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CBN.com –As a player at Purdue in the early 1930s, John Wooden was a three year All-American and College Basketball Player of the Year. But he was an even better coach. From 1948 to 1975, Wooden was head coach of men’s basketball at UCLA. His accomplishments include 10 national championships in 12 years, seven of those in a row; a record 88 straight wins; and 30 victories in four seasons -- without a single loss. Perhaps no one in sports has earned more respect from players, peers, and fans than Coach John Wooden. So what is the coach most proud of?
"I think we all have different things of which we’re proud," said Wooden. "I’m proud that a lot of my friends and coaches in past years have said, 'Johnny’s no different since winning a lot of championships than he was before he won any.' I like that. Never think you’re better than somebody else. Always hold your head up and think you are just as good, but never think you’re better. Learn from others; you’ll never know a thing that you didn’t learn from somebody else. And never cease trying to be the best you can be."
Nearly three decades since he ruled the sideline, Coach Wooden starts the day at his favorite diner. VIP’s has been called the “Cheers” of the older crowd -- you know, the place where everybody knows your name, especially the name “Coach.”
Coach Wooden is 94 years old and is loved now more than ever. He’s a legend and he’s a friend.
In his favorite booth, he softly dunks his teabag and orders breakfast. He ignores the images of himself that make up the décor of the diner. What an honor for me to have coffee with Coach Wooden as he introduces the morning gang at VIP’s.
"Louis is always on the end, Barbara’s next, Gene’s next, Mike’s next, and Scotty and Jerry probably here shortly," Wooden said.
The man who seems to be the very definition of success doesn’t focus on his records. He points to using the talents God gave him, win or lose.
Coach put it this way, "At God’s footstool to confess, a poor soul knelt and bowed his head. 'I failed,' he cried. The Master said, 'Thou did thy best. That is success.' And I believe that."
That Master in Wooden’s life is Jesus Christ.
Said Wooden, "I’ve heard the statement, and I like it very much,
'If I were arrested and prosecuted for being a Christian, I hope there’d
be enough evidence to convict me.' "
Evidence of his faith is found in his new devotional book, One-on-One, which, by the way, he was reluctant to write. In typical Wooden fashion, he didn’t want to be the focus or appear to be an expert on the Bible. His faith is humble and sincere.
While we were sitting there talking, I noticed Coach holding a cross in his hand, and I wondered what it was about that cross that was so important to him.
Wooden told me, "When I enlisted in the service in World War II in 1942, my minister, Rev. Frankie Davidson in South Bend, Indiana, gave me this cross. It's an unusual cross in as much as it has the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and it has the heart. I’ve held it any time when I thought there’d be any pressure. For example, I always held it like this in basketball games. No one ever knew about it. I didn’t want anyone to know about it. I just had it in my hand. It's probably a good thing for the officials, or I might get a little excited every once in a while."
I asked Coach if he were a tough coach to play for.
"I don’t think so," he responded. "I never disciplined in a physical way. Physical punishment, I think, antagonizes. I think it's difficult to get productive, positive results when you antagonize. I had three rules throughout my teaching career. One was you never criticize a teammate. That’s my job. Another one was not one word of profanity or you're out of here for the day. And then the third one was always be on time."
Practice makes perfect, which led me to ask Wooden, "With all the National Championships you won and all the victories leading up to those Championships during the season, why was it that practice, preparing for the games, was more important to you?"
"I enjoyed practicing. That’s where you do the teaching," he explained. "I used to say that when it came game time, I think I’d like to go up in the stands and watch and see if my players had learned anything during the week. If they hadn't, of course, that was my fault because I was their teacher. There’s little to do once the game starts if you’ve done your job properly during the week."
I asked Coach if reading the Word of God helps us prepare for times of crisis, the same way practice helps a player get ready for the big game.
"Oh, unquestionably," he said. "My father gave me a seven-point creed when I graduated from grade school from the 8th grade. One of the points in the creed is to build a shelter against a rainy day. Now, I don’t think he’s thinking of a material shelter. I think he’s thinking of the life we lead. That’s the shelter."
From reading his devotional book, One-on-One, I learned that Coach Wooden's favorite passage of Scripture was 1 Corinthians 13, so I asked him why.
"Well, it’s the love chapter," he revealed. "I think love is the most important word in our language. Like I told my players at the beginning every year, 'Now, I won’t like you all the same. You won’t like me all the same. You won’t like each other all the same. Remember: I’m imperfect, and I’ll be wrong sometimes, but if I’m wrong too much, I won’t be around. There will be someone else in my place. I won’t like you all the same, but I hope I love you all the same."
A lover of poetry, Coach ended our time by reciting a poem he wrote:
Don’t look back. The years have left their imprint on my hands and on my face.
Erect no longer is my walk and scored is my face.
But there is no fear within my heart because I am growing old.
I only wish I had more time to better serve my Lord.
When I’ve gone to him in prayer, he has brought me inner peace.
And soon my cares and worries and other problems cease.
He’s helped me in so many ways. He has never let me down.
Why should I fear the future when soon I could be near his crown?
Though I know down here my time is short, there is endless time up there.
And he will forgive and keep me ever in his loving care.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
