100 years. Many may not be aware just how fortunate we are. The video after the fold shows us the hand of fate (or something/someone else) and perhaps an example of events in Wooden's life that contributed to the man he would become.
And most UCLA fans know that fate also intervened to the benefit of the Bruins Nation and college basketball as a whole:
The bespectacled former high school teacher ended up at UCLA almost by accident. Wooden was awaiting a call from the University of Minnesota for its head coaching job and thought he had been passed over when it didn't come. In the meantime, UCLA called, and he accepted the job in Los Angeles.
Minnesota officials called later that night, saying they couldn't get through earlier because of a snowstorm, and offered him the job. Though Wooden wanted it more than the UCLA job, he told them he already had given UCLA his word and could not break it.
While Wooden was named the all-time greatest coach, Coach is remembered as the complete man, transcending his legacy as the Wizard of Westwood. Long after their UCLA playing days, Wooden's players realized that along with basketball, life lessons were being taught.
Years after he graduated from college, John Vallely found himself riding in a hospital elevator, trying to stay calm after his 9-year-old daughter had been diagnosed with cancer.
The former UCLA player remembered one of John Wooden's favorite sayings.
" 'Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do,' " Vallely said. "I couldn't control cancer, but I could control how I reacted … how I could be the best father and the best husband. That thought helped me keep my balance."
...
Former UCLA star Jamaal Wilkes said, "You listened, but it wasn't until years later, after college, after the NBA, when my life focus began to change on marriage, divorce, children, the business world, that I began to sense how special a man he was," Wilkes said.
LA Times, John Wooden's words live on in the hearts of his admirers
As we remember the teachings of Coach and all he stood for, John R. Wooden lives on and will be forever young.
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.
13 comments
|
9 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Coach's influence
I just heard this story a few days ago.
Around 2004, my brother-in-law moved to Encino and started working for the Washington Mutual branch where Coach was a customer. Coach would come by about once a week and my brother-in-law looked forward to conversations with him.
Coach could tell though that my brother-in-law did not seem satisfied with his job, and asked him about it. My brother-in-law admitted that he was tired of living in LA, and was thinking about transferring to Chicago, where WaMu was expanding at that time. Coach encouraged my brother-in-law to seek out the Chicago transfer, giving his definition of success.
Long story short, my brother-in-law did move to Chicago in 2006, and says it was the best decision he’s ever made. When Coach was reunited with Nell one year ago today, my brother-in-law said he shed a couple of tears because Coach was the wisest person he had ever met.
Great story, Monica.
I really liked how you phrased it: “When Coach was reunited with Nell.”
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Remembering
While I aqgree about Coach being the greatest coach of all time, I feel he would be most proud yet humble to being remembered as a good and gracious man who was a teacher above all.I recall him fondly at least weekly.
Celebrating his life
Wow, how weird. I couldn’t sleep last night, somehow was thinking of Coach and how it was about 1 year ago (was thinking of how the Softball team had the black wristbands 1 year ago), and also how I still have yet to go to see The Den exhibit. Well, I’m gonna be celebrating Coach’s life at our baseball game today. Miss you Coach!
Thank you for posting this...
Thank you for keeping Coach Wooden’s legacy alive.
Thank you, T
and thank you, Coach. If everyone could be even 1/1000th the person that you were, the world would be a much better place. Rest in Peace, Coach.
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation."- Michael Jordan
twitter:@firstto100
Lots of emotions
I don’t think there should be any tears. We shouldn’t be sad because, as Monica put it, Coach was reunited with Nell. Watching those videos was tough to do because of the tears. I need a fix – can someone post the video where all the guys told about their first practice and instruction on putting on their shoes?
Coach was such a spectacular person
Thank you T for honoring Coach with this post. And I know I can say with confidence that he is smiling from up above, with Nell at his side.
Thank you T.
I hadn’t seen those videos and really appreciate you posting them. That memorial at the Bruin sculpture was/is just beautiful.
Go Bruins!
I was really fortunate
Just a couple of days ago, I was flipping through channels on the TV and the local PBS station KCET just happened to be broadcasting “John Wooden: The Indiana Story,” which I had never seen before. I quickly started the DVR and that is where the first clip comes from. We forget that as much as we revere Coach, it doesn’t compare to how the people of his home state feel about their native son. The whole video in five parts is available to view online here: http://www.indystar.com/article/20100929/SPORTS11/100929013&template=interactive
Don’t know how long they’ll have it available. The DVD is available here: http://www.indystarstore.com/products/john-wooden-the-indiana-story (I have no affiliation what the site, just stumbled upon it)
I had intended to make a video last year at Wooden’s passing and had barely started (all I had was one clip and an idea to revolve it around Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young”), but it was emotionally too hard to do at that time. But for this first anniversary, I did manged to complete what is the second video. “Forever Young” just seems so fitting as Wooden’s spirit never seemed to age, though his body did, and his life and teachings are as relevant today as they ever were.
Thanks everyone
for the wonderful tributes to such a GREAT TEACHER!!!! I miss him so much but he lives forever in my heart. LOVE YOU, COACH!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bruins Nation
Related FanShots on Bruins Nation
![[Turn down your volume before watching!]
As seen from the crowd, the last two minutes of UCLA vs. Arizona. Hopefully gives those who were not able to attend an idea of what it was like inside "Old" Pauley for the last time.](http://cdn2.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/180811/0_small.jpg)
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
