Badgers Meet John Wooden
November 29, 2002 | Women's Basketball
During this Thanksgiving holiday, the Badger women's basketball team is counting its blessings for an extraordinary opportunity it had on Wednesday; an evening with John Wooden. Yes, THAT John Wooden!
With her team playing in the Pepperdine Tournament near his home, Badger Coach Jane Albright, who has known John Wooden for several years, arranged the event. Some of the younger players admitted not knowing about the reputation John Wooden, let alone why it would be special to have dinner with the 92-year old legend. But by the close of the evening, no one wanted to leave. Rather, the team tarried, wishing the moment wouldn't end, sensing this pre-Thanksgiving meal would become one they would remember forever.
Dinner with teams is something the former UCLA coach does on occasion for teams visiting the area. Why would the dynastic orchestrator of 10 national championships and an 88-game win streak take the time' Because he is still, first and foremost, a teacher of life's principles and values. It is this knowledge, plus a little basketball, that he humbly loves passing on to the next generation. And his message is as current for today's players as it was when he was teaching young Kareem Abdul Jabar (Lew Alcindor) or Bill Walton.
Seated in a large square so all can see and hear him, the "Wizard of Westwood", a title he disdains, answered questions, signed autographs, took pictures with players and staff, offered advice, recited poetry, told stories, and recounted detailed accounts of games and championships past. He never referenced notes even as he recited poems written for him by his former players.
A quiet, unassuming man, he took time with each individual who sat beside him with a question or book to sign, making that player feel they were the most important person in the world. So humble is he that he was totally unaware of the spell he cast or the awe with which the group held him. We were truly in the presence of greatness.
When asked what he was thankful for he replied, "I'm thankful for the many blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me: faith, family and friends, and with those I don't think you need much else."
Several words appear frequently in the following excerpts by players that describe the evening''awesome, incredible, amazing, inspiring, extraordinary, unforgettable. It was an honor and privilege to spend the evening with John Wooden, an event that will impact all present the rest of their lives.
Comments by UW Players on an Evening with John Wooden
Emily Ashbaugh, junior center
"Our evening with John Wooden was truly amazing. To be able to sit in a room with John Wooden and not only say that we've met him and have him sign his autographs for us, but hear his opinions on life and his perspective on different issues was truly a gift. It was an incredible evening and one I will always remember. The man really deserves all the fame and respect that he has garnered over the years. And I certainly am never going to take for granted the opportunity we were given to spend time with him."
Jessica Liegel, senior guard
"Meeting John Wooden was a very inspiring experience because he has a very radiating personality, a kind of gentle charm and he's very witty. And he just makes you smile being next to him, and has really good stories."
Stephanie Rich, sophomore guard
"The experience of having been with John Wooden last night is something I'll never forget and that I hope to share with my children and anybody who I talk to. It was a great experience. He is such an intelligent, humble man who anybody would want to model his or her life after. You want to soak up every word he says and every poem you want to remember and every quote. He's an amazing man who has done amazing things for basketball and in life."
Kristi Seeger, senior forward
"Meeting John Wooden was an amazing experience because there is so much history behind him. If I could meet anyone in basketball history, next to James Naismith, this is probably the person I'd love to meet. He just knows so much about life and about basketball and about people. It was just awesome to hear him talk and share with us what he's learned in his lifetime because he's so knowledgeable."
Shawna Nicols, sophomore guard
"My experience with Coach Wooden was just amazing. It was something I was looking forward to since coach told us about it. For him to tell stories about his past and his run was just unbelievable. To see what such an amazing coach and person had to say about not only basketball but also life. It will be a dinner I will never forget."
Ebba Gebisa, sophomore forward
"Meeting John Wooden was such an unforgettable experience. I was just really amazed at how he willingly answered every one of my question with so much sincerity and knowledge. But yet he yet really doesn't take himself too seriously so it made for a truly enjoyable experience."
Erin Olson, freshman guard
"Meeting John Wooden was such a memorable experience. It was just amazing be able to meet with him and listen to his experiences about life and about basketball. He has just great insight on everything. And I learned so much from him and I 'll never forget."
Abby Simmons, junior guard
"Being able to sit down at dinner and talk to John Wooden at dinner was really an incredible experience, once in a lifetime. It was just so awesome to hear his wisdom about life and about basketball. He's really intelligent and its something I will cherish and never forget for the rest of my life."
Ashley Josephson, freshman guard
"Meeting John Wooden was just an amazing experience. I couldn 't help but be in awe of him the whole night. He is just has so much knowledge, not only in basketball but also in life. Last night he gave us some lessons on life and I 'll carry that with me through my whole life."
Lello Gebisa, junior center
"After spending some time with John Wooden I can tell why he is such a `larger-than-life' man. He was very kind and warm and very insightful. It was definitely an experience I'll always remember."
Jordan Wilson, freshman forward
"It was very nice to have the opportunity to meet someone so admired and respected by everyone. He has wonderful insights into not only basketball things but about life. He really didn't even talk about basketball. He would apply the things he learned about life to basketball, which made his players better. He wants to keep teaching as long as he can and helping everybody out that he comes in contact with. He 's a very warm, respected person and I was very happy to get the opportunity to meet him."
Kjersten Bakke, freshman forward
"When I entered the room last night with John Wooden you knew you were in the presence of someone who had achieved so much. I don't know if it was because of background information that we knew of him, but it was extraordinary. He was one of the nicest men I have ever met, very humble. He made sure we felt comfortable asking questions. It was spectacular. I can't describe the way I felt and what it meant to me for him to welcome us and do almost whatever we asked as far as autographs and pictures. He probably took about 24-30 pictures but he was smile-on in every one of them. And it really was extraordinary."
Jane Albright, Head Coach
"John Wooden is at the top of the coaches pyramid. After spending an evening with him, it's very clear to me to see that he is one of the few coaches who were able to stand the test of time. The honor and respect that he showed to each of my players and staff was truly amazing, as he made each of us feel like the evening was for us, and we were special, and not about him. It was most noticeable in the fact that no one wanted the evening to end. No one would leave the room. We just wanted to absorb the moment and the presence of who he truly was."
