The tragedy of a Legend Passing is the idea of Legend Itself.  We are cynical creatures surrounded by darkness.  We cannot describe light, only experience it.  When the light leaves us those who saw it can only describe clenching our eyes shut and holding our hands in front of our faces.

The Wizard of Westwood, John Wooden, coached college basketball.  The amazing thing about college sports, and I think particularly basketball, is that it has the ability to unleash the potential of spirit energy in those who watch it and believe in the team on the court.  It does not require an in-depth knowledge of the sport.  It is something that can be felt – I might go as far as to say an overly technical understanding of the game is to the detriment of the viewer, and that would explain why experts, who can with great reliability predict the outcome of professional sports, can never nail down the victor of a college contest.  There are other factors at play.  There are no contracts, no series, no second chances.  Only love.

In 2009 UCLA raised their tuition 32%.  Students stormed the campus in protest. It had been 34 years since the Wizard of Westwood coached on campus.  That faithful year, in 1975, college tuition averaged between 3k and 4k.  I don’t have the inflation adjusted numbers…but  the amount could be made flipping burgers, waiting tables, or washing cars.  And for that you got John Wooden.  What are students getting now for tuition approaching the YEARLY INCOME OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN?  False promises, jobs just out of reach, recommendations to go on to graduate school, false promises, jobs just out of reach, recommendations for fellowships, postponing marriage, family…debt…a life spent preparing for a future that never came.  That’s not love.

We will miss you John Wooden.  We will not be able to do your memory justice.  My greatest fear is that future generations will begin to think of you as just that – a Legend fueled by positive statistics.  If only they could have seen.  If only they could have felt. 

I can promise you this though.  Nobody who ever saw Coach Wooden coach a game from the student section EVER questioned the value of their education.