Clarifying my Thoughts on John Wooden

it’s a nice gesture, but completely unnecessary…..

It’s very refreshing to see someone apologize, even if it’s just to one person who may have been hurt. Certainly it’s not necessary, but it is very, very nice.

The mainstream media considers it off limits. but there’s no reason to shy away from commentary.

Nothing in the U.S. Constitution gives anyone the right to not be offended.

I very much appreciate this article and the effort & reason behind it.

One more perspective on Wooden I never have seen in print. JW was born and raised in Martinsville, IN. That town was the epicenter of the KKK. To be able to get out of that town without any perceived racial prejudices, for me, says a lot about his character.

because I was temporarily off-line visiting my grandkids, but I bit my (typing) tongue when Coach Wooden died because I wanted to point out that his incredible coaching ability and, apparently, high character were at odds with the influence Gilbert had at UCLA. I think that this incongruity is simply evidence of the inconsistencies we all have in terms of reconciling our beliefs with every decision we make.

Life is full of ethical decisions, and, while some are simply black and white, some are grayer than gray. There’s a fine line between being “worried” about Gilbert’s influence and actually doing something about it. It may be that Coach Wooden felt he had done his part by cautioning his players. He may have trusted his players to take his cautions as directives. We really don’t, and can’t, know.

I’m guessing that there are darned few Division I coaches, and darned few of the rest of us, for that matter, who would have spotless ethical records if our entire history was scrubbed with the same brush that has been used to examine Gilbert’s influence, UK’s point-shaving, Sampson’s cell-phone calls, etc, etc, etc.

What I don’t like, however, is the apparent inconsistency that the NCAA has displayed in handling the UCLA problems, and the Corey Magette issue when compared to other violations of it’s sacred rules. If it’s good enough for the “slick” coaches that everyone suspects of cheating, it’s good enough for all. We don’t need one standard for Memphis and UMass and a separate, more lenient, standard for others.

the kind words and thoughts so many of you have written. I know some of you question the necessity of me writing this “clarification,” but I felt strongly led to let everyone know my intent was not to insult or disrespect anyone. The ASoB community is a vast and expansive collection of personalities, and it is my fault that I didn’t take into account that some folks might not take kindly to what was meant to be a light-hearted comment.

Thanks again, guys and gals.

The very fact that YOU believed that your article, in retrospect, though I do not, offended
some, I have always respected a man who is willing to stand up and say, “I was wrong
and apologize.”

That to me is an honorable man. Thanks for all of your articles. Most enlightening.

If wikipedia information is valid then this link tells all about Gilbert and UCLA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Gilbert_(American_Businessman)

This link is also very revealing:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=dw-uclalegacy040206

Nothing wrong with discussing the truth. If this type of activity had taken place during the tenures of Coach Rupp or Hall, UK would had been given the death sentence by the NCAA and the press may have had a field day with it to boot. Bobby Knight may not have commented though.