Coach John Wooden brought honor, dignity and humility to the profession of coaching in a way that will likely never be matched. His coaching achievements speak for themselves and when Coach Wooden spoke, everybody listened. I thought you would enjoy this link sent to me the other day of one of the hundreds of interviews given by Coach Wooden on coaching, leadership and success:
I’ve often thought about the purpose and value of sports, especially given the enormous amount of time, energy and money that is expended in their pursuit by human beings across the globe. Sports are a vital part of a well-rounded education. So much can be learned on the court, on the field, in the water, in the ring and on the green that cannot be learned in the classroom.
Most sports are as much mental and emotional as they are physical in nature. My most recent sporting pursuit, horseback riding, has taught me many lessons about the tremendous value of mental focus, emotional evenness and physical grace in any activity. Horseback riding is a unique sport in that the tool used, if a horse could be so called, is a living partner, unlike a tennis racquet or a soccer ball. The horse cannot be relied upon to perform exactly the same from one ride to the next and the relationship is truly an organic one that requires fluidity, patience, sensitivity and respect.
Sports also provide the means of learning about winning and losing. I remember a funny scene from the movie “Talladega Nights” in which young Ricky Bobby (Will Farrell) found out that advice his ne’er-do-well father had given him as a child about winning was bogus. Here’s how the scene played out:
Ricky Bobby: Wait, Dad. Don’t you remember the time you told me “If you ain’t first, you’re last”?
Reese Bobby: Huh? What are you talking about, Son?
Ricky Bobby: That day at school.
Reese Bobby: Oh hell, Son, I was high that day. That doesn’t make any sense at all, you can be second, third, fourth… hell you can even be fifth.
Ricky Bobby: What? I’ve lived my whole life by that!
There can be nobility in winning and in losing, provided that you give the very best that you can give, no matter what the odds. Just look at Switzerland’s performance against Spain in the World Cup yesterday. Anything is possible. You are not made great by the victories in life that you leave in your wake, rather, your greatness is revealed as you give evidence of your highest expression from moment to moment. Your inherent value is absolute, but the expression of your value is up to you.
I learned invaluable lessons about cooperation, leadership, pushing myself to the limits, planning, and follow-through from my coaches, lessons that I don’t think I would have gleaned from a chemistry experiment or a trigonometry book; yet the balance of the two provided a firm foundation for which I will be forever grateful. No matter how young or old you are, there is a sport for you. And the learning need never stop. If you haven’t lately, take the time to thanks a coach!
If you have been remiss in your physical activity of late, I would encourage you to start somewhere, anywhere. Sports and physical activity help clear and energize your body’s channels, physically, energetically, mentally and emotionally-speaking. If you find yourself in a funk, do something physical. It never fails to loosen things up for me, clearing the mental garbage from the front lawn of my mind, making way for the answer or solution to come.
The Los Angeles Times recently published a commemorative section for dear Coach Wooden, and if you are looking for an inspiring tale of consistent faith in, hope for, and dedication to the lives of others, this remarkable story of Coach John Wooden’s wonderful life is, in my mind, the perfect starting point for a life well-lived.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/wooden/
Have a superb day!
Gregory Hake 
Thank you so much for sharing the interview with John Wooden Gregg. Like many others, he was one of my personal heroes; actually I first listened to UCLA basketball games in the late 1940’s, during his first couple of year’s at the school, and have been a fan of his ever since. There are so many of his values that have shaped my own life philosoply over the years, but below are a few that have stood out and have stood the test of time:
Success is an inside job
Personal accountability is huge
Humility
Be true to yourself
In everything do your absolutue best
It’s not about the victory; it’s about how you play the game
The value of hard work
The value of consistency
There are obviously many other characteristics as well but these listed have certainly not only assisted me personally but many others as well.
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Thank you so much for sharing the interview with John Wooden Gregg. Like many others, he was one of my personal heroes; actually I first listened to UCLA basketball games in 1948, his first year at the school, and have been a fan of his ever since. There are so many his values that have shaped my own life philosoply over the years, but below are a few that have stood out and have stood the test of time:
Success is an inside job
Personal accountability is huge
Humility
Be true to yourself
In everything do your absolutue best
It’s not about the victory; it’s about how you play the game
The value of hard work
The value of consistency
There are obviously many
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I love that quote from Will Ferrell. Sports definetly add something that you can’t learn any other way.
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Amazing. A century of life lived to the fullest!
How true it is that we are missing the mark when we compete with others instead of focusing on the one thing which we actually have control over – the development and revelation of our own unique and valuable capabilities and expression.
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Sweet interview, very touching in light of his passing. I hope everyone was also able to catch parts 2 and 3 of the interview (I had to click on them at the end of first clip).
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Thanks for your entry today. We are all richer for his simple philosophy of being the best person you are capable of becoming.
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An exceptional coach and man, and a good example to anyone interested in being an effective and inspiring leader.
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Thank you for paying tribute to a humble man who had the courage and discipline to live his life according to his deepest held values and principles.
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Thank you – I don’t think enough tribute can be paid to such a top notch coach and person.
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I had the pleasure of hearing Coach Wooden speak in person to a group of business professionals, mostly owners of small businesses. I was impressed with his demeanor. He appeared a very proper, humble gentleman. I loved hearing his thoughts on education and the balance between that and sports. He loved the student who embraced both.
I think what impressed me the most was something he reiterated in your clip as well. The thing he found the most difficult was making the decisions that would effect people’s lives forever. He had to decide who would play, be rewarded, cut from the team etc. It was obvious they were tough decisions, not taken lightly by him. But he also said it was his responsibility. His courage to make tough calls was apparent and I’ll bet was critical to his many successes.
Many of his stories were very analogous to running a business. His “Pyramid of Success” is a worthy read for all but very helpful for business.
I’m glad you wrote about him. He seemed a beautiful, deep feeling, balanced person. Thanks.
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Coach Wooden summed up how he would like to be remembered as someone who was considerate of others. What a humble man. He was so insistent about remaining open and ” coachable’ Great advice. Learning a new sport could keep our minds and bodies in peak condition. Oh and LOVE that you quoted Ricky Bobby!! Hilarious!!!
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A truly inspiring individual
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Thanks, Gregg, and thank you Coach Wooden for getting to the basis of the “true purpose” for sports. It’s essential as a parent to have this in my sights, and to support the development of positive character traits in my children that will influence their success in all aspects of life.
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My teenage son and I have enjoyed sharing some of John Wooden’s writings. The fact that they were written by a basketball coach is entirely incidental, though it was the opening for my son’s interest. Coach Wooden defined success as doing everything you can possible do now to be your very best. May his attention to detail and commitment to hard work continue to inspire others to achieve success both on and off the court.
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Coach Wooden was a true winner in attitude, in action, and in thought. The principles he exemplified in his coaching and life are available to continue to inspire us and can be applied by any one of us in any field. Now that is a legacy worth leaving! Thank you for taking the time to remember this great American hero.
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