More than fascinating look at John Wooden by the Los Angeles Times this week in light of Wooden's 99th birthday.
Among the many tidbits are these quotes from Wooden:
"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."
And: "A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."
This is one of my favorite columns about Wooden. He wrote it better than I ever could. http://xr.com/zq7z
Raise your hands if your surprised Alan t. had to rain on the parade….
Different era, I can appreciate it. However, I'd take Coach Wooden's approach over guys like Calipari — who still is coaching in the NCAA after having 2 separate seasons at 2 different schools eliminated from the record books due to violations.
Hey, Elizabeth, if schools can now teach that Christopher Columbus wasn't "all that," then I can say that John Wooden wasn't and isn't "all that."
I haven't seen any writing out of Alan yet. Wooden is still the man!
Why is he the man? Because he made it to 99? So did George Burns. But Burns didn't look the other way while his program was being corrupted year after year after year after year. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. What a man. The only thing that separates John Wooden from Lou Holtz is 27 years and a toupee.
Oh, forgot to write …. I always laugh out loud when I think of what Jerry Tarkanian said about UCLA. He said that the only team in Los Angeles with a higher payroll than Wooden's 60's and 70's teams were the Lakers.
Joyce, there is no subject– not one– where Alan won't feel compelled to disagree. It doesn't matter what it is, it doesn't matter what he is required to say, or how fooiish he makes himself look in the process.
Trust me– if we took up a collection and relocated him to NYC, he'd be logging onto the board of the Bergen Record, flaming the Jets for giving up two picks for Braylon Edwards
Geoff, there is no subject where you won't write an 80-paragraph soliloquy, except this subject apparently, which only took you two. Of course, you don't even bother trying to write why it's OK for the media to deify a guy who got away with running arguably the most egregiously corrupt program in NCAA history, but whatever. Keep nipping at my ankles, it doesn't bother me.
Nothing said among those 99 snippets about John Wooden's recruiting ability. I am sure that all tose standouts were not walk-ons.
RMK/akron
Wooden's recruiting ability?? I think you mean Sam Gilbert's recruiting ability.