Editor's note: "My Journey with the Master Teacher and Coach," a phenomenal piece on Coach John Wooden by my good friend Bill Bennett (not Bill Bennett, the one talks virtues while gambling away huge sums) on Coach's induction last year into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City. Thank you to Bruin Blue, a publication of UCLA Athletics, and Bill Bennett for granting Money Players permission to use.
Bill's article will be posted in four parts.
Part 1: The College Basketball Experience
Part 2: Daily Dairy of Hall of Fame Induction
Part 3: Daily Dairy, Continued
Part 4: NABC interview
Part I: The College Basketball Experience
By Bill Bennett
The National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) is the sponsor of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the weekend was entitled the "College Basketball Experience." On Sunday (Nov. 19) was the press conference, reception and induction ceremony. Coach Wooden joined a phenomenal inaugural class:
Dean Smith, college basketball's all-time second-winningest coach (879 wins) at North Carolina, who directed the Tar Heels to two NCAA Championships (1993/1982). He also led NC to 11 Final Fours and 13 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championships. While a player at Kansas, the Jayhawks won the NCAA title in 1952.
Bill Russell, led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA Championships in 1955 and '56 and was the National Player of the Year in 1956. The 6-10 center's rebounding and shot blocking skills established a defensive mentality that remains a focal part of championship basketball at every level. In the NBA with the Boston Celtics, he was a member of 11 NBA Championship teams in 13 seasons.
Oscar Robertson, the "Big O" was named "Player of the Century" by the NABC. The 6-5 guard led the University of Cincinnati to the NCAA Championship game in 1959 and 1960. He was the first collegiate player to lead the NCAA in scoring for three consecutive years and the first player to be named National Player of the Year three times. In then played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks and was a 12-time NBA All-Star.
Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of the game of basketball, he established the original 13 rules in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, MA back in 1891. Naismith, who spent his final 41 years as a professor at Kansas and who was the Jayhawks' first basketball coach, was represented by his grandson, Ian.
Reprinted with permission from Bruin Blue. © 2007 Bill Bennett and Bruin Blue. All rights reserved.
Too long ago for my time, but worth asking: was the Big O, or was Bill Russell, a better college player than Walton or Alcindor?
Posted by: andy fine | March 20, 2007 at 07:15 PM