My son was a server in a restaurant where Bill Walton was eating dinner. He was too shy to talk with Bill even though he was a die hard fan of his. But the restaurant manager told Bill that my son was a fan. A few minutes later Bill walks up to my son and hands him an autographed jersey!
“The Pac-12’s final event ended on Saturday night.
Walton died on Monday.
Nobody who understood the man will miss the significance of that.”
And this is how I will remember him as a UCLA fan. I wasn’t even alive when he played so my best memories are of him as a broadcaster. For all the people decrying his antics, he truly revered Coach Wooden, UCLA, and THE Conference of Champions.
He stood up for the West Coast at a time when it was at its lowest. And more importantly he was a man of conscience who stood against injustice when it mattered. I will always hold him in esteem for everything he represented.
I was at UCLA when Bill was there. He was a senior and I was a junior. We had two classes together. I was a nobody and here was the greatest college basketball player who happened to sit right next to me during the class. One day after class I got the courage to go up to him and say hi. Even though his speech was not great, we had a nice 5-minute conversation. From that time on, he always said hi to me and always checked in to see how things were going. I have a 24 x 38 picture of Bill and John Wooden signed by them both that he gave me. I'll miss his humor, his love of life and the fact that he took the time to get to know me. Well done as usual John and Bill RIP my friend.
On the way to a Memorial Day service when I heard. Told several of my neighbors who were there. Here in my Beaverton neighborhood there are several Portland Trailblazer flags out alongside the Stars & Stripes this afternoon. I think Jerry & Bill are having a big hug right now. Man, I’m gonna miss Walton…
I thought of the correlation between Bill and the PAC 12 immediately. What a very sad ending.
I loved Bill Walton. I met him briefly in Phoenix in 1999. We talked about the Trailblazers championship game and he laughed when I brought up the infamous game when the Ducks beat the Bruins at MAC Court. He loved the fact that I was there. He was gracious and so friendly.
Everyone who loves Bill should read his book. He was a gentle giant who loved his life.
I was also at the game in Eugene as well as the finals win in 1977. My dad had season tickets but was at my sister’s college graduation. I was graduating from high school. Both places were so loud I couldn’t hear myself talk.
Although I never had the honor to meet Bill Walton, I, like so many, feel like I did.
He touched us all, made us laugh, think, and I know for me, aware of how a kind word, a smile, or just a simple hello, can change someone's mood, direction, day.
He helped us to appreciate the simple, more mundane moments, and cherish them for what they are...living!
Again, excellent insights into a complicated but ultimately joyful human being. I watched countless basketball games in which I otherwise had little interest, just to enjoy Bill's commentary.
My only encounter was in 1978, when Eugene hosted first round NCAA tournament games, including UCLA that year. I was a student at UO, so went to Mac Court with my pals to watch the Bruins play. Bill, still with the Blazers then, was about four rows above us and we kept turning around and looking at him. Finally, he said, "I know what you're thinking and no, I'm not Maurice Lucas! I get that all the time!"
We were lucky to share this life and planet with Bill Walton. A true 1 of 1. May he enjoy Grateful Dead on repeat and pickup games with his Conference of Champions fellows up above.
My brief encounter with Bill Walton was in 1985, when he was playing with the Clippers. I was a new flight attendant flying on a DC-9 out of Milwaukee to Denver, 6:00 am departure and wondering why a NBA team was flying commercial with a stop in Denver. They had lost the game and I’m sure they had hardly any sleep. If you have ever been on a DC-9, you know it’s a small plane. Bill was in first class and his feet extended all the way next to the galley. We knew we had to wake him up just to get the bar cart down the aisle to do our service and he said “Sorry” and moved them quickly both times. No attitude, probably more in a sleeping daze, but now I know he was just nice. I loved his quirky personality and was a UCLA hater in the 70’s…they were always winning, but always appreciated his talent and loved his love for the Pac 12 and his enthusiasm and entertaining color commentary. Thank you, John for writing such a beautiful piece. Bill is “Truckin’ on and hoping he is jamming with Jerry and talking Basketball with John.
The world is a bit less bright today, dammit. Thanks for your heartfelt tribute to a wonderful iconoclast, who, but for better workings from the knees down would have brought Portland more than one title.
I was still in LA for that, didn't move to Oregon until '78, so missed it by a year; but I got to see Walton play plenty in Pauley, good-naturedly tweaking the Wizard of Westwood as consistently as winning games.
I was at his first game in Portland. In those early days of the Blazers, the tradition was for a crowd to encircle the court during warmups to assess the rookies. I remember watching Bill, ponytail and all, in his warmups. So much promise. After the game, my brother and I went to the stage door at the old Coliseum to get autographs. Bill was the last player out — he was always last — still wearing the bandana on his head. We walked with him out to his old blue Land Cruiser, chatting the whole way about the Grateful Dead. He was so kind and generous, just as he was every time I saw him. I will miss him. RIP friend.
Thanks John for the excellent article. I had Two chance encounters with Bill Walton. In 1977 after the Blazers had beaten the 76ers in Philadelphia during the finals a friend and I decided to go to PDX to meet the team at their announced arrival time of 1 am. They still flew commercial flights back then. There were 100s of people, we had to wait in baggage claim area. The only person we could see coming down the escalator was the smiling face of Bill Walton. He stood a head taller than anyone else.
The second time was after the 40th anniversary game and Bill Walton was at center court with Bill Schonley. Bill got up and took the T-shirt he had been wearing during the game, wadded it up and threw it into the audience right into the hands of my daughter. It was still sweaty. She gave it to me.
I know they say it was cancer but I think that the Pac 8,10,12 generally and UCLA specifically broke his heart. Never met him but admired him so much. I liked him even more as a person than as an excellent player.
I remember watching him play at Mac Court and watching his 21 of 22 game on TV. I remember seeing him in the crowd at Grateful Dead shows (the tall red head was hard to miss). I always enjoyed when he called games in Eugene. He really liked Eugene and was very complementary of Eugene and Oregon. He will be missed.
Yes, I remember him playing at MAC Court also. Watching him and Bruce Coldren play was so amazing. Those were the good old days….those players and coaches on that court with the rafters shaking! Glad I was there during those days.
My son was a server in a restaurant where Bill Walton was eating dinner. He was too shy to talk with Bill even though he was a die hard fan of his. But the restaurant manager told Bill that my son was a fan. A few minutes later Bill walks up to my son and hands him an autographed jersey!
“The Pac-12’s final event ended on Saturday night.
Walton died on Monday.
Nobody who understood the man will miss the significance of that.”
And this is how I will remember him as a UCLA fan. I wasn’t even alive when he played so my best memories are of him as a broadcaster. For all the people decrying his antics, he truly revered Coach Wooden, UCLA, and THE Conference of Champions.
He stood up for the West Coast at a time when it was at its lowest. And more importantly he was a man of conscience who stood against injustice when it mattered. I will always hold him in esteem for everything he represented.
If only the school regents and presidents had the same interest in mind that Bill did, we would still have the PAC 12 conference.
I was at UCLA when Bill was there. He was a senior and I was a junior. We had two classes together. I was a nobody and here was the greatest college basketball player who happened to sit right next to me during the class. One day after class I got the courage to go up to him and say hi. Even though his speech was not great, we had a nice 5-minute conversation. From that time on, he always said hi to me and always checked in to see how things were going. I have a 24 x 38 picture of Bill and John Wooden signed by them both that he gave me. I'll miss his humor, his love of life and the fact that he took the time to get to know me. Well done as usual John and Bill RIP my friend.
Geez John. You’re really good at this. Thank you
On the way to a Memorial Day service when I heard. Told several of my neighbors who were there. Here in my Beaverton neighborhood there are several Portland Trailblazer flags out alongside the Stars & Stripes this afternoon. I think Jerry & Bill are having a big hug right now. Man, I’m gonna miss Walton…
https://youtu.be/M0md_IT3G-w?si=P06o2D4OHljTtUDr
I thought of the correlation between Bill and the PAC 12 immediately. What a very sad ending.
I loved Bill Walton. I met him briefly in Phoenix in 1999. We talked about the Trailblazers championship game and he laughed when I brought up the infamous game when the Ducks beat the Bruins at MAC Court. He loved the fact that I was there. He was gracious and so friendly.
Everyone who loves Bill should read his book. He was a gentle giant who loved his life.
Thank you for this article.
I was at that game at MAC Court too. A wonderful memory. Thanks.
I was also at the game in Eugene as well as the finals win in 1977. My dad had season tickets but was at my sister’s college graduation. I was graduating from high school. Both places were so loud I couldn’t hear myself talk.
Although I never had the honor to meet Bill Walton, I, like so many, feel like I did.
He touched us all, made us laugh, think, and I know for me, aware of how a kind word, a smile, or just a simple hello, can change someone's mood, direction, day.
He helped us to appreciate the simple, more mundane moments, and cherish them for what they are...living!
RIP Big Man ❤️🙏
Strike three eh Dale?
Again, excellent insights into a complicated but ultimately joyful human being. I watched countless basketball games in which I otherwise had little interest, just to enjoy Bill's commentary.
My only encounter was in 1978, when Eugene hosted first round NCAA tournament games, including UCLA that year. I was a student at UO, so went to Mac Court with my pals to watch the Bruins play. Bill, still with the Blazers then, was about four rows above us and we kept turning around and looking at him. Finally, he said, "I know what you're thinking and no, I'm not Maurice Lucas! I get that all the time!"
Ha! Too funny
We were lucky to share this life and planet with Bill Walton. A true 1 of 1. May he enjoy Grateful Dead on repeat and pickup games with his Conference of Champions fellows up above.
Guessing he and Jerry are enjoying a well-earned toke as we speak.
Bill and Bob Marley have that in common, I reckon ;)
Guessing you are on the money with this.
My brief encounter with Bill Walton was in 1985, when he was playing with the Clippers. I was a new flight attendant flying on a DC-9 out of Milwaukee to Denver, 6:00 am departure and wondering why a NBA team was flying commercial with a stop in Denver. They had lost the game and I’m sure they had hardly any sleep. If you have ever been on a DC-9, you know it’s a small plane. Bill was in first class and his feet extended all the way next to the galley. We knew we had to wake him up just to get the bar cart down the aisle to do our service and he said “Sorry” and moved them quickly both times. No attitude, probably more in a sleeping daze, but now I know he was just nice. I loved his quirky personality and was a UCLA hater in the 70’s…they were always winning, but always appreciated his talent and loved his love for the Pac 12 and his enthusiasm and entertaining color commentary. Thank you, John for writing such a beautiful piece. Bill is “Truckin’ on and hoping he is jamming with Jerry and talking Basketball with John.
The world is a bit less bright today, dammit. Thanks for your heartfelt tribute to a wonderful iconoclast, who, but for better workings from the knees down would have brought Portland more than one title.
I was still in LA for that, didn't move to Oregon until '78, so missed it by a year; but I got to see Walton play plenty in Pauley, good-naturedly tweaking the Wizard of Westwood as consistently as winning games.
Amazing hooper, even better human being.
Damn.
I was at his first game in Portland. In those early days of the Blazers, the tradition was for a crowd to encircle the court during warmups to assess the rookies. I remember watching Bill, ponytail and all, in his warmups. So much promise. After the game, my brother and I went to the stage door at the old Coliseum to get autographs. Bill was the last player out — he was always last — still wearing the bandana on his head. We walked with him out to his old blue Land Cruiser, chatting the whole way about the Grateful Dead. He was so kind and generous, just as he was every time I saw him. I will miss him. RIP friend.
Thanks John for the excellent article. I had Two chance encounters with Bill Walton. In 1977 after the Blazers had beaten the 76ers in Philadelphia during the finals a friend and I decided to go to PDX to meet the team at their announced arrival time of 1 am. They still flew commercial flights back then. There were 100s of people, we had to wait in baggage claim area. The only person we could see coming down the escalator was the smiling face of Bill Walton. He stood a head taller than anyone else.
The second time was after the 40th anniversary game and Bill Walton was at center court with Bill Schonley. Bill got up and took the T-shirt he had been wearing during the game, wadded it up and threw it into the audience right into the hands of my daughter. It was still sweaty. She gave it to me.
thanks for reminding me about greeting the team in the Airport at the game 5 win in Philly. I recall it was daybreak by the time they arrived!
I know they say it was cancer but I think that the Pac 8,10,12 generally and UCLA specifically broke his heart. Never met him but admired him so much. I liked him even more as a person than as an excellent player.
Great essay about a very rare person. Talented, bright, caring, and humble.
Whenever I hear or read "The Conference of Champions", I hear it in Bill Walton's voice.
I remember watching him play at Mac Court and watching his 21 of 22 game on TV. I remember seeing him in the crowd at Grateful Dead shows (the tall red head was hard to miss). I always enjoyed when he called games in Eugene. He really liked Eugene and was very complementary of Eugene and Oregon. He will be missed.
Yes, I remember him playing at MAC Court also. Watching him and Bruce Coldren play was so amazing. Those were the good old days….those players and coaches on that court with the rafters shaking! Glad I was there during those days.