Tag: Bill Walton

Boston Celtics team owner Wyc Grousbeck on the passing of Bill Walton

Fare thee well, Bill — you will be missed by a lot more of us than just Wyc — but we should all hear his words. 

It is not all that often in today’s NBA (or yesterday’s if we are being honest), that an NBA team owner will not only take it upon themselves to share their feelings about the death of a player that played for the team they own — and even less common when that player did so decades before said owner was in the picture.

But on the news of the passing of Hall of Fame Boston Celtics big man Bill Walton, Celtics lead Governor Wyc Grousbeck opened up about how the loss hit him, and how the world was the poorer for the loss of such a shining soul. Fare thee well, Bill — you will be missed by a lot more of us than just Wyc — but we should all hear his words. 

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say.

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Field of 68 remembers Bill Walton

Field of 68 pays tribute to Walton.

It has only been a couple of days since UCLA Bruins legend Bill Walton passed away. Yet, there have been a ton of memories and stories circulating in the internet.

Walton was one-of-a-kind as a player, broadcaster, and a human being. His relationship with John Wooden was something special, and his quips with the headset will likely never be duplicated ever again.

The Field of 68 remembered Walton with a long 10-minute video, and it’s a terrific watch to see just how special Bill Walton was in so many different regards in life, both as a player and a person.

Here is the video in its entirety.

The memories and stories about Bill Walton will likely be played on repeat for quite some time, and we can only imagine how many people he has influence in the sports world and other areas.

Bill Walton, a special human being, will be remembered forever.

Bill Walton was part of the golden age of the USC-UCLA sports rivalry

Bill Walton was at the center of the most special era of USC-versus-UCLA sports battles.

When two major universities have a sports rivalry — not in one sport, but many — we don’t generally refer to sports such as water polo or beach volleyball. USC and UCLA have been giants in those and other Olympic sports, but when we generally refer to a great rivalry across multiple sports, we refer to the “bread and butter” sports, the ones at the center of America’s sports culture. Those sports are football first, basketball second, and baseball third. If we were to identify the golden age of the USC-UCLA rivalry in those three sports, we can say that Bill Walton was part of it.

If there is a golden age in the history of USC versus UCLA in the three main American team sports, it would be from the mid-1960s through the late 1970s.

From the 1965 through 1976 college football seasons, either USC or UCLA made the Rose Bowl in every year but twice (Stanford in the 1970 and 1971 seasons). The schools played their best and most important football game in 1967.

From 1966 through 1975, UCLA won eight college basketball national titles and USC fielded two of its best-ever teams in 1971 and 1974. The 1975 team was good, too. From 1968 through 1974, USC baseball won six College World Series titles.

Whether you begin in 1965 or 1966 or 1968, the broader period of time encompassing anywhere from eight to 14 years from the mid-1960s through the mid-to-late 1970s was the height of the USC-UCLA sports rivalry. Bill Walton, with his dominance from 1972 through 1974 at UCLA, stood squarely in the middle of it.

UCLA Wire has more:

“The relationship between UCLA Bruins’ legendary coach John Wooden and legendary player Bill Walton was truly one-of-a-kind. When Bill Walton passed away on Memorial Day, memories came surfacing across the internet with some unbelievable stories about Walton.

“The connection and relationship between Walton and Wooden is one we might not ever see again at any level between a player and a coach. After the passing, plenty of clips popped up on social media with quips and quotes and memories about the pair of legends.”

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Trojans Wire details Bill Walton-Bear Bryant connection

An eerie connection here.

When you hear the name Bill Walton, a lot of different things come to your mind. His time as a player and a broadcaster is the most notable for a number of reasons.

However, there is a connection between Bill Walton and legendary coach Bear Bryant, as Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire pointed out shortly after Walton’s passing:

How are Walton and Bryant connected? It’s actually not as complicated as it seems. Walton’s death coming at the end of the Pac-12’s existence conveys the idea that Walton didn’t want to live in a world without the Pac-12. He died of cancer, but also of a broken heart.

Bear Bryant’s death also carried — like Walton’s — an unmistakable message with its own timing. Bryant died in January of 1983. This was one month after coaching his final game for Alabama in the 1982 Liberty Bowl versus Illinois. Bryant coached for a quarter of a century at Alabama. He coached football for nearly half a century. He was a head coach for nearly 40 years. Football coaching was his life. As soon as he retired, he died.

Bear Bryant loved football coaching the way Bill Walton loved the Pac-12. A world without their first loves was a world Bear and Bill simply couldn’t bear.

The legends will be remembered forever, and the sports community continues to mourn the loss of Bill Walton.

OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti reflects on the late Bill Walton

OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti reflects on the late Bill Walton.

The NBA world mourned the passing of legend Bill Walton on Monday. He died from a battle with cancer; he was 71 years old.

Walton enjoyed a memorable NBA career highlighted by two NBA championships and an NBA Finals MVP in 1977. The Hall-of-Famer carved out a decorated 12-year career and overcame injury concerns after being the first pick in 1974.

After his playing days, Walton had a successful broadcasting career. Newer generations of fans knew the 6-foot-11 center for his colorful commentary and playful personality.

In his end-of-season press conference, Sam Presti talked about Walton’s impact. The Oklahoma City Thunder general manager did not personally knew Walton, but had heard only positive things about him.

“I didn’t know him, but I was on a run this morning and I was thinking about him, and the thing that struck me is I’ve never heard anybody articulate their passion for basketball better than this person,” Presti said. “His ability to express and articulate his love for the game that so many other people love is unmatched.”

Presti proceeded to discuss Walton’s time with UCLA head coach John Wooden. The pair had a historic 88-game win streak and won back-to-back national championships together.

“He also came from a group of people that played for Wooden, which he was exposed to what some would say is the greatest coach ever,” Presti said. “He took all those things from his time there. … He never conformed to, I think, the way that other people would want him to view the game in terms of how important team is.

“Those lessons that he learned from Wooden withstood all of the BS that comes along with pro basketball. One, it says that he’s special, but also it’s such a great example of Wooden who has always talked about the difference between a teacher and a coach.”

The sports world lost an icon with Walton’s passing. He exemplified living life to the fullest and had a strong passion for the game of basketball. It’s evident he left that impression even for people he never personally interacted with like Presti.

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Danny Ainge reflects on the late Bill Walton

Former Boston Celtics champion Danny Ainge reflected on the legacy of Bill Walton during a recent appearance on SportsCenter.

Bill Walton won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986. He spent the final two years of his career with the franchise, playing a total of 90 regular-season games and making 28 postseason appearances. Walton passed away on Monday (May 27) after a battle with cancer; he was 71 years old.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, former Celtics President of Basketball Operation Danny Ainge reflected on the life and legacy of his former teammate and friend. Ainge was part of the 86 Celtics that Walton helped to a championship. They remained friends throughout their retirement.

Walton leaves behind a legacy. Not just as an elite basketball player but as a man that lived his life to the fullest at every moment. And as somebody who always held an intense love for the game of basketball.

You can watch Ainge’s reflection on Walton’s life and basketball career by clicking on the embedded link above.

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Bill Walton’s passing comes right after the end of the Pac-12 Conference

You can’t make this stuff up.

On Memorial Day, the tragic news came of UCLA legend Bill Walton passing away after a battle with cancer. The community mourned the loss of a legend, both on the court as a player and behind the headset as a broadcaster.

On Memorial Day Weekend, the Pac-12 Conference officially wrote its final chapter as Arizona defeated USC in the Pac-12 baseball tournament.

Roxy Bernstein ended the Pac-12 era with a final signoff, and it turned out to be a tribute to the great Bill Walton.

The mere fact that the Pac-12 ended just days before Walton’s passing is quite eerie, as Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire detailed:

His death, by preceding the first USC, UCLA, Washington, or Oregon game in the Big Ten (and the first Arizona or Arizona State game in the Big 12), is eerie and remarkable in that regard.

It certainly makes us all reflect on how connected we are to the passions that drive our lives. Rest in peace, Bill Walton. You were a foremost champion in the Conference of Champions.

But, nonetheless, Walton will be remembered forever.

Celtics, Mavs hold moment of silence for Bill Walton

NBA Playoffs tributes to Bill Walton.

On Memorial Day, the unfortunate news came that UCLA legend Bill Walton had passed away. On that same night, the Boston Celtics hoisted the Eastern Conference Finals trophy by completing a sweep over the Indiana Pacers.

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck dedicated the ECF trophy to Walton after the victory in a touching moment.

The basketball community, including legends like Dick Vitale, Paul Pierce, Karrem Abdu-Jabbar and others, mourned the loss of a legendary player and broadcaster, and an unbelievable person.

Prior to the Celtics-Pacers game on Monday and the Mavs-Timberwolves game on Tuesday, both arenas held a moment of silence in a touching tribute to Walton.

Walton’s personality was contagious to so many, both on the court and off the court, and he has left a lasting impact on so many current and former NBA players.

Hats off to an absolute legend in Bill Walton, who will be remembered forever by so many.

Was Bill Walton a better broadcaster than player?

Was Bill Walton a better broadcaster than a player? Nick Wright suggests so.

When discussing the life of Bill Walton, so many things come to mind. His days at UCLA as a player. His time in the NBA with teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, and even the San Diego Clippers.

But, in recent memory, Walton has been remembered as one of the greatest, most colorful broadcasters of all time. After the news of his passing, the best moments of Walton’s broadcasting career circulated, and there are so many to choose from.

Nick Wright and Chris Broussard went into detail about Walton after the news came out, and Wright even made the case that Walton might have been a better broadcaster than he was as a player:

“If you ask the question who is the greatest college basketball player of all time, you are allowed to give two names. Either Lew Alcindor or Bill Walton, they are the only two eligible. Then when it came to the pros, he beat Dr. J at the peak of his powers. But with all that said, he may have been an even better broadcaster.”

Broussard also chimed in about Walton’s time as a broadcaster:

“But I worked with Bill at ESPN. He was a ton of fun to work with. He said my analysis was balder-dash and poppycock. But hey, he was a lot of fun to work with. I’ll remember him as a great guy. I was disappointed when they took him off the NBA broadcast. I remember him as a great player and a tremendous broadcaster as well.”

Walton will be remembered for his one-of-a-kind storytelling as a broadcaster, and the clips of him calling games will be replayed forever and ever.

Padres honor San Diego legend Bill Walton

Padres pay tribute to Bill Walton.

One thing about Bill Walton was his uncanny connection and relationship to the City of San Diego. After his passing on Memorial Day, many people came to show remembrance and pay tribute to the legend.

Walton’s connection with San Diego is a long one. He was born in La Mesa, went to Helix High School, and lived the last years of his life in San Diego. He also played for the San Diego Clippers, and his relationship with the city is a special one.

As a result, the San Diego Padres honored Walton with a tribute prior to the game on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins.

Legendary play-by-play man Ted Leitner also chimed in with special praise about Walton:

It was a special moment for a special person who was a legend in so many regards, and the tributes for Bill Walton might be happening for quite a while.