https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nba-hall-famer-bill-walton-dead-71
I know this is a wrestling forum but everyone loved this guy. RIP Bill. 😢
I know this is a wrestling forum but everyone loved this guy. RIP Bill. 😢
OT - Bill Walton passes away
- Thread starter AgSurfer
- Start date
A true original and from everything I’ve read, just a really good person. RIP.
One of the best college players ever when they could only start varsity three years. Followed Kareem at UCLA, and was just as good. Injuries shortened his greatness in the NBA, but a great one.
Famous for his rants! Spoke his mind and let the chips fall where they may. We need more of this free flow in today’s world. No no … not like Steven A (overtly forced)… like Bill W. (Zen).
Voltz on the football board brought up that Bill's brother played in a Superbowl. Bruce Walton played for the Cowboys, making the Waltons the only brother combination to win an NBA championship and Superbowl.
Yeah, these guys crack me up. However, not as bold as saying Spence Lee is the best wrestler ever!! Right?
I feel pretty strongly that if Bill hadn't been injured, he would have become one of the top 4 centers in NBA history - with Russell, Chamberlain, and Jabbar. His years up to the injuries were astounding. Shooting (no one else has approached his making 21 of 22 shots in the 1973 NCAA title game), rebounding, passing, defense - he was elite in every facet. Plus, he had FUN while playing the game in his few healthy years. He was a joy to watch on the court.
Here for this OT thread! That dude was sooo interesting!
Here's Jay Bilas telling stories about how Walton called him Jake and others...
www.espn.com
Here's Jay Bilas telling stories about how Walton called him Jake and others...
Jay Bilas: Man, was Bill Walton fun
Jay Bilas grew up idolizing Bill Walton, who was larger than life on and off the court and he was about finding the joy in others.
The reason I made this post is because it affected me a little personally. No, I did not know Bill Walton, but being a San Diego boy, I saw him around a lot of time in the 80's when sports celebrities didn't seem to mind mixing with the crowds. It's not my nature to approach people I don't know just because they are a celebrity, but if I had, from what I know about Walton he would have taken time to talk to me. I also know he was involved with assisting a lot of charity events and organizations. Maybe Psalm 1 guy can give us more information here. This is a sad loss in the sports world.
Great story from one of the world’s biggest Grateful Dead fans….
Totally! How he could find time to play basketball, found Walmart, and still be a man of the people is unreal!
Somebody made a great point somewhere that Walton was Jokic before there was Jokic.
Last edited:
There were many familiar takes that UCLA would come back to Earth when Alcindor/Jabbar graduated and then Walton dominated for his years. He was talented and then some.
Bill Walton. Jerry Garcia. And Larry Bird!
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/e38BHxg6uQV7BUSL/?mibextid=xCPwDs
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/e38BHxg6uQV7BUSL/?mibextid=xCPwDs
Grateful Dead = the Will Lewan of music
Boring and pointless
—————-
Just speaking truth to power, Boomers
Boring and pointless
—————-
Just speaking truth to power, Boomers
@AgSurfer, in doing a little research, it seemed Bill and his wife were very generous with their time and money. A few years ago I was stopped at a red light and there was Bill on his bicycle next to me. I didn't bother him, but I would have loved to talk to him. He definitely was one of a kind.
I lived in Oregon until 1987, and I remember what a huge thing it was for the Trailblazers to win the championship in 1977. To be down two games to zero against the Sixers with Dr. J and then to be able to reel off four straight wins was incredible. My father still has a copy of their championship poster hanging up in his garage. I also remember the brawl between Darryl Dawkins and Maurice Lucas in game two. Those were two big dudes! Sadly, Maurice also died of cancer like Bill. He was only 58. I have included two videos that cover the fight. I also included a video regarding the philanthropy of Bill and his wife. May we all have a zest for life like Bill did.
‘He was Mr. San Diego’: Basketball icon Bill Walton remembered for his generosity, philanthropy, civic pride
Bill Walton, San Diego icon, basketball superstar, award-winning television analyst, certified Deadhead, cyclist, philanthropist, political activist, philosopher, father, grandfather, loyal friend,…
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
I posit that you have just not done enough drugs!
This is among the best posts ever.
Inarguable and succinct.
It should be bookmarked for posterity.
True story: I attended a college conference in Albany in the early 1990s. We were in the parking lot around lunchtime Saturday when a van pulled up to the lobby, the door opened, and out popped Jerry Garcia.
I'm far from a Deadhead but what the hell, let's go say hi. And then a Hiroshima-sized blue cloud emerged from the van. I think we got a contact high from 50 yards away. So much for those stories of Garcia going clean.
BTW, that weekend was hell. The hallways were littered with passed out stoners. It was like being in a homeless camp.
Thanks for posting. Regarding that fight, I definitely would not want to tangle with those guys. They probably have a reach at least 6" more than mine.@AgSurfer, in doing a little research, it seemed Bill and his wife were very generous with their time and money. A few years ago I was stopped at a red light and there was Bill on his bicycle next to me. I didn't bother him, but I would have loved to talk to him. He definitely was one of a kind.
I lived in Oregon until 1987, and I remember what a huge thing it was for the Trailblazers to win the championship in 1977. To be down two games to zero against the Sixers with Dr. J and then to be able to reel off four straight wins was incredible. My father still has a copy of their championship poster hanging up in his garage. I also remember the brawl between Darryl Dawkins and Maurice Lucas in game two. Those were two big dudes! Sadly, Maurice also died of cancer like Bill. He was only 58. I have included two videos that cover the fight. I also included a video regarding the philanthropy of Bill and his wife. May we all have a zest for life like Bill did.
‘He was Mr. San Diego’: Basketball icon Bill Walton remembered for his generosity, philanthropy, civic pride
Bill Walton, San Diego icon, basketball superstar, award-winning television analyst, certified Deadhead, cyclist, philanthropist, political activist, philosopher, father, grandfather, loyal friend,…
I remember reading about how Portland had a big parade when the Trailblazers won the championship. Bill Walton was riding along on his bike and stopped somewhere for a little while. When he came back to get his bike, someone had stolen it! I wonder if the thief took it because it was Bill Walton's bike, or if the thief was just looking for any bike to steal. I'll bet it would be worth a little money today for the collection value.
One of my favorite stats -- Bill Walton attended more Grateful Dead concerts than his total of NBA games played.
518 NBA regular season and playoff games total; more than 700 Grateful Dead concerts
518 NBA regular season and playoff games total; more than 700 Grateful Dead concerts
Ha...I attended a Grateful Dead concert (way back in 1972) and loved it.
Must admit -- that is a quality piece of snark you came up with.
By the way, CT, how are your boys doing these days?
How many of you old guys remember the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen in summer of 1973? It was at that point in time, the largest crowd ever for a rock concert and also the largest crowd ever in the US. 600,000 people! It featured The Band, The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead. After each group played individually, they all got together on the stage for an impromptu jam session.
I was there to see it live. I missed Woodstock, but made it to this one. The local and state law enforcement basically turned the other direction because they didn't want more problems than they could handle. Part of the venue became an open air drug market place. I remember walking by a row of tables where the vendors set up shop and seeing signs like Acid, Mushrooms, Ludes, Weed, Hash, etc.
I think that's the only time I saw the Dead live. Definitely a memorable experience!
That was the best BBall era. Dudes like Maurice Lucas and Wes Unseld were not to be trifled with. They didn’t start much, but were ready to finish anything.@AgSurfer, in doing a little research, it seemed Bill and his wife were very generous with their time and money. A few years ago I was stopped at a red light and there was Bill on his bicycle next to me. I didn't bother him, but I would have loved to talk to him. He definitely was one of a kind.
I lived in Oregon until 1987, and I remember what a huge thing it was for the Trailblazers to win the championship in 1977. To be down two games to zero against the Sixers with Dr. J and then to be able to reel off four straight wins was incredible. My father still has a copy of their championship poster hanging up in his garage. I also remember the brawl between Darryl Dawkins and Maurice Lucas in game two. Those were two big dudes! Sadly, Maurice also died of cancer like Bill. He was only 58. I have included two videos that cover the fight. I also included a video regarding the philanthropy of Bill and his wife. May we all have a zest for life like Bill did.
‘He was Mr. San Diego’: Basketball icon Bill Walton remembered for his generosity, philanthropy, civic pride
Bill Walton, San Diego icon, basketball superstar, award-winning television analyst, certified Deadhead, cyclist, philanthropist, political activist, philosopher, father, grandfather, loyal friend,…
That was a shocking choke by the Sixers and I still remember most of the Blazers team without googling - Twardzik, Hollins, etc.
Randomly, when Lionel Hollins was with the Sixers, I sold a Christmas Tree to him out of our Boy Scout lot on Brookhaven and Rose Valley Roads. Rode up in a Crown Vic or some other sweet 70s sedan with his lady wearing fur. She didn’t get out. I think he just pointed to a few from the car, I brought them over, he picked one - and off they went.
Thanks for asking. He’s in his last year of school as he turns 22 in January. So it’s a scary time as I seek to transition him to a world without school services. I’m trying to line up a new HCS service provider that has good group homes so I can find a good situation for him. It’s been pretty tough (and expensive) lining up care for him as he gets older. Just taking it day by day.
My younger boy is almost 17. He’s way more manageable and has been living with his mom 2 miles away so I can concentrate on Jack. He might end up living with her in adulthood and just go to day habs or something - we’ll see
Your boy must be in his late 30s or so, now. How is he?
My son Chris is 43 now and well situated. He had the good fortune to get into a great group home situation (and he had some that were less desirable) 6 years ago in the Raleigh area. Only 3 residents and no turnover; family staff that does a great job. He has supported employment 5 days a week and the staff takes the residents to 3 or more vacation trips every year.
Chris visits us (125 miles away) 4 or 5 times a year and calls regularly but his group home is his real home.
Good luck and hang in there.
Similar threads
