For the next appropriate piece of time everyone that is so moved will be doing their version of honoring the life of UCLA legend basketball coach, John Wooden.  I figure I might as well jump right in.  I know John Wooden best by the people he coached and my experiences with them.

I first met Coach Wooden in 1951 when he came to College of Sequoias (CA) to give a clinic, hosted by COS and its great coach Paul œPolly Wilhelmsen, for the local high school coaches.  Since I had known since the 6th grade that I was going to coach I did not want to miss this opportunity. I was a 17 year old player.

I had been following his teams at UCLA before that as he had COS players who had transferred  to UCLA to play for him.  Paul Saunders and Bobby Pounds immediately come to mind.  They are part of the fine players that played for Coach Wooden before the Championship Years.

There was Don Johnson, Cypress College (CA) coach for years who was the toughest to beat for me (and a lot of other folks) ever.  Walt Torrance, John Berberich, who was my teammate while playing in the American Basketball League are just two of many fine players and perhaps, even finer people.  It is seldom mention but John played on a UCLA team that was in the Final Four the year before they won their first championship. Hold on, I am drifting here.

My purpose for this particular piece is to recall an event that was a big factor in my life in which Coach Wooden was a key player.  It occurred after I had coached basketball for 25 years and was definitely a highlight event in my life. It took place in 1987 in Boston.

The event was my idea and was facilitated by Transformational Technologies, Inc (TTI).  It was called the œManager as Coach and was a business seminar that was shown on satellite TV to over 10,000 people across the U.S.  I was told it was largest ever done to that time.

My point in telling you this is the list of participants.  They are as follows:

1.  John Wooden-Need I say more?

2.  George Allen-NFL Hall-of Famer and probably the best football coach in the NFL

in his day.

3.  Arnold œRed Auerbach-Boston Celtic legend coach and General Manager

4.  Tim Galwey-The most read sports author of all-time and the best coach of

individual performance I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

(See œInner Game of Tennis)

5.  Werner Erhard, creator of the EST training and the leader for what is possible for

human beings.  Also, the greatest man I have ever known.

This was the panel for the event moderated by Jim Selman, President of TTI.  I was invited to have dinner with all of them the night before. We talked coaching.  Coach Wooden set the tone for our conversation.  He was humble, precise, stating his view without trampling on anyone elses.  He even had a rolled up program.

Aurbach was his street smart, tough, funny and lovable self.  Allen was passionate and ready to suit up.  Galwey was quick to point out something that was only obvious to him and right on point.  Erhard was the master without being masterful.

Two things;  it was a privilege to be there and actually participate and even more than that a regret.  Coach, I am sorry I never took the opportunity to tell you I love you.