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Tuesday, November 28, 2000
Wooden, 90, remains more than a fan
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
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John Wooden at 90 isn't any different than Wooden at 89. He's still sharp, still teaching the game, still enjoying life.
Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Wooden watched another event named after him as the inaugural John Wooden Tradition was held with No. 15 Notre Dame beating No. 13 Cincinnati 69-51 and Arizona playing his alma mater Purdue.
Wooden was somewhere in the stands, watching for the plays he always loved like the simple pick-and-roll, or trying not to see the stuff he can't stand like showmanship after a dunk.
Reflecting on today's game, his career and his legacy, Wooden spent a few minutes with ESPN.com Friday in advance of Saturday's event.
|  | | John Wooden is still a fan of the game, but not the showboating of today's players. |
He's not against the new way officials are calling games, but he said everyone has to be patient while players adjust to the lack of rough play inside the lane.
"I'd like to see basketball remain more of a finesse game," said Wooden, who turned 90 on Oct. 14. "I'd like to see the maneuverability rather than the brute strength. There's more beauty to it."
While officials are cracking down on physical play, college basketball's most esteemed statesman would like them to be just as cognizant of taunting. He has always been against the dunk, but would like officials to take it one step further when it comes to showmanship.
"We used to lay it up when you in front of the basket," Wooden said. "Now they've got to slam it down. I know the fans get a tremendous kick out of a fancy dunk, but there's more pleasure out of a good screen and roll and a give and go."
Wooden's love for the game translates into his distaste of the individualism that goes on today. He has seen a decline in fundamental development with fewer players working on their mid-range shot. Instead, players opt for dunks and 3-pointers.
"They've allowed defense to be too physical and offense to allow moving screens," Wooden said. "They're not in the rules and I think they should call them. There is so much traveling in the pros and they don't call it."
But Wooden can't get over the athleticism of the players today. He would much rather see the team play return, rather than the focus on individuals. But he can't shrug at the way athletes have changed the game.
As Wooden reflects on his career and his life, he can't get over the honors and praise he constantly receives. He credits his players and no one else.
"I wouldn't be a part of 10 national championships without great players," Wooden said.
Wooden contends schools need to do a better job of graduating players today. He said the true mark of a coach is how much he stays with his players 15-20 years after he's done with them.
"Very few players in my 27 years at UCLA didn't get their degrees," Wooden said. "Coaches disagree with me today but as long as it takes four years to play, that's what it should be for graduation."
Wooden doesn't think UCLA is too tough a job and has a fondness for present coach Steve Lavin. Wooden remains active, still watching as many games as possible. Fifteen years after the death of his wife, Wooden keeps active around the game with events like Saturday's and spending time with his extended family.
Each event that he gives his name too has a charity attached, causes like the Special Olympics or the Children's Hospital benefit.
But the conversation always turns back to basketball.
He watches Arizona talk of greatness and says keeping a teams' feet grounded is one of the toughest things to do. He is adamant that the greatest spectator sport is basketball because of the spectators proximity to the court and the ability to clearly see the players and the ball. For Wooden, no one has run the pick-and-roll as well as John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz.
And no basketball player moved him more than Michael Jordan -- the second time around.
"I think when Michael Jordan returned being out of it, after suffering tragedy of father's tragic death, after being humbled by baseball, he was the finest basketball player I've ever seen," Wooden said. "I didn't say the most valuable. Bill Russell was the most valuable a team ever had. In college basketball I still feel Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the most valuable to a team when he led us to three consecutive national championships."
While Jordan, Russell and Abdul-Jabbar are his top players, the coaches who immediately come to mind are Adolph Rupp, Tony Hinkle and Mike Krzyzewski.
Wooden said Rupp's teams were fundamentally sound but Hinkle's Butler teams played better with less talent. And Krzyzewski has the whole package today.
And, as Wooden celebrates his 90th year, he said he wants to always be remembered as a teacher.
"I was a teacher of the game, interested in the individual in what they did afterwards," Wooden said. "Bill Walton calls me once a week. I've always had that association and rapport with players. That's the important thing to me."
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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