Wooden’s hardback calms curiosity, instills lessons

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With one of those 4-inch, oversized needles, I was pricked in the arm June 11.

Not literally.

Not by a lab assistant out for blood, nor a nurse infusing pharmaceutical drugs.

Rather, with curiosity.

Larry Peterson had switched Fridays with Sports Editor Matt Pfiffner, writing a column about the late John Wooden. Wooden died seven days prior, June 4, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Wooden was 99.

In Peterson’s column, he wrote:

“... I was in awe of the Wizard of Westwood. But to anyone in their 30s right now, and younger, you missed it.”

Wooden stopped coaching in 1975. I’m 25, born in 1985. So, as the guidelines suggest, I missed the entire Wooden era. That era included seven consecutive championships at UCLA. Total, Wooden coached 10 championship basketball teams.

That factoid, alone, sparked my curiosity.

Who is this man?

That type of success, at the college or pro level in any sport, won’t ever be duplicated, easily.

Further, his nickname, “The Wizard,” created intrigue. A nickname like that does not emerge without major accomplishment or one amazing back story.

After listening to me blabber about Wooden each evening, Stormy Lee found one of his books at Half Price Books in Clive, not far from her apartment. She generously purchased the hardback entitled: “Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court.”

I surmised, with a nickname like “The Wizard” he’d have magical words of wisdom.

The book, with a grown-up schedule, required less than 10 days to read. Most definitely, the book written by Wooden bestowed wisdom. There was no magic to his words, however, just basic principles.

For those quick to categorize Wooden’s book as a “sports book,” ... please reconsider. His book, yes, is about basketball but more about his nine decades alive, and his approach to life.

That approach to life stemmed greatly on his father Joshua, Wooden’s most dominant role model. During Wooden’s childhood, Joshua gave his sons rules to live by, called “two sets of three.” They are in the first 10 pages of the book.

As well, upon grammar school graduation, Joshua handed his son a card. On one side was a poem.

Four things a man must learn to do
If he would make his life more true:
To think without confusion clearly,
To love his fellow man sincerely,
To act from honest motives purely,
To trust in God and Heaven securely.

On the other side of the card was a seven-point creed. It read:

1. Be true to yourself

2. Help others

3. Make each day your masterpiece

4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible

5. Make friendship a fine art

6. Build a shelter against a rainy day

7. Pray for guidance, and count and give thanks for your blessings every day

The book is a quick read, 201 pages total. His acclaimed “Pyramid of Success” is illustrated in the book, and explained block by block including the reasoning for their location. His final book, “The Wisdom of John Wooden” is slated for release in August.

I suggest his books, all of them.

But, the intention of this column isn’t to promote or to supply free advertising to Wooden’s books and his co-author Steve Jamison.

So, back to where I began — Peterson’s column.

To close his column June 11, he offered a request. ...

“When our generation is gone, please don’t let the man behind the legend fade from society’s memory.”

In response to his request, stated simply. ...
I won’t.

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