Ah John Wooden died

[proud2BlibKansan]

One of the best teachers of our time. RIP Coach Wooden.

His civic and athletic honors seem like the achievements of many men, not just one.

He is enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

He was a three-time all-state high school player — a 5-10 guard — in Martinsville, Ind., leading his team to a state title in 1927.

He was a three-time All-American at Purdue and led the Boilermakers to two Big Ten titles and the 1932 national championship.

He was a high school teacher and coach for 11 years, served in the Navy during World War II and then was hired in 1946 as the athletics director, basketball coach and baseball coach at Indiana Teachers College, which became Indiana State University. His basketball teams at the college went 47-14.

He was hired in 1948 to coach basketball at UCLA, beginning a 27-year tenure with the Bruins that ended with the 1975 national championship, his 10th. He was 620-147 at UCLA.

Wooden was a man of wisdom and patience and, on occasion when he didn't like a referee's call, of bad temper. But he rarely if ever cursed on the bench. A typical outburst from Wooden might be something like "goodness gracious sakes alive."

He gathered together his principles and philosophy of life and sports into what became known as "The Pyramid of Success," and it certainly worked for him on and off the court.

Wooden admired those who served others, and he frequently told people his greatest heroes in history were Abraham Lincoln, for his courage and his ability to say a lot in a few words, and Mother Teresa, for her passion in helping others.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-06-04-john-wooden-obit_N.htm

[givemebackmycountry]

1. 620-147 at UCLA

He was doing something right.

Everyone who ever played for him loved him.
Everyone who ever spent some time with him loved him.
I've never heard a single thing about him that was not positive and good.

He loved teaching above all else.
He loved the game.
He loved his players.
He loved his wife of 60 plus years.
He loved his life.
All 99 years of it.
I'll never be that lucky.
Good night coach.
The state of Kansas and it's basketball fans loved you.
Because we knew you loved us back.

Rock, Chalk, John Wooden.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Wooden quotes:

“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.”

“If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

“Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”

[Captain Hilts]

2. A standing ovation for him here in m living room. Cheers to a great man. nt

[rurallib]

3. His interaction with Walton is the stuff of legends

Unlike most coaches today, he would have let Walton go if he did not obey rules. Team first.

[Reader Rabbit]

5. Oh, no! Not Coach!

:cry:

There will never be another like Wooden.

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Someone unrec'ed this.

My rec this morning was the fifth. Then I came back this evening, and it was back down to four. WTF, people? You have something against Coach Wooden?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. They have something against us

Everything I post gets unrecced.

BFD.

I'm glad I have larger problems. :)