Coach John Wooden In Grave Condition In L.A.

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Coach John Wooden In Grave Condition In L.A. (Died Friday)

Legendary Coach John Wooden, 99 years old, who was at the same time Atheltic Director, Basketball Coach and Baseball Coach in 1946-1948 for Indiana Teacher's College (now Indiana State) is listed in grave condition at the Reagan Medical Center in Westwood (Southern California) tonight. Below is a gallery containing 19 pictures, including he and his wife in the living room of their Terre Haute home in 1948.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/06/03/GA2010060304369.html

He went on to win 10 national championships at UCLA in the mid-60's through mid-70's.
 
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an interesting story about coach wooden while he was at indiana state....

when he was at isu in the late 1940s....the team played in the national naia tournament in kansas city....he had a couple of african-american players on the team.....due to the times, the hotel where isu was supposed to stay wouldn't allow the african-american players in the place....wooden threatened to pull his team out of the tournament if his players....all of his players...weren't allowed to stay together....as a team....at the hotel....the hotel relented.....that story says a lot of about the man and the coach...john wooden......

one other thing...when i worked in the sports information office at isu.....we wanted to use wooden in our men's basketball and baseball media guides (he also coached baseball for the sycamores)...to play up the fact that he had indeed coached there...and had a lot of success there.....we wrote to ucla....and asked him how he felt about us using his name and reputation with the programs at indiana state....we got word back that he would be proud to be associated with indiana state....once again....that story speaks volumes about the man.....
 
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TJ, When Larry Bird returned to Indy as a Celtic for his first game in 1980, 728 Sycamore fans bought tickets to see his first game with the Pacers at MSA. That was amazing in itself. After the game, we had a post-game party at the Hilton and something like 400 showed up for that! Much to my surprise, out of NOWHERE, in walks John Wooden. I have said it many times but when he walked in, I felt like John Denver when he met God in the movie, OH, GOD. I immediately introduced myself and I will NEVER forget how humble and gracious he was. This man oozed class and I will never forget that moment, ever, and how blessed I was to have FINALLY met him. For all my years involved with ISU alumni, that will ALWAYS be the benchmark, without a doubt. What a loss~
 

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Bally #39 said:
TJ, When Larry Bird returned to Indy as a Celtic for his first game in 1980, 728 Sycamore fans bought tickets to see his first game with the Pacers at MSA. That was amazing in itself. After the game, we had a post-game party at the Hilton and something like 400 showed up for that! Much to my surprise, out of NOWHERE, in walks John Wooden. I have said it many times but when he walked in, I felt like John Denver when he met God in the movie, OH, GOD. I immediately introduced myself and I will NEVER forget how humble and gracious he was. This man oozed class and I will never forget that moment, ever, and how blessed I was to have FINALLY met him. For all my years involved with ISU alumni, that will ALWAYS be the benchmark, without a doubt. What a loss~
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That is a great story. I felt honored to have been a spectator when the Sycamores hosted the Gail Goodrich led UCLA Bruins and coach Wooden during the 64/65 season. That was the only time, to the best of my knowledge, that an opposing team and coach received a standing ovation from the Sycamore faithful when taking the floor in the packed Arena.
 
interestingly....wooden replaced his high school coach as head coach at indiana state

glenn curtis coached wooden at martinsville high school and led them to a state title....curtis went on to become the head coach at indiana state...he handpicked wooden to replace him as head coach of the sycamores.....

people ought to talk to duane klueh about playing for wooden....great stories.....duane was an all-american hoopster for the sycamores.....
 
TJames said:
glenn curtis coached wooden at martinsville high school and led them to a state title....curtis went on to become the head coach at indiana state...he handpicked wooden to replace him as head coach of the sycamores.....

people ought to talk to duane klueh about playing for wooden....great stories.....duane was an all-american hoopster for the sycamores.....
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The Indy Star had quotes from various people in the sports section today. I was really hoping to see something from Duane Klueh. That would have been more appropriate than something from Jim Calhoun. Why isn't Todd Golden on that?
 

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Was sad to hear about Wooden's passing. I thought some of the tributes missed the boat by not mentioning what he did at Indiana State.
 
Sycamore Proud said:
The Indy Star had quotes from various people in the sports section today. I was really hoping to see something from Duane Klueh. That would have been more appropriate than something from Jim Calhoun. Why isn't Todd Golden on that?
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He's probably still tied down w/ investigating rumors of the possible McKenna/Altman "conspiracy"...:D

Personally, I'd like to hear TH/ISU resident historian Mike McCormick's thoughts on Coach Wooden's passing. I'm sure that he has a story or two that we've yet to hear.
 
Permission or etiquette?

TJames said:
when he was at isu in the late 1940s....the team played in the national naia tournament in kansas city....he had a couple of african-american players on the team.....due to the times, the hotel where isu was supposed to stay wouldn't allow the african-american players in the place....wooden threatened to pull his team out of the tournament if his players....all of his players...weren't allowed to stay together....as a team....at the hotel....the hotel relented.....that story says a lot of about the man and the coach...john wooden......

one other thing...when i worked in the sports information office at isu.....we wanted to use wooden in our men's basketball and baseball media guides (he also coached baseball for the sycamores)...to play up the fact that he had indeed coached there...and had a lot of success there.....we wrote to ucla....and asked him how he felt about us using his name and reputation with the programs at indiana state....we got word back that he would be proud to be associated with indiana state....once again....that story speaks volumes about the man.....
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TJ -- was that call a matter of form?

Sadly, too few people know about the 1947 team or Clarence Walker -- I've already dropped notes to the Gannet and AP editorial offices
 
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