Coach John Wooden has just passed away at 99...

[GasHouseGang]

A real man of class and a great human being. We are all diminished by his passing.

[sbfinley]

The world was a better place yesterday.

RIP

[barrysloate]

I've always believed that Coach Wooden was the greatest college coach of all. When I was in high school UCLA and Houston were the two college powerhouses, and I will never forget Lew Alcindor facing Elvin Hayes with a patch over his injured eye, and Houston ending UCLA's 47 game winning streak at the Astrodome. They faced each other again in the NCAA tournament and UCLA crushed them by over 30 points. UCLA was an institution and John Wooden was the captain.

I even thought of Wooden recently, as I knew this October he would have turned 100. I was rooting for him to get there but it didn't happen.

One of my favorite Wooden stories was that Bill Walton showed up at first practice of the season with his hair down to his shoulders. Coach Wooden asked him about it, and Walton replied it was an important political statement and that he had no plans to cut it. Coach replied that he greatly admired Walton for being a man of convictions, but asked if he felt his teammates would miss him. Walton was confused, what did coach mean by that? Wooden replied that Bill would have to sit out the season because long hair was not permitted on the team. The next day Walton returned to practice with a short haircut. Such was the respect everyone had for John Wooden.

He will be missed, and there will never be another like him. RIP.

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

The world was a better place yesterday.

Absolutely spot-on Steve.

[oldjudge]

A great coach and an even greater person. Two of the better people who have ever walked the face of the earth, John Wooden and Ernie Harwell, have left us this year. Rest in peace gentlemen.

[esehombre]

"You can't live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you"

John Wooden--1910-2010...the most beautiful human being I have ever known.

Thanks Barry for sharing the Bill Walton story--those are the best. One of my favorites is Bill's recollection of the first meeting he had with Coach Wooden while he was a senior in high school:

There had been several coaches who came to visit Bill before Wooden and they promised him everything under the sun--needless to say he was eager to hear what the "great coach from UCLA" would have to offer. John told him "Unfortunately Bill, I cannot match those promises--in fact, I cannot even promise you will make the team. You must first prove yourself as a man of character--and then you will have to meet the strict UCLA curriculum requirements--and they are tough. Once you do that, you will be outfitted with a practice uniform and allowed to try out for the team".

[barrysloate]

There are so many great Wooden stories. Many who played for him said he had a mystical quality.

[E93]

Echoing what everybody else said, the world is definitely a lesser place with him. RIP.
JimB