John Wooden 1910-2010

This is a belated tribute to John Wooden who passed away over a week ago at the age of 99. I grew up rooting for a Pac-8 team not from Westwood, so I can't say I was ever a fan during his amazing coaching run at UCLA. Nevertheless, I could recognize, even at that young age, that I was observing not only an unbelievable achievement but a special human being. In later years as I learned more about this remarkable man and read a couple of his books my respect for him grew. He was a talented athlete and coach without a doubt. But, he was so much more and it is a tribute in itself that these aspects are usually not the first mentioned by those closest to him when asked to reminisce. Rather, what is usually revealed is a great love for for a man that epitomized integrity, honesty, compassion and humility. Indeed, I cannot remember ever hearing or reading a negative word about him. He had a deep faith in his Lord and his life was a marvelous witness to what a Christian man should aspire. Asked what he would like God to say when he arrived before him, Wooden replied, "Well done". I think that this was likely the response he received.

Wooden quotes