John Wooden dead

by Geezaldinho Fri Jun 04, 2010 7:34 pm

Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, the "Wizard of Westwood", died today. He was 99.
10 national titles and some of the most exciting teams I ever saw.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-mew-john-wooden,0,4909616.story

He was arguably the best coach in College history.

Coincidentally, Richard "Duke" Llewellyn, a long time sports fixture in the LA area and the originator of the Wooden Award, also died today at the age of 93.

A little like Adams and Jefferson passing on the same day.

RIP

by oldtimer Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:01 pm

I grew up watching his UCLA teams dominance in the college ranks. The only thing better than his win loss record was the life lessons he instilled in his players. The discipline that one needed to play for this great man was rare in that era. There will never be another college dynasty like Coach put together and there will never be a coach that exemplified what it meant to be a mentor of our youth like Coach Wooden did.
May God bless you and always preserve the memory that you left behind.

by **PilotNut** Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:32 pm

by mattywizz Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:12 am

Purplegeezer wrote:He was arguably the best coach in College history.

He was done coaching before I ever remember following sports, so all I know of him are the stories and quotes I have seen and heard. From what I have seen and heard I bet it would be tough to argue that there was a better coach at any level in any sport. He will be missed by a lot of people he personally influenced and many more that never had the pleasure of meeting him.

by wrv Sat Jun 05, 2010 7:00 am

As great an individual as John Wooden apparently was, even he would demure to the hyperbole which suggests his death and that of another sports figure were akin to Jefferson and Adams passing on the 4th of July fifty years to the day after the Declaration of Independence. He was a basketball coach, arguably not quite as important as some of the preeminent founding fathers, who were both instrumental in establishing the framework of this experiment and thereby allowing Coach Wooden to spread his gospel.

In a sense, but on a larger stage, Wooden did for UCLA basketball what Clive Charles did for Portland soccer. I suspect that Clive and Coach Wooden share some traits which enabled both to be hugely successful.

by onetouchfutbol Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:26 am

It's almost impossible not to like Wooden even if you aren't a fan of UCLA at all. When a coach is all about respecting a sport, the way it's played, and the people who came before you, it's a wonderful thing. Those old fashioned tenets of tucking in your shirt before you play a game or in Wooden's case not jumping into the air and leaving your feet when you make a pass bring respect to a sport and its fundamentals. I think that Wooden, Clive Charles, and arguably Lou Holtz share those kinds of qualities.

by fozziewozzie Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:55 pm

because i only visit the womens soccer forumn [no offense intended], i missed this. i remembered when wooden was recruiting richard washington from benson hs an with he won his last national title along with marques johnson.

with all the antidotal rememberances being shared, the one thing that stands out to me was what i heard after his passing. it was, 'what do you think of these coaches who pace up an down the sidelines yelling at their teams?'

woodens reply was, 'what do they practice all week?'

remind anyone of someone we all love an cherish?

John Wooden dead

John Wooden dead

Wizard of Westwood

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John Wooden dead

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Re: John Wooden dead