The unexpected advice John Wooden gave me about – Latest News
How a lot would you pay for advice from the best basketball coach of all time? What should you knew that advice would primarily be about socks?
Famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden died 16 years in the past on the age of 99. Wooden, additionally know because the “Wizard of Westwood” helmed UCLA’s crew for 27 years. During one 12-year stretch, he led the Bruins to an unprecedented 10 national championships. That’s a file that no person has ever — or will ever — surpass. He retired in 1975.
A yr later, after I was 14 years outdated, I started taking part in basketball myself for Mammoth HS, a small faculty in ski city nestled in California’s Eastern Sierra Mountains. I had by no means performed earlier than. So I used to be within the market for teaching — excessive teaching, the sort that the Wizard of Westwood may offer.
John Wooden
Turns out I used to be in luck. Wooden was holding a basketball camp for younger athletes in Southern California, and I used to be intent on being there. The solely downside was that it got here with a hefty price tag: $500 a week. In 1976, that was a lot of money. But, I figured, no sum can be too massive if I may study from the game’s best thoughts.
So I struck a deal with my dad. If he kicked in half, I’d work to kick within the different half. And sure enough, between making beds and bussing tables, I scrounged up $250 and was on my technique to California Lutheran University and the John Wooden Basketball Camp.
I arrived on a Sunday afternoon with a few mates and few hundred aspiring hardcourt stars. We have been advised to dress and meet within the health club in half-hour, the place we figured we’d lastly get to satisfy the heroic coach. For some cause, we have been all given an additional pair of socks.
Lew Alcindor of UCLA and UCLA coach John Wooden are pictured during the NCAA Finals in Louisville, Ky., March 22, 1969. Alcindor scored 37 factors to defeat Purdue 92-72, capturing a third straight championship in his final sport of school basketball. Bettmann Archive
Five minutes after we entered the gymnasium a facet door opened. We watched with bated breath. And in walked the best coach of all time.
Coach Wooden stepped up to the microphone, tapped it a few occasions, and started to talk. “Boys,” he stated, “I want you to sit down and take off your shoes and socks. You should have two pairs of socks. Now, I want you to take the first pair of socks, turn them inside out, and put them on. Then, take the second pair. Don’t turn them inside out. Put them over the first pair. Then put your shoes back on and tie them up nice and tight. If you do that, you won’t get blisters. Because, boys, you cannot play good basketball with blisters.”
Then he turned and walked out the facet door. We by no means noticed him again. In different phrases, I paid $500 to attend the John Wooden Basketball Camp the place I realized nothing from John Wooden about dribbling, capturing, or passing. His contribution was a pair of socks and a few sage advice.
At the time, I felt burned. But I’ve since observed one thing: I by no means get blisters. In truth, to this present day, I nonetheless play racquetball sporting two pairs of socks, one of them inside out. His advice has lasted a lifetime. It was a common-sense lesson from a basketball genius.
Coach Wooden can be the primary to acknowledge that it’s unattainable to show a bunch of teenage boys into basketball stars in 5 days. But should you give these gamers the basics, you then’re offering them the bodily basis to get to the subsequent degree.
John Wooden Bettmann Archive
I’ve since sought out more of Coach Wooden’s on a regular basis teachings. Be true to your self. Make every single day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books, particularly the Bible. Make friendship a positive artwork. Build a shelter towards wet days. Pray for steering and provides thanks for blessings.
We may all benefit from a little more Coach Wooden in our lives. His classes have resonated with me for many years. I’ve come to consider that basketball camp was value each penny of the $500. And it was by no means about the socks.
Trace Gallagher is the anchor of “Fox News @ Night” and the creator of “Turns Out They Were Right All Along.”
