John Wooden

The other morning I was listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio.  They were talking about the Legacy that John Wooden (legendary coach from UCLA, won 10 national titles and impacted many people by his example and character) left when he died this past weekend at the age of 99.   They ended up interviewing several former players and coaches and asked for the thing they would remember about Coach Wooden.   All the answers were great, thoughtful and heart felt.  One stuck out in my mind, Bill Walton.

Bill Walton is one of my least favorite analysts on ESPN, that being said his gratitude and love for Coach Wooden I will never forget!   He got choked up when talking about his former coach & friend.  He told Mike & Mike that without John Wooden in his life he would have given up years ago.   "He made such a huge impact on my life, he encouraged me when no one else was there, he coached me through my darkest days," (roughly what Walton said).  Walton was at the end of his rope, he was ready to call it quits when the man who has always been there for him made another huge impact and showed love & compassion to Bill. 

The power words have on someones life is immeasurable.  You don't have to be a legendary Coach to have an impact on someones life.  You don't have to have written books or have catchy quotes to speak truth to someone down in the dumps.  What you do have to be is willing!  Willing to step out and help, willing to show love, willing to sacrifice time in order to make a difference.  Bill Walton was forever changed by his coach, mentor, friend.