John Wooden Passes Away (coach, recruit, legend, Champion)

[Member1]

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden dies - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bkc_obit_wooden - broken link)

[LaoTzuMindFu]

I was just going to start a thread on Coach John Wooden.

I had a few opportunities to meet and chat with Coach Wooden since he lived near me. He is quite simply THE GREATEST COACH/TEACH in the history of American Sports.

[nevergoingback]

His interview in the special features of We Are Marshall is exceptional.

Greatest basketball coach ever. Even a greater human being.

RIP.

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by LaoTzuMindFu

I was just going to start a thread on Coach John Wooden.

I had a few opportunities to meet and chat with Coach Wooden since he lived near me. He is quite simply THE GREATEST COACH/TEACH in the history of American Sports.

Absolutely. He was a great coach, a great teacher, and a great man. He was also one of the most, if not THE most humble and personable sports figure in the 20th century.

He believed every person he had met had a certain worth, a certain purpose, in life. Mr. Wooden felt if there was a gap of where one of his players were, or even one of his friends were, and what he felt they could become, he felt that it was his God-given responsibility to close that gap, not only as a basketball player, but as a solid human being.

ESPN's Sport century series done a one hour bio on John Wooden. I'll never forget what Bill Walton said of John Wooden. Bill said, "Every once in a while when I get a little down, depressed, unsure of myself, or run into a problem I can't figure out right away, I reach into my billfold and pull out and read that little piece of paper that shows 'John Wooden's Eight Steps For Success'. When I read that my mind clears up right away."

John Wooden is one of the great men regardless of college basketball or anything else. He's "The Wizard Of Westwood". He will be missed.

[kingdomcome1]

I agree with the others, he was the Greatest Coach ever.....they don't make'em like that anymore

[twista6002]

Sad stuff. But it seemed like a peaceful passing. I in my heart of hearts believe he was the best basketball coach that ever lived. Aurbach had the same set of players, Wooden had to recycle and recruit new guys every year and he won 10 straight titles.

[Datha16]

RIP Wooden. The wizard of Westwood will be remember as one of the best basketball coach of all time. Also a even greater human being.

[noid_1985]

Rip

[coo77]

Coach Wooden will forever be a defining legend here at UCLA. Wooden's legacy is even bigger than just L.A. and our Bruin family, as both an athlete, coach, and inspiration to our nation. His coaching style, humble attitude, and commitment to being a great man that lived a good honest life inspires all of us each day. While Wooden was a basketball coach, he inspires all of us to achieve our academic best as well each day here at UCLA. Wooden unified this campus that was struggling to find an identity as a young university decades ago and helped bring UCLA to national prominence that helped catalyze our growth into one of the nation's finest universities. His pyramid of success built leaders both on and off the court. He once said his greatest accomplishment was not winning 10 championships, but that his players maintained high GPA's, graduated, and succeeded in life post-college.

"What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player."
"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. "

Just a few statements from Coach Wooden. He never mentioned "winning" to his players, but rather being the best they could possibly be. He never scouted another team to see how he could improve his to win. He focused on his pyramid and the character traits his players needed to first be good people and then apply that to being a good athlete.

Thanks Coach Wooden. We miss you!

[X-Greensboro Resident]

The best basketball coach ever and even a better human being.... And that comes from a UNC fan who hates UCLA! He was truely a class act... Thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest In Peace Coach Wooden... You'll never be forgotten.