RIP Bill Walton

[JJTB]

Eastern Regional Finals were up in Syracuse some years ago. Between games my buddy and I met Bill Walton and John Havlicek at the nearby casino during an autograph session. As he was signing for me I suggested Greg Lee should be there to “assist” him. He stood up and talked about Lee, one of his favorite teammates ever, and thanked me! So genuine and wasn’t afraid to give of his time. What a player and goof…just loved his byplay with Dave Pasch! R.I.P.!

 

[Chief00]

A

As many point out, Walton was unique talent among his playing and announcing peers.

My favorite Bill Walton memories:
1) His first aired TV game on the East Coast playing as a sophomore for UCLA (freshmen couldn't play varsity back then) after the Alcindor dynasty years. The announcers described him as a good defensive player, but with a limited offensive game. It seemed then and there, from the start of that game, he was unstoppable offensively, putting bank shots in at will around the glass;
2) His early pro years doing Bill Walton things leading the Portland Trailblazers to a NBA championship;
3) While announcing a PAC10 game when his son Luke was playing at Arizona, Bill's opining that UA was a national contender having only lost that season to top national programs "like UConn";
4) At last season's Phil Knight Invitational Tournament (PKI) in Oregon, while Walton was providing TV commentary at a UConn game, his announcer colleague asked Bill if our freshman back-up center Donovan Clingan, who was playing very well and went on, I believe, to make the all-tournament team, was a modern day version of Bill Walton. Walton said he had the opportunity to personally meet Donovan the day before and he went on to say "He is just being (himself) Donovan Clingan"; and
5) Also during a UConn game at the PKI, while providing commentary, Bill Walton boldly announced "Alex Karaban" each time after Alex made a nice play, and from that point forward, our new freshmen players were becoming nationally known stars playing with gravitas to win the tournament.

I will miss Bill Walton.

Very sad news. Bill Walton is a true legend and I will always remember his love of the game. I will say when Donovan is playing his “A” game, Bill Walton comes to mind and that’s a very high compliment.

 

[Deepster]

All those people out there who are not comfortable enough to let their freak flag fly can learn a lesson from Bill Walton. RIP

 

[dvegas]

In a couple of the updated obituaries, Walton is quoted as crediting dealing with his stutter using techniques that he learned from the great broadcaster Marty Glickman, which creates a single degree of separation to UConn hoops (and football), Glickman called games on the Husky radio network in his retirement.

 

[B1GEast]

RIP Bill. Here's a great story about how he introduced the Celtics to the Greatful Dead experience.

 

[dvegas]

Bill Walton

From BillWalton.com Thank you for your interest in my life long problem with my speech and communication skills. I was a very shy and reserved young man who could not speak at all without severely stuttering until I was 28 years old. Always a success in the classroom and on the basketball court...

www.stutteringhelp.org

 

[David 76]

Thank you.

 

[navery12]

 

[Mr. French]

Who won, who is this?

 

[Waquoit]

If you go by a player's best season, Walton would be in the discussion for GOAT. He was immense before his injuries.

 

[c29328]

If you go by a player's best season, Walton would be in the discussion for GOAT. He was immense before his injuries.

His best was white hot. Too short a time in every way for him.

 

[aceboon]

too young to have seen him play outside of Youtube but NBC games with Walton, Tom Hammond, and Steve Snapper Jones were my childhood, him and Jones had a great dynamic calling the games.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Can’t get enough of these Bill Walton stories man. What an amazing human being.

 

[alphasigko]

I am saddened by his passing. He was a very interesting talented individual who had a straight forward approach to telling all directly what he felt, believed and thought. Albeit for me, his in-game commentary will not be missed. May he rest in peace.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Umami Zen]

Jay Bilas had a great BW tribute on the Dan Patrick Show today. Great listen -Bill was an idol of Jay (Jake) growing up and once their paths crossed as CBB commentators- They had a great relationship right up until the end.

 

[scotty0330]

May we all have people speak the way they do about Bill after we leave this life. Tributes are universal and uncommon for most hall of famers. More often we are reminded about how he was off the court and little about how dominant a player he was when healthy. Hell of a life and definitely one well lived

 

[Madmannsucks]

When healthy, he was a good a player as any ever. some didn't enjoy his announcing but I don't think anyone didn't like him. Apparently he let several players who were struggling crash at his place. Amazing player, better human.

 

[Jimdish255]

A lot of people on this forum have said they'd mute the TV when he was on. I always enjoyed his ramblings. "Have you ever been to a volcano?"

Of course he's not in the HOF for his color commentary. A top-10 if not top-5 college player and then an NBA MVP. And his injuries robbed him of what would have been an even greater NBA career.

Those late PAC-12 games needed Bill Walton as much as he needed them.

 

[Jimdish255]

That game was one of the most dominant performances I've ever seen. He had four other baskets that were disallowed because they were too close to being dunks (then banned).

Per the Athletic:
He was never close to 100% after UCLA.
He said he suffered a knee injury on the playground as a youth and was never the same. “My legs were pretty much shot by the time I got to the NBA in 1974,” Walton wrote. “I peaked when I was 12.” He had an unimaginable 39 surgeries on his legs, ankles and feet.

That's a ton of inflammation on your body. Probably the Sativa and Cactus juice kept him going this long.

 

[Huskybass]

RIP Bill. Loved him. Unique personality who made every broadcast interesting.

 

[Mr. French]

I have my tie dye, my Rip City basketball shorts and my Nike '77 blazer classics on, all day today, in honor of William.

 

[HCCForever]

Nice story from Mike Breen talking how Bill accompanied Mike, Mike's brother and father who was suffering from Parkinson some 15 years ago. He helped arrange special trip to the Midway in San Diego a ship on which Breen's father served. This was shortly before Breen's father passed away. Bill even allowed the father to stay in the Bob Dylan room in Bill's house since he was the guest of honor.

Another good story was told by Rich Eisen about giving Bill a ride in his Tesla along with Bill's big metal chair after a Katy Perry video in which Bill and Rich were the announcers. Shoving the chair into the Tesla ended up breaking the rear hatch glass.

As others have pointed out most stories about Bill are not basketball-centric. I even saw a picture of Bill posing with Michael Jordan and MJ had a slight smile. I haven't seen too many pictures of MJ like that.

As Bill would say "shine the light, be the light". RIP

 

[HuskyHawk]

Very well said and appropriate

 

[alphasigko]

A good one in The Athletic this morning:

'Thank you for my life': Memories of Bill Walton, from those who worked with him

Dave Pasch, Mike Tirico, Kenny Mayne and more in the broadcasting world share their favorite memories of the one-of-a-kind Bill Walton.

www.nytimes.com