John Wooden leaves this world poorer for his passing but richer for having shared with his players, friends and all his teaching. The guys at the DBR have a nice remembrance
Wooden was a tie to a different time, with far less ambiguity and confusion, and humility was as omnipresent as was his talent for teaching. He lived in a world which was ordered simply around faith, industry, decency and optimism.
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In an age when people are willing to debase or humiliate themselves in any number of ways, his character elevated him. A humble man, he saw himself as a teacher first and surely saw himself as a foothill in men’s lives, someone who helped them prepare for the mountains ahead, rather than as a footnote. That’s about as far as he was going to praise himself.
Well said. See also the words from the man himself in this short talk given back in 2001. Well worth a watch.
With profound simplicity, Coach John Wooden redefines success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. In this inspiring talk he shares the advice he gave his players at UCLA, quotes poetry and remembers his father’s wisdom.
Note how sharply he gave this speech, well thought through, with no papers, dropping quotes verbatim, at 91. I hope to do that well at that age.
