John Wooden....passed away today (per Washington Post). RIP

[ChicosBailBonds]

Greatest Ever ....and he was a damn good coach, too.


Incredible human being


Passed away per the Post (which is not exactly my favorite paper or always getting things right, but that's what they are saying)


Edit:  Washington Post wrong.  He's in grave condition, but has not passed away   http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskymensbasketballblog/2012026225_john_wooden_hos.html

[4everwarriors]

As I posted previously, had the good fortune to meet Coach in a hotel lobby in 1977 at the FF in Atlanta. When I asked him to predict the winner on Monday night, he replied, "the better team." Per usual, he was spot on. Guess that dollar bill he autographed for me that evening just became more valuable. No, it's not for sale.

[nyg]

What a great human being.  I was really hoping he would make it to 100, what a celebration that would have been. 

[pbiflyer]

What a great human being.  I was really hoping he would make it to 100, what a celebration that would have been. 

+1. Thoughts and prayers with the Wooden family.

[ChicosBailBonds]

He will be with Nell again very soon.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

He will be with Nell again very soon.

Gayest post of all time.

[g0lden3agle]

Isn't ESPN still reporting he's in grave condition?

[wyoMUfan]

Gayest post of all time.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA that just made my day.

but seriously, John Wooden is awesome he will be truly missed

[GoldenWarrior]

John Wooden is awesome and clearly the best college basketball coach of all time if you ask me.

[MUBurrow]

No question he was the best. No matter what happens down the road, I think he will always be qualitatively the best too, because I don't know if there will ever be anyone smarter than him to sit at the head of a bench again.  He was the most brilliant mind to ever coach any sport, let alone CBB.

[Nukem2]

Don't want to rain on the parade here...but, its always bothered me that he consistently looked the other way in regards to Sam Gilbert.  Otherwise, he was a remarkable man.

[GGGG]

Wooden also benefited greatly from the days were the NCAAs tournament regions were truly regions.

I mean, he was a great coach, but it is hard for me to say with any certainty that he is "qualitatively the best."  It's just so hard to compare across eras.

But this won't stop ESPN from going over the top when he does pass on.

[Boone]

Good one, PRN. Almost did a spit take when I read your reply.

[GoldenWarrior]

Wooden also benefited greatly from the days were the NCAAs tournament regions were truly regions.

I mean, he was a great coach, but it is hard for me to say with any certainty that he is "qualitatively the best."  It's just so hard to compare across eras.

But this won't stop ESPN from going over the top when he does pass on.

Agreed to some extent, but still 10 titles... next closest have 4!!!  I mean that's just a joke no matter how u break it down

[KipsBayEagle]

Apparently he was sent to the hospital for dehydration and is now resting.  I don't know if this means he will be ok, since reports and articles still seem to indicate he isn't doing so well.  Hopefully he can bounce back from this and make it to the big 3 digits.

[GGGG]

Agreed to some extent, but still 10 titles... next closest have 4!!!  I mean that's just a joke no matter how u break it down

But again, different era.  And those aren't "qualitative" measures.

[79Warrior]

Wooden also benefited greatly from the days were the NCAAs tournament regions were truly regions.

I mean, he was a great coach, but it is hard for me to say with any certainty that he is "qualitatively the best."  It's just so hard to compare across eras.

But this won't stop ESPN from going over the top when he does pass on.

No one will EVER supass his NCAA championship record. He is without a doubt the greatest college coach of all time.

[ChuckyChip]

Wooden also benefited greatly from the days were the NCAAs tournament regions were truly regions.

Wooden is/was one of the greats, no doubt, but the Tournament was so much different in those days.  For example, in 1971 there were 25 teams invited, and because of the rule limiting conferences to just one team, five top 15 teams weren't even invited, including USC which was ranked 3rd in the country!  Being in the west UCLA had an easier road to the final four most years.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Gayest post of all time.

An incredible love affair with those two.  Wish people were still that dedicated to one another


Worth the read

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1068223/index.htm


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2003-12-21-wooden-court_x.htm

[ChicosBailBonds]

Don't want to rain on the parade here...but, its always bothered me that he consistently looked the other way in regards to Sam Gilbert.  Otherwise, he was a remarkable man.

I wouldn't say he looked the other way.  He berated his players for their involvement with him and tried to cut his influence where he could.

[ChicosBailBonds]

No one will EVER supass his NCAA championship record. He is without a doubt the greatest college coach of all time.

Also one of the greatest players of all time, too.  Inducted into the basketball hall of fame for both.

[4everwarriors]

Is it inappropriate to speculate on potential pallbearers? I'm figuring Alcindor, Walton, Allen, Goodrich, Wilkes, and Bibby all make the cut.

[Nukem2]

I wouldn't say he looked the other way.  He berated his players for their involvement with him and tried to cut his influence where he could.

Would have been much easier just to say no contact by Gilbert. Remember, there were no e-mails, no twitter, no cell phones, no Facebook/Internet in those days. Wooden could easily have cut off contact and/or access by keeping Gilbert off campus. He failed to do so.  In essence, he simply looked the other way. 

[Nukem2]

http://carnageandculture.blogspot.com/2006/04/adrian-wojnarowski-ucls-tainted.html
Jerry Tarkanian begs to differ.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

Greatest Ever ....and he was a damn good coach, too.

Incredible human being

We really should wait, oh, five more years before we can make those bold statements.  

[MarquetteFan94]

ESPN just reported that Wooden is resting comfortably.....maybe we should park this one for a while.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Would have been much easier just to say no contact by Gilbert. Remember, there were no e-mails, no twitter, no cell phones, no Facebook/Internet in those days. Wooden could easily have cut off contact and/or access by keeping Gilbert off campus. He failed to do so.  In essence, he simply looked the other way. 

The rules were much different back then....let's not for a second think that MU didn't have a few Sam Gilberts as well.

There wasn't a whole lot Wooden could do.  He forbid his players from interacting with them, refused to interact with Gilbert himself.  Unfortunately, where there is a will there is a way, and Sam went around Wooden in many instances.  Walton has admitted this on several occasions when interviewed about it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

ESPN just reported that Wooden is resting comfortably.....maybe we should park this one for a while.

The Washington Post was wrong.....words fail me. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://carnageandculture.blogspot.com/2006/04/adrian-wojnarowski-ucls-tainted.html
Jerry Tarkanian begs to differ.

It's kind of funny when Tarkanian is your chief source for an ethics charge...just sayin.  

Oh, and your link doesn't work.   

[ChicosBailBonds]

We really should wait, oh, five more years before we can make those bold statements.  

Why, he's proved it over 99 years, not over 2.  Thus the difference.

EPIC FAIL on that attempt of yours

[HouWarrior]

In movie Serendipity, the obituary writer tells cusack that the Greeks never eulogized the dead, and asked but one question:
Did he have passion?...
Coach W's passion for teaching, basketball and for doing it and everything else the "right" way (see his Pyramid of success), is unequaled.
great coach, ...even better man

[schubert33]

NOT DEAD YET!!!

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/news/news_outlets_retract_false_reports_of_john_woodens_death_163637.asp

[MU B2002]

In movie Serendipity, the obituary writer tells cusack that the Greeks never eulogized the dead, and asked but one question:

Piven.

[Nukem2]

It's kind of funny when Tarkanian is your chief source for an ethics charge...just sayin.  

Oh, and your link doesn't work.   

Just the first link I clicked on.  Just Google up Sam Gilbert and you find plenty more.  Others may have had their Sam Gilberts, but Sam was the ultimate role model.  Chicos, I'm with you most of the tiem; but, Gilbert is just something else.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just the first link I clicked on.  Just Google up Sam Gilbert and you find plenty more.  Others may have had their Sam Gilberts, but Sam was the ultimate role model.  Chicos, I'm with you most of the tiem; but, Gilbert is just something else.

No question Sam was a Playa.  Maybe everyone is protecting Wooden, but to a man, players, assistant coaches, etc, all say Wooden was not only anti-Gilbert, but tried to keep him at bay.  Yes, they could be protecting him, not sure anyone will ever know.

[LCDutchman]

Hey Chicos

Wooden is alive and resting in the hospital.  Only you could start a thread like this.  Hey isn't that Tan Tomboy tweeting you. 

[Lennys Tap]

Why, he's proved it over 99 years, not over 2.  Thus the difference.

EPIC FAIL on that attempt of yours

99 years? Must have stared coaching as a very young man.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hey Chicos

Wooden is alive and resting in the hospital.  Only you could start a thread like this.  Hey isn't that Tan Tomboy tweeting you.  

LC, maybe you should read the edit in the first very post that shows the Washington Post, who originally said he was dead, then said he wasn't (another reason to like the ComPost).   I edited the original post within 10 minutes of positing it.  

Reading, try it sometime, including the edits.  

[ChicosBailBonds]

99 years? Must have stared coaching as a very young man.

Uhm, Lenny....I said he was a great human being

MOWarrior went on a tangent and said I should wait another 5 years to make that statement (obviously trying to make a parallel with my statement on coaching greatness and waiting at least 5 years). 

So back on point, no need to wait 5 years since the topic on hand was his greatness as a human being, which he has proved for 99 years (each year he was a human being).     

[Lennys Tap]

Uhm, Lenny....I said he was a great human being

MOWarrior went on a tangent and said I should wait another 5 years to make that statement (obviously trying to make a parallel with my statement on coaching greatness and waiting at least 5 years). 

So back on point, no need to wait 5 years since the topic on hand was his greatness as a human being, which he has proved for 99 years (each year he was a human being).     

Sorry for not using teal, but it saddens me you would assume that MOWarrior and I weren't going for a little light hearted humor. I agree that Wooden was a great human being, though I don't think he did that much to prove it until he was at least 3 years old

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

People say the guy is a "great human being" because he's 99 years old. He may be a fantastic guy, but he's not John Paul II, here. Give me a break.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Sorry for not using teal, but it saddens me you would assume that MOWarrior and I weren't going for a little light hearted humor. I agree that Wooden was a great human being, though I don't think he did that much to prove it until he was at least 3 years old

I apologize.  I should not have responded to your post after reading LC Dutchman's.  Honestly, I thought I had the guy on ignore but somehow that setting was taken off.  Won't make that mistake again.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

Just a fun little jab, that's all.  John Wooden was a great man.  He deserves all the respect we give him.  He was a winner of course, but what a gentleman as well.  A mentor to so many people, and when you consider the greats in whatever profession you can think of--soldier, statesman, etc--there's really no one who defined his profession any better than he did, or set the standard any higher.  I teased Chicos a little earlier, but I completely share his sentiment about coach Wooden.  I have here that very article that Chicos cited from SI about his wife Nell.  Back before hard drives, I thought it was a good article and made a copy of it and slipped it into a scrapbook, and have had it for 20 years.  So I very much share Chicos' appreciation for coach Wooden, absolutely.  

[cheebs09]

Front page of ESPN.com is saying that he has died. Sad news. I don't know much about him outside of being an outstanding coach but it seems like he was an amazing person based on what others have said here and other things I've heard.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Is it inappropriate to speculate on potential pallbearers? I'm figuring Alcindor, Walton, Allen, Goodrich, Wilkes Chicos, and Bibby all make the cut.

fixed.

[rocky_warrior]

Front page of ESPN.com is saying that he has died. Sad news. I don't know much about him outside of being an outstanding coach but it seems like he was an amazing person based on what others have said here and other things I've heard.

And here I was just about to change the title of this thread.  RIP.

[ChicosBailBonds]

People say the guy is a "great human being" because he's 99 years old. He may be a fantastic guy, but he's not John Paul II, here. Give me a break.

PRN, he truly was an incredible human being and they've been saying that for decades, not just because he's 99.  I think you do not know what you are talking about on this one.  He is a Norman Rockwell painting.  

Below may help a bit.


http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5249546&categoryid=2378529


http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5249797&categoryid=2378529


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ358_YrFAM&feature=player_embedded

[ChicosBailBonds]

And PRN, I'll stick what I said.  He's with Nell now.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5249532&categoryid=2378529


http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0605-wooden-plaschke-20100605,0,1828075.column

[21Jumpstreet]

Best word of wisdom from Wooden, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."  Brilliant man in the ways of the world.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_15230142?source=rss

[bamamarquettefan]

Not many have spent as many hours as I have comparing the eras to put players on equal footing, whether they played in 1919 or 2010.  However, when it comes to coaching, there is simply no question Wooden was the greatest of all-time.

As noted, the eras were different with only 25 teams at one point, and only 1 team allowed per conference.  If we were just asking who was the greatest TOURNAMENT coach of all time, then that would be a factor, particularly in the case of the year cited when USC was No. 3 but couldn't play in the tourney because of UCLA winning the conference.  But that ignores the fact that the No. 3 team in the country could have knocked UCLA out of the tournament all together.  If it was easier for UCLA to win the tournament ONCE IN TEH TOURNAMENT, it still comes out as just a biggest accomplishment because it was much harder for UCLA to get into the tournament (finish ahead of the No. 3 team in the country in conference play), so overall winning the title is just as tough.

USC was actually No. 1 in the country at 16-0 in 1971 when UCLA went into the LA Sports Arena to beat them 64-60.  We don't have anything like that today when an undefeated team has to win on the road against the No. 1 team in the country to even MAKE the tournament.

10 titles - case closed, the best ever.  Now as I wrote on crackedsidewalks last month, if only Frank Zimmer, 99 and living in Sheboygan, and Marquette had pulled off the upset at Purdue in 1932, then maybe he wouldn't also have the POY and national title as a player to add to those 10 coaching titles.

Case closed.

[wadefan#1]

The best ever

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=5331502