Legendary basketball coach Wooden dies

[IScreamSundays]

Source: CNN

CNN) -- He was known as the Wizard of Westwood, the architect of a dynasty at UCLA that will never be equaled. But John Wooden leaves behind a legacy much larger than victories on a basketball court.

Wooden died Friday of natural causes at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. He was 99. His 100th birthday would have been October 14.

Wooden had been admitted to the hospital on May 26. Funeral services will be private, but the family said there would be a public memorial at a later date, with a reception for former players and coaches.

Wooden was born on a farm in Martinsville, Indiana, in 1910 and learned to play basketball on an iron hoop that his father had forged and attached to the barn.

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Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/06/03/basketball.wooden.obit/?hpt=T1

[bigwillq]

1. RIP

:(

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. One of the best

A great great man. I loved watching him coach. He was a master.

[joeybee12]

3. A legend...a classy guy...RIP...

:cry:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Safe passage to him...

My condolences to all who knew and loved him...

[Captain Hilts]

5. Cheers to a real gentleman! I'm doing the wave for him! nt

[awoke_in_2003]

6. goodbye, coach. nt

[tishaLA]

7. Such a great man

I'm at UCLA right now...and somehow it seems like everyone already knows. It's hard to believe he won't be stepping into Pauley Pavilion again.

[JohnnyLib2]

8. "a man among men"

RIP

[givemebackmycountry]

9. And "universally loved"

'nuff said.

Sleep well, John.
We'll miss you.

[abq e streeter]

10. A class act and a long ,great life...RIP Coach Wooden

And from CBS Sports.com:

Asked what he would like God to say when he arrived at the pearly gates, Wooden replied, "Well done."

[Richardo]

11. Rest in Peace, Coach

[dhill926]

12. Legendary indeed.....RIP.........

[DimplesinMI]

13. RIP Coach Wooden............

[Wetzelbill]

14. RIP

[TomCADem]

15. God Bless Him - A Legendary Player, Coach and Man

He was not merely a great coach, but he was an inspiration both on and off the court.

[abq e streeter]

16. Just found this on Kos : John Wooden standing up against racism in the 40's

* FDRDemocrat's diary :: ::
*

I will keep this brief because a lot is going to be said in the coming days about John Wooden's basketball legacy. I just want to mention one of the things that might not be emphasized, but which deserves notice as part of his legacy.

Coach Wooden served in WW2. When he came back and started his coaching career in the late 1940's, one year he was going to take his college team to a major tournament. But he held back when he found out the tournament did not allow African Americans to play in it. He brought his team only after they rescinded this policy. This took guts in that era.

Rest in peace, Coach Wooden.

[classysassy]

17. A lovely human being

It seem that Alcindor AKA Jabbar and the coach loved each other even after Karem bacame a muslim.

[The Second Stone]

18. I went to UCLA in the early 80s.

Everyone who worked on campus for the University who knew him and mentioned that he was a true gentlemen and treated everyone he met with respect.

[Faygo Kid]

19. A great life, well lived.

Same birthday as my daughter. Only much older, of course.

What a class act.

[Prometheus Bound]

20. Read one of his books on coaching about 10 times when I started coaching.

Every page useful.

[jazzelle]

21. Great man....great coach

will be missed

[AngryAmish]

22. Another one gone before his time...

[UrbScotty]

23. Just a few John Wooden quotes

"Ability is a poor man's wealth."

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

"I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_wooden.html