The Dagger - NCAAB

The Dagger

Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:41 am EDT

Happy 99th Birthday, Coach Wooden

By Eamonn Brennan

In case you hadn't already heard, today is John Wooden's 99th birthday. YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! WELL IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOO YEAH! Note: It's not really my birthday. The lyrics of the song required some light fibbing. What, like it was Paul McCartney's birthday every time he ever sung that song? Please. And now I'm getting sidetracked: The point here is that today John Wooden can celebrate another milestone in a life full of them, the culmination of 99 whole years spent on this little round orb we call Earth. Not too shabby, huh?

There are any number of fitting ways to commemorate Wooden's birthday. Signing his online guest book? Recounting a favorite Wooden quote, perhaps? Mine is "Never confuse activity with accomplishment," a Wooden nod to Ernest Hemingway's "Never confuse movement with action." But in terms of commemoration, the Los Angeles Times' 99 things about John Wooden is just about as good as you can get. It manages to weave the random factoids that make Wooden's story so unique and inspiring and quaint with that story itself. You should go read it.

My favorite bits come at the beginning. For example:

15. His first coaching job was at Dayton High in Kentucky.

16. In his first year, the team went 6-11, his only losing record as a coach.

17. Wooden went on to coach basketball, baseball and tennis at South Bend Central High in Indiana and taught English for nine years. His 11-year high school coaching record was 218-42.

From Dayton High and South Bend Central High to UCLA and a coaching dynasty -- and legacy -- the likes of which college basketball will never see again. It's a reminder to never count yourself out, no matter the banality of your situation. Everyone starts small somewhere.

Anyway, happy birthday, Coach Wooden. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DANCE! YEAH YEAH! TAKE A CHA-CHA-CHA OK I'll stop now.

Related: Pac-10 Basketball

digg delicious
more

35 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. PurdueMatt
    1. Posted by PurdueMatt Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:24 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    He also did pretty well as a player at Purdue.
  2. Castor T
    2. Posted by Castor T Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    When is Sam Gilbert's birthday? We really should commemorate the occasion since his influence and association with UCLA had more to do with UCLA's dynasty than the actual coaching of Wooden.
    I think Wooden is a good basketball mind but if we were honest about the situation we'd stop canonizing him while making pariahs of guys like Tarkaninan.
  3. Joe vet
    3. Posted by Joe vet Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    John Wooden is a true coach and a very good human being. He treated his players as equals and no, but no one could touch his records they will always stand the test of time. Amost remarkable man.
    PS: Castor T you need caster oil to help you get the crap out of your brain.
  4. wow
    4. Posted by wow Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    greatest coach of all time in any sport at any level
  5. LVYANKEE
    5. Posted by LVYANKEE Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:18 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday to one of the finest coaches ever! Happy 99th coach!!!!
  6. Brian
    6. Posted by Brian Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Coach Wooden defines the word class. Hopefully he will be around for many years to come.
  7. Mr. Chevelle
    7. Posted by Mr. Chevelle Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Only 6 posts for Wooden? Shame. Happy Birthday to an American treasure.
  8. EnchantedTarHeel
    8. Posted by EnchantedTarHeel Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:17 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I am with you Mr Chevelle. Tar Heel fan wishing one of the classiest acts in college sports the best .. because he in all ways is one of the best. Set the standard. Happy B Day.
  9. lucky guy
    9. Posted by lucky guy Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:19 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday John Wooden. The greatest coach in NCAA history.
  10. Thomasb
    10. Posted by Thomasb Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:10 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    happy happy happy b-day coach;great job in life
  11. john
    11. Posted by john Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:27 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    As a college freshman at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan I received a congratulatory letter from coach Wooden in the early 1970's which I still have to this day. Happy Birthday to a coach who never, not even for Bill Walton, allowed a player to tell a coach how he will dress or run his life. You can dress anyway you want and run your life the way you want, it just won't be here at U.C.L.A.! John Pharms, Educator and former coach
  12. oso
    12. Posted by oso Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:18 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Happy 99th Coach Wooden ! God bless you always and forever.
  13. Brizzle T
    13. Posted by Brizzle T Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:25 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Since he's so old and it's his birthday, I guess people forgot all about that booster that he "didn't know" paid all the players. Great coach. Not a saint. Cheater? Can't prove it, but the taint is there.
  14. OBAMA IS DESTROYING AMERICA
    14. Posted by OBAMA IS DESTROYING AMERICA Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:03 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Happy Birthday Coach Wooden. You are still an inspiration to many of people, and a wonderful human being, one of the greatest basketball minds/coaches and teaches of the game, and life it self, God Bless
  15. scott d
    15. Posted by scott d Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:32 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Every great college sports team has its alumni backers and Sam Gilbert was all of that , and more, for UCLA. I recall - very clearly as though it were today - riding down an elevator in an office building in Encino, CA at lunchtime when the elevator stopped and this really tall kid walked in. Barefoot, crummy t-Shirt, acne pimples on his face, huge head with long, rusty colored hair and old, old blue jeens. A bum ? No, it was Bill Walton coming out of Sam Gilbert's office on the 6th Floor of that building. What was he doing there? Attending a meeting? Dressed like that ?! He was a Junior at UCLA at that time. UCLA won the NCAA's that year. Should have asked for an autograph. What did I know, then. And then there's the story of the USC Cardinal&Gold Alumni and OJ's Credit Cards - - but that's another story for another time. And bye the way, Happy Birthday, Coach Wooden. Thanks for all the memories !
  16. All
    16. Posted by All Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:56 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think the world of sports and the world in general would be a better place if there were more people like John Wooden. Happy Birthday!
  17. USCcheats
    17. Posted by USCcheats Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:32 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    To all the morons who keep bringing up "Sam Gilbert": do yourselves a favor and crawl back into your hole. Your uncorroborated and unsubstantiated stories are worthless.
    Do a little research, for crying out loud. Wooden won national championships before Sam Gilbert was even in the picture. UCLA doesn't need a Sam Gilbert to attract top players. Have you ever been on the campus?
    Look at where all of Wooden's players are today, in their lives. Do you think perhaps Wooden had something to do with that? Did it ever occur to you that Gilbert could be someone who advised them on their post-basketball life? Have you ever heard any of the players even mention Sam Gilbert?
    Finally, the winning still had to be done on the court, and I never saw Sam Gilbert suit up.
    The jealousy will never end, always trying to tarnish this intergalactic treasure.
  18. john k
    18. Posted by john k Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:51 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    ...Brennan needs to find another line of work, John Wooden means alot to a lot of people...
  19. Chris Holtz
    19. Posted by Chris Holtz Thu Oct 15, 2009 12:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I just wanted to post this portion of a paragraph talking about John Wooden being inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame:
    In 1947, Wooden and the Indiana State Sycamores won the conference title and received an invitation to the NAIB, now the NAIA, national tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Wooden refused the invitation citing the policy that banned African American players from competing. Wooden declined to compete if a member of his squad, Clarence Walker, was not allowed to participate. The following year, the NAIB changed its policy, and Wooden with Walker, guided the Sycamores to the national championship game losing to Louisville, 82-70. Perhaps his actions opened the door for Tennessee State and Coach John McLendon to win the first of three consecutive national championships in years to follow. Wooden’s involvement in breaking the color barrier in college athletics, and his story in doing so, signify his principles as a human being. Although his professional coaching career in the NAIA was limited to two years, his contribution and stance for justice is a cornerstone of the NAIA legacy.
    John Wooden is the best coach that will EVER coach the game of basketball. He is a gentleman on and off the court and his insights about the game will never be forgotten...
  20. glorygym123
    20. Posted by glorygym123 Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "Simply the Best"
  21. brndnblr
    21. Posted by brndnblr Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:07 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    One of the most intelligent people that I have ever heard in an interview! Happy Birthday Coach!
  22. pennstate fan
    22. Posted by pennstate fan Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Happy birthday to you , Coach Wooden. I remember as a high schooler, that UCLA was always winning. I hated them for that but give credit to a great coach. Sure, he had great players but so di dother schools. I am not sure if UCLA sent more players to the NBA than other schools but his genius mad them winners. Look what happened to the Trojans when he retired. God willing, you will live to see more birthdays. Speaking of such, coaches and players from other sports read his books and learned from this master.
  23. Castor T
    23. Posted by Castor T Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    These posts prove what a friendly media image and the proper amount of propaganda can do for a legacy. There is no denying what happened at UCLA during Wooden's dynastic tenure. Dan Wetzel, reporting for this very site, said it far better than me:
    http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=dw-uclalegacy040206&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
    Deal with it and move on. This is not saying John Wooden is a bad person or he's done bad things or hasn't had a positive effect on people's lives. What it says is that there are no saints in college athletics and canonizing John Wooden while disparaging other coaches is a foul hypocrisy.
  24. Peckerwood
    24. Posted by Peckerwood Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Castor T, people like Wooden. What's your problem? Them saying he's a decent human being and a good coach offends you how? It apparently DOES offend you because you whipped out a post about something negative. He's 99 years old and people appreciate a person when they get to that age because they seem timeless and it hints at their own potential to live such a long and happy life. Are you to blind and stupid to see that? Go ahead and bash an icon if you choose to, but know that you're not only bashing him, but you're bashing what he represents in the minds of millions. Not only because of his coaching ability, but for other factors as well such as his age. It's like that atheist/agnostic group hiring that scientist to re-create the shroud that covered Jesus and "prove" that the one they have is a fake. To what end? To force the rest of the world to think like them? You are a liberal wrapped in transparent clothing. Just shut up already. If you don't like the cross on the Effing side of the road don't look at it. This whole "libertarian" mentality is the biggest crock of narcissistic crap I have ever seen. The tiny minority wants the world to conform to their beliefs because it offends them. Live and let live? Then why are you b!tching about another person's beliefs? If you choose to believe in nothing, then BELIEVE IN NOTHING! And that includes believing in a world that conforms to your idiotic sympathies. Not going to happen. Again, just shut up.
  25. w.a.s.p.
    25. Posted by w.a.s.p. Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    No greater man lives today than John Wooden

The Dagger

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Jeff Eisenberg

The Dagger is a college basketball blog edited by Jeff Eisenberg. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Chris Chase, Matt Norlander,

Related Photo Gallery

More NCAAB Photos »

Featured NCAAB Video

More Videos »

Y! Sports Blogs

The Dagger Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)