RIP Coach

I was born in 1985, 10 whole years after John Robert Wooden coached his last game at UCLA, but I have always felt a strong connection with the man.

I talked to my father tonight after learning that Wooden had passed at the age of 99 and my dad made the observation that he was interested to see how much of a connection I felt with the passing of Wooden because he was a generation ahead of me. Yet I got incredibly emotional upon hearing the news that he had moved on.

It is difficult for me to describe, but I was raised to be a UCLA fan. I have pictures of me at almost every age with UCLA paraphernalia. Wooden is really the father of UCLA athletics, not just Basketball.

So being a born and raised UCLA fan, the loss of Wooden feels like the loss of a grandparent. He was more than just a legend.

I had the privilege of hearing Wooden speak a number of years ago. Me and my dad went and heard him at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Many of the thing we heard were the same stories that Wooden tells in his books and his appearances, but it had an effect on me. I felt honored to be able to hear him speak prior to his passing.

He truly was a teacher in every sense of the word.

The one thing that always struck me about Wooden was how sharp his mind always was. He was a great communicator even late in life. His sayings always made me take a second to really try to understand what he was saying.

The last thing I will say about John R. Wooden is that although many tears have been shed today, including many by me, is that today is actually a joyous day.

On March 21, 1985, 157 days before I was born, Coach's true love, Nellie, passed away from cancer. Nellie was the only girl that Wooden ever kissed. He was extremely devoted to Nellie and even used to visit her grave and write her a love letter once a month since she passed.

Today, after 25 long years, Coach gets to be with Nell again.

In one of his last public appearances, Wooden was asked what he would like to hear God say when he arrives in heaven. Wooden replied, "Well done."

I know that is exactly what he heard just a few hours ago.

Once I was afraid of dying,
terrified of ever-lying,
petrified of leaving family, home and friends.

Thoughts of absence from my dear ones,
brought a melancholy tear once,
and a dreadful fear of when life ends.

But those days are long behind me,
fear of leaving does not bind me,
and departure does not hold a single care.

Peace does comfort as I ponder,
a reunion in the yonder,
with my dearest one who is waiting for me there.

John Wooden

1910-2010