John Wooden

            John Wooden made a name for himself in college basketball, coaching at UCLA. He was nicknamed the Wizard of Westwood and still holds the NCAA record for having 88 consecutive wins (Mataconis, 2010). His success on paper is undeniable as he led his teams to twelve NCAA Championships. To me it is not his success that I admire about him, but rather his intelligence. Listening to his speeches and interviews I always seem to learn something new. He has a way of making people look at sport in a new light. He refers a lot to his childhood and the way he was brought up which is admirable. To see him speak about the game of basketball you can see how much he loved it. Although he was “old fashioned” he just seemed to get it right. He believed in developing people rather than athletes. He believed school was of utmost importance as well as social skills. He didn’t want his players to be only basketball players, but instead to live their life and explore other things. He is truly inspiring and was so educated in what he did that it would be hard for anyone to criticize him. Unfortunately, John Wooden died in 2010 at the age of 99 leaving behind a legacy that will last forever. As a sign of what he meant to their organization UCLA celebrates John Wooden Day every February 29^th. He truly was a great example for the many players who he mentored.