Mark Rutte Selected as the Next Secretary General of NATO

 Being authentic never scared Bill Walton.

Enormous, if only slightly due to his almost 7-foot stature, Walton was a two-time NCAA champion at UCLA, a two-time NBA champion, an induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and an all-around on-court legend. Aside from the court, Walton was an insatiable fun-seeker, a broadcaster who defied convention and enjoyed it immensely, and a man who was profoundly concerned about the things that were most important to him.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated, "Bill Walton was truly one of a kind."
On behalf of his family, the league confirmed that Walton passed away on Monday at the age of 71 following a protracted battle with cancer. As a part of the league's 50th and 75th-anniversary teams, he was named the NBA's MVP in 1977–1978 and the league's sixth man of the year in 1985–86. That came after a stellar collegiate career at UCLA under coach John Wooden when he won three national Player of the Year awards.

Julius "Dr. J" Erving, another Hall of Famer, posted on social media, saying, "I am sad today hearing that my comrade and one of the sports world's most beloved champions and characters has passed away." "Bill Walton relished every aspect of his existence. It was a blessing in my life to work and compete with him.

The NBA was organizing a moment of silence to honor Walton's life prior to Monday night's Game 4 of the Boston-Indiana series in the Eastern Conference finals. Tributes started to come in right away.

Walton was one of the most well-known players in the game and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. His NBA career only lasted 468 games overall with the Portland Trail Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics due to persistent foot issues. In those games, he averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, neither of which was particularly high.

 Still, he had a huge influence on the game.

Coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks stated, "When you talk about basketball and what he brought to the media side, it's a legend lost." "To be able to succeed not just on the court but also on TV as an ex-player."

Walton's most well-known matchup was the 1973 NCAA championship game between UCLA and Memphis, as he guided the Bruins to yet another national championship while shooting 21 of 22 from the field.
For a 35th anniversary perspective on that game, Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008, "One of my guards said, 'Let's try something else.'"
In that little intermission, Wooden responded, "Why? Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
Walton continued to put on a show for the ages as they continued to pass him the ball.

It's difficult to envision Pauley Pavilion throughout a season without him.

Following his NBA retirement, Walton pursued a career in broadcasting, an endeavor he never imagined he could succeed at and one he occasionally questioned would be feasible given his severe stutter.

It turns out he was also very good at that: Walton won an Emmy, was later listed by the American Sportscasters Association as one of the top 50 sportscasters of all time, and his biography "Back from the Dead" even made it onto The New York Times bestseller list. It described his crippling back injury from 2008—which made him think about ending his life due to the excruciating pain—and his years-long recovery.

"I was alone for the most of my life. However, as soon as I was on the court, I felt good," Walton said in a 2017 interview with The Oregonian newspaper. "But in real life, having red hair, a large nose, freckles, and a silly, nerdy-looking face makes me extremely self-conscious, and I can't even talk." I was so shy that I didn't say anything. Then, at the age of 28, I picked up speech. It's now both everyone else's worst nightmare and my finest achievement to date.


That last bit was just hyperbole from Walton. Walton was well-known for his on-air digressions and occasionally made an appearance wearing Grateful Dead t-shirts. The band was very popular with Walton, who frequently mentioned them and occasionally recorded satellite radio programs honoring what it meant to be a "Deadhead."

And another of his many favorites was the Pac-12 Conference, which has now all but vanished due to collegiate realignment. He sung its glories all the way to the finish, referring to it as the "Conference of Champions" every time.

Wearing a Hawaiian lei around his neck and a tie-dyed T-shirt, he once declared on a broadcast, "It doesn't get any better than this."

 

Throughout his career, Walton contributed to the broadcasts of NBA and collegiate games for CBS, NBC, and ABC/ESPN. He also had periods as an analyst for the Sacramento Kings and Clippers. In 2012, he made a comeback to ESPN and the Pac-12 Network, praising the origins of his league even more.
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro stated of Bill Walton, "He was a legendary player and a singular personality who genuinely cherished every experience throughout the journey of his extraordinary life." "Bill frequently called himself 'the luckiest guy in the world,' but the lucky person was anyone who got to know him.'" He was a really unique, generous individual who constantly found time for others. Bill's unique personality enthralled and motivated listeners during his prosperous second career as a broadcaster.

Walton, though, will always be associated with UCLA's supremacy.
In 1970, he started attending the school before freshmen were allowed to participate on the varsity squad. The Bruins were untouchable for over two years after he was able to play for Wooden; Walton's UCLA teams won the majority of the Bruins' historic 88-game winning streak, which consisted of their first 73 victories. In a 71-70 loss to Notre Dame in 1974, it was ended, despite Walton shooting 12 of 14 from the field.

The loss of Bill Walton is a terrible tragedy. Digger Phelps, the coach of that Notre Dame team, wrote on social media on Monday, calling the player "one of the great ones in UCLA basketball history." Over the years, we remained close friends. Without him, things wouldn't be the same.

Walton stated in his 1993 Hall of Fame speech, "My teammates... made me a much better basketball player than I could have become myself." I have always found the idea of a team to be the most fascinating part of basketball. I would have picked up tennis or golf if I had been interested in achieving personal goals or participating in an individual sport.
Trail Blazers chair Jody Allen described Bill Walton as "an icon." "One of the most incredible moments in franchise history was brought to life by his leadership and perseverance on the court, which helped us win a championship for our supporters." What he contributed to our community and the game of basketball will always be valued.

"Walton could do it all, possessing great timing, complete vision of the floor, excellent fundamentals, and was of one of the greatest passing big men in league history," the Celtics said in a statement. Walton was one of the most influential players of his age.

Walton regarded himself as lucky to have had mentorship from two of the best minds in the game: Wooden and Red Auerbach, the founder of the Celtics.
Walton said in his Hall of Fame address, "Thank you Red and John for making my life what it has become."
Portland selected Walton as the first overall pick in the 1974 draft. It was fitting, he added, that his playing career ended as a member of the Celtics, as Bill Russell was his favorite player and he considered Larry Bird to be the toughest and finest player he played alongside. In reference to the Grateful Dead co-founder Jerry Garcia, Walton once remarked, "Playing basketball with Larry Bird is like singing with Jerry Garcia."
During his last years, Walton advocated for causes close to his heart, including the homelessness crisis in his home city of San Diego, where he urged local authorities to provide refuge for the homeless and assist those in need.

In a statement, Silver stated, "What I will remember most about him was his zest for life." He frequently attended league functions; he was cheerful, grins broadly, and eager to impart his warmth and wisdom. I loved our tight friendship, was envious of his endless energy, and appreciated the time he spent to get to know everyone.
Walton's relatives stated that he passed away surrounded by his loved ones. Sons Adam, Nate, Chris, and Luke (a former NBA player who is currently a coach) survive him along with his wife Lori.