A Man for All Seasons

John Wooden was one on my quiet heroes ever since I started watching UCLA basketball beginning in 1964-1965. I shed a few tears over his passing last week.

My first impressions of Coach Wooden were all basketball related. What a coach. They won championships on a yearly basis. He started his run with a line-up of no player over 6'5 and then coached what may be the two best college centers of all time in Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. But the winning continued even after they left. He was the "Wizard of Westwood". 1975 was his last championship year. He retired, walked away from what no man could ever think to duplicate. The daily grind proved too much. He wanted time to spend with his family, his wife Nell, the love of his life.

So when books started to be written about who John Wooden really was, I was intrigued. I learned about his simple Midwestern roots, deeply influenced by his parents who instilled in him a sense of true character. Honesty, integrity along with deep religious beliefs helped carve the man he would become.

I loved his passion for success and how he would attain it first as an All American player at Purdue and later when his coaching legacy began. He always viewed himself as a teacher first and foremost. He merely used the hardcourt as his chalkboard to bring his philosophy for a lifetime to those he cared most for. And it didn't matter if you were the star player or the last man on the bench. He was all about his team.

In all my readings of people who have either played for or come into contact with John Wooden in some way, I have yet to hear of one you hasn't walked away truly marveling at the man that he was. He was loved by so many. I only wish at some point in my life I could have at the very least have shaken this mans hand. There are long lists of great Americans and I would offer that John Wooden for his complete body of work over his lifetime be considered as one our greatest.

In closing, I've included a poem that he wrote about himself. He wrote poetry in his spare time.

The years have left their imprint on my hands and on my face

Erect no longer is my walk and slower is my pace

But there is no fear within my heart because I'm growing old

I only wish I had more time to better serve my Lord

But I've gone to human prayer, he has brought me inner peace

And soon my cares and problems and other worries cease

He's helped me in so many ways, he's never let me down

Why should I fear the future when soon I could be near his crown?

Though I know down here my time is short, there's endless time up there

That he will forgive and keep me in his ever loving care