Wish Coach Wooden a Happy 99th
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It was a laugher for UCLA, even former coach John Wooden.
One of the cornerstones on Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success is Enthusiasm.
There should be plenty of it Wednesday when the UCLA legend turns 99. You can join the party and leave a birthday wish at Happybirthdayjohnwooden.com.
As you might expect from one of sport's most revered figures, some of the well-wishers are well-known.
One even has his own college football program:
Coach Wooden,I’d like to wish you a very happy birthday and thank you for all of the leadership that you have taught all of us coaches, and have a very happy birthday.
Bobby Bowden
Head Coach – Florida State University
But you don't need an NCAA championship to send your best. Robb wrote:
Happy Birthday Coach! After having the pleasure of attending 2 of your Basketball Clinics in ‘76 &’77, your Pyramid of Success has been an inspiration on how to live my life.
My greatest memory that I will always cherish is when you took the time to walk around the SDSU Campus with me and my Grandfather. You are and will always be a mentor for me.
The site was created just for Wooden's birthday. It launched in conjuction with the release of "A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring with John Wooden," co-written by Wooden and Don Yaeger.
You'll have to visit his official website for an audio greeting from the Coach and a prinatable Pyramid of Success.
You'll also find Wooden's 12 Lessons in Leadership. Among them, "Emotion is Your Enemy," "Love is the Most Powerful Four-Letter Word," and "Don't Look at the Scoreboard."
Wooden plans to spend his birthday with family, according to UCLA sports information director Marc Dellins. He was born Oct. 14, 1910, in Hall, Ind.
And now for the numbers that many Angelenos can recite, but probably never tire of hearing. Wooden coached UCLA to an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships in his final 12 seasons, including a record seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. The Bruins won 88 consecutive games from 1971-74 and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games from 1964 to 1974, both records.
The record Wooden said he is the most proud of is his team's 19 conference championships.
Wooden's long list of honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, being named by ESPN as the greatest coach of the 20th century and having a post office and high school named for him in Reseda. He was the first person selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.
In addition to his championships and 620-147 record as UCLA's coach from 1948 to 1975, Wooden was acclaimed for the values he espoused. He had three rules for his players -- don't use profanity, be on time and never criticize a teammate.
"Of everyone at UCLA, John Wooden's name is the best known nationwide," UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said in a 2008 ceremony where a plaque honoring Wooden was unveiled in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum's peristyle end. "He produced not just good players, but good people."
