50 Years Since U.C.L.A. Won Its 10th Title in 12 Seasons In Coach John Wooden’s Last Game

It has been 50 years since U.C.L.A. coached by the great John Wooden won its incredible 10th title in 12 seasons in the coach’s last game.

The fact Wooden announced his retirement after Richard Washington’s shot was decisive in the team’s one point win vs Louisville in the national semis, definitely helped the Bruins (U.C.L.A.) and to this day some Kentucky players call it a, if not the key, to U.C.L.A.’s title tilt win vs them.

I recall my father who did root for U.C.L.A. (I did not but surely acknowledge their greatness) clapping as the game ended and Wooden walked off the floor triumphant in his last game.

An article by John Maffei in the San Diego Tribune indicates the great coach (what sour grapes by Bob Knight for disputing Wooden’s greatness, just as despite what I think of the “chair thrower,” I salute Knight as a great coach as well) received an ovation when he entered the press room after the tilt something, not seen before or since.

Finally, the one time I interviewed John Wooden a day before Arkansas denied Duke a third crown in 4 seasons (they have won 3 since and are a decent sized plurality choice to add one week from tonight), he offered a low key, beautifully inflected “sorry,” (no I’m, a la no “i” in team) after being informed by me that my father, an aforementioned Wooden supporter, had recently died.

Oh 50 years!