UCLA coach Ben Howland and athletic director Dan Guerrero spoke glowingly about Wooden and his impact on the UCLA community. Former players Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Marques Johnson and Andy Hill each recounted poignant and funny memories.
I was particularly moved by the story told by Johnson. He brought up the time Wooden demonstrated his competitive drive. Johnson was a freshman when Wooden saw him shooting pool at a campus hangout. Wooden walked up and demanded his pool cue.
"Uh oh, I’m trouble," thought Johnson.
"Toothpick in his mouth, blue sweater, he leans over the pool table and proceeds to run off about seven or eight balls," Johnson recalled. "Hands me the pool cue, walks out without saying a word."
That’s John Wooden. He may come across as a homespun Midwesterner, but don’t let his "goodness gracious sakes alive" act fool you: He has always been a tough, confident competitor.
