John Wooden Passes Away

[iowajazz]

He was a true gentleman. I teach his pyramid of success to students all the time.

[CycloneRulzzz]

Sad day. He is and will always be the best coach not only in basketball, but in all of sport.

[mj4cy]

Great coach and legend. He was able to preach his values through his craft and achieve greatness.

[cydsho]

How ironic that a man like Wooden has passed away while the idea of college "amateur" athletics is also dying.

[mtowncyclone]

the greatest coach of all time. RIP Coach Wooden!

[wartknight]

Boy history could have been a ton different. Read the end of the column and tell me just the thought of that doesn't excite everyone
The night John Wooden spoke in Cedar Rapids | GazetteOnline.com

[swammi]

Sad to hear...

UCLA legendary coach John Wooden dies at age 99 - ESPN Los Angeles

Men like John Wooten are few and far between. I know, that's hackneyed. But when a guy like this passes on, and you try to think of something to say, you realize that all the words that should apply to only men like Wooten, have been squandred, over-used - and there are left no words that measure up.

[CylentButDeadly]

If you guys have never read "They Call Me Coach", Wooden's a****iography, I highly suggest you do. I've read it four times and will occasionally pick it up and flip through a few pages.

Once in a lifetime coach, but even a far better person and mentor.

[ISUChippewa]

The Wizard of Westwood could have been the Sultan of the Cyclones.
“I visited Ames one time in 1940 or ‘41,” Wooden said. “Iowa State offered me the (basketball coaching) position there prior to World War II.”

WOW....I did not know this. Just think...at different points in time we could have had either John Wooden or Coach K as our head basketball coaches....

What could have been....

[Legend12]

Wooden ran one of the most corrupt sports programs in the history of college sports...amazing how I've never heard or read about him thanking Sam Gilbert for making it all happen.

[rworkman83]

Wooden ran one of the most corrupt sports programs in the history of college sports...amazing how I've never heard or read about him thanking Sam Gilbert for making it all happen.

Great Post. Nothing like bashing on a guy who contributed so much to the game of Basketball after he has passed away.

[Legend12]

Great Post. Nothing like bashing on a guy who contributed so much to the game of Basketball after he has passed away.

He did give a lot to the game...he also took a lot away from the game by looking the other way and allowing his program to be as corrupt as any the college game has seen.

[swarthmoreCY]

He sure knew how to play the "game".

[cyclonenum1]

If you guys have never read "They Call Me Coach", Wooden's a****iography, I highly suggest you do. I've read it four times and will occasionally pick it up and flip through a few pages.

Once in a lifetime coach, but even a far better person and mentor.

Yes, fantastic book. As some of you know I have done a lot of youth coaching and I shared this book with many of the people that have assisted me throughout the years.

John Wooden has positively impacted far more people than he probably ever realized.

I thought Bill Walton's statement about Coach Wooden's passing was absolutely perfect.

[CycloneYoda]

Anybody with a love for the game will forever miss Coach Wooden. He transformed college basketball from a sleeping giant to an enormous juggernaut. For better and for worse, he changed the game forever. I understand the alleged corruption. Even Walton pointed to evidence that supported the claims of improper conduct, but the same Bill Walton credits Wooden for changing his life forever.

My mom was a huge Wooden fan. Even met him in California during the streak. I asked if she got his autograph. She Said to me "You do not ask John Wooden for an autograph. You get up and shake his hand."


Anybody that has any ill sayings about the man needs to look towards the Pyramid of Success.