[/caption]It is said that longevity has its place – and it was well placed on Coach Wooden’s life who lived to be 99. It was always a curious thing to see all these sport reporters salivating and almost genuflecting when given an audience with the great Coach Wooden. And in a world now of self promotion, Coach Wooden was as humble as they come. The mark of a great man who has accomplished much is not to bring attention to his work, but to let others do the praising... and the poetic accolades we see on the pages of various newspaper bemoaning the passing of Coach Wooden is a fitting testament.
What we had and enjoyed in Coach Wooden was his penchant of not boasting or touting how much championships he had won; how many consecutive championships; and how many consecutive games he coached without a loss… but letting the laurels speak for themselves. I have a feeling, in fact I know, that Coach Wooden would have preferred to concentrate on the young men who came and played for him and who left his tutelage as men… ready to meet the challenges of the world.
Many of our college coaches who are being paid millions do not care about the education of the “student” athletes; look at Coach Wooden who taught the fundamentals of Basketball, but also put a premium on education… proving that you can have your cake and eat it too. Look at the current graduating rate of many of our “student” athletes – and many of them who leave college early with their truck loads of money… sporting their “bling” and showing off their cribs on MTV and butchering the English language every time we see them in formal interviews.
The few critics Coach Wooden have would say that Coach Wooden mentored student athletes in a less complicated and less challenging era… but even if this is so… it doesn’t take away from what Coach Wooden has accomplished. What I write here in honor and remembrance of Coach Wooden… I do so, mostly, through the eyes of my father who told me about the exploits of Coach Wooden. But I do so too because of the fact that Coach Wooden was a devout Christian and a man of faith - thanks for the memories Coach Wooden and where you are now, reunited with your beloved wife Nellie, is the epitome of longevity… enjoy.
Well said. They don't make them like they used to.
ردحذفI have been a bruin fan for more than 5o years and although I did not
ردحذفknow coach Wooden personally, I thought the world of the way he lived
his life and all his teachings were right on