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Message: [QUOTE="JeffConn, post: 5010104, member: 11822"] 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. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach