RIP Bill Walton

[moonslav59]

One of the very best players and men in the world.

[Nick]

I remember his final college game. Unbelievable talent.

[moonslav59]

I remember his final college game. Unbelievable talent.

 

The foot injury really prevented him from dominating the NBA for years.

 

The year with Portland was special, too.

 

He might have been the best college basketball player of all time.

 

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Defense

 

He did it all. He was near the best, if not the very best, at his position in all for categories.

[Jasonbay44]

RIP. One of the funniest announcers I’ve ever listened too

[a700hitter]

RIP Big Red

[jad]

Loved his calls when he was doing Clippers games when they were at their worst. It was very hard to make a serious comment concerning them, and he rarely did!

[moonslav59]

A good guy, first and foremost.

Genuine.

Smart.

Funny.

 

During his best 3 year stretch in the NBA, he never played more than 65 games, which was a shame. He did put up these numbers, in those 3 years (age 23-25)

 

18.0 PPG

13.7 Rebounds (led league once)

4.3 Assists (among the best by a center in any 3 year span.)

2.5 Blocks

1.0 Steals

 

Per 100 possessions:

~24 PPG

~18 RPG

~6 APG

~3.5 Blocks and 1.5 Steals per game

 

1977 Playoffs:

18.2 PPG

15.2 RPG

5.5 APG

3.4 BLKPG

1.1 SPG

 

Of course, the numbers do not tell the whole story on this guy. He transcended the game, itself.

[Randy Red Sox]

A good guy, first and foremost.

Genuine.

Smart.

Funny.

 

During his best 3 year stretch in the NBA, he never played more than 65 games, which was a shame. He did put up these numbers, in those 3 years (age 23-25)

 

18.0 PPG

13.7 Rebounds (led league once)

4.3 Assists (among the best by a center in any 3 year span.)

2.5 Blocks

1.0 Steals

 

Per 100 possessions:

~24 PPG

~18 RPG

~6 APG

~3.5 Blocks and 1.5 Steals per game

 

1977 Playoffs:

18.2 PPG

15.2 RPG

5.5 APG

3.4 BLKPG

1.1 SPG

 

Of course, the numbers do not tell the whole story on this guy. He transcended the game, itself.

 

he was awesome.. sorry to hear this news

[notin]

“What a long, strange trip it’s been…”

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

“What a long, strange trip it’s been…”

 

"listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul"

[moonslav59]

There is a road, no simple highway

Between the dawn and the dark of night

And if you go, no one may follow

That path is for your steps alone

[Maxbialystock]

There is a road, no simple highway

Between the dawn and the dark of night

And if you go, no one may follow

That path is for your steps alone

 

Very fitting. A brilliant basketball player and, more than that, a stutterer who overcame it at age 28. An anti-Vietnam protester when he was a star for UCLA, whose coach, John Wooden, didn't appreciate protests. Yet Walton learned much from Wooden and was a lifelong friend after he graduated. Long after UCLA, Walton backed up Robert Parish with the Celtics, which brought still another NBA title in 1986. Later, Parish asked Walton to be his inductee when he was admitted to the HOF.

 

I must confess I was never a fan of the Grateful Dead and still less a fan of Bill Walton's announcing.

Edited May 28, 2024 by Maxbialystock

[gojohn99]

Let's win it for Walton.

[jad]

Very fitting. A brilliant basketball player and, more than that, a stutterer who overcame it at age 28. An anti-Vietnam protester when he was a star for UCLA, whose coach, John Wooden, didn't appreciate protests. Yet Walton learned much from Wooden and was a lifelong friend after he graduated. Long after UCLA, Walton backed up Robert Parish with the Celtics, which brought still another NBA title in 1986. Later, Parish asked Walton to be his inductee when he was admitted to the HOF.

 

I must confess I was never a fan of the Grateful Dead and still less a fan of Bill Walton's announcing.

 

The Dead didn't get to Maine until after my pathetic musical tastes were formed. But Bill's announcing? What a hoot! You could never forget that in the end, it (whatever it was) was a damn kids game.

[cp176]

At his best, one of the best to ever play the game. 21/22 - a game that I will never forget.

[mvp 78]

Bill Walton was a hypocrite for being a pot head while he played but ripped the Trail Blazers as an announcer and called them out for smoking weed while others were saying the racist Jail Blazers stuff. Like all these other hate filled hippies, he can rest in piss.

[moonslav59]

Bill Walton was a hypocrite for being a pot head while he played but ripped the Trail Blazers as an announcer and called them out for smoking weed while others were saying the racist Jail Blazers stuff. Like all these other hate filled hippies, he can rest in piss.

 

Last thread of respect just tore loose.

[Maxbialystock]

At his best, one of the best to ever play the game. 21/22 - a game that I will never forget.

 

That game absolutely blew me away.

[mvp 78]

Last thread of respect just tore loose.

 

He should have been a more respectable person when alive then.

[Maxbialystock]

He should have been a more respectable person when alive then.

 

I think overcoming that stutter circa age 28-30 unleashed a torrent he could not control and in fact relished. Some of it made sense, but most of it was drivel. Flip-flopping on pot--or anything except the Grateful Dead--was inevitable.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson: "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

[jad]

Bill Walton was a hypocrite for being a pot head while he played but ripped the Trail Blazers as an announcer and called them out for smoking weed while others were saying the racist Jail Blazers stuff. Like all these other hate filled hippies, he can rest in piss.

 

I actually see only one post here that is marked by hate. And please name those 'hate-filled hippies,' because most of us have no clue what you're talking about.

[jad]

I think overcoming that stutter circa age 28-30 unleashed a torrent he could not control and in fact relished. Some of it made sense, but most of it was drivel. Flip-flopping on pot--or anything except the Grateful Dead--was inevitable.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson: "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

 

He was funny. Some people just hate that.

[Maxbialystock]

He was funny. Some people just hate that.

 

Most of us like funny, but don't always agree on what is and isn't. In my case, I just prefer commentators who can provide insights into the game being played. I didn't like Bobby Knight, but thought his insights were excellent. My favorite coach was Dean Smith, and I thought his color commentary (after he retired) was awful--and thankfully brief.

[jad]

Most of us like funny, but don't always agree on what is and isn't. In my case, I just prefer commentators who can provide insights into the game being played. I didn't like Bobby Knight, but thought his insights were excellent. My favorite coach was Dean Smith, and I thought his color commentary (after he retired) was awful--and thankfully brief.

 

Probably not a lot of posters here were CLippers fans in the bad ole days when BW was color-commentator. He (and his straight man Ralph Lawler) made them tolerable. What 'insights' were to be had concerning that team? ('You know, the Kandy Man is more effective dunking the ball than attempting a 10-foot jump shot'?)

[notin]

He was funny. Some people just hate that.

 

True.

 

That's why Dennis Miller didn't last on Monday Night Football...

[illinoisredsox]

I actually see only one post here that is marked by hate. And please name those 'hate-filled hippies,' because most of us have no clue what you're talking about.

 

Consider the source and move on. Just mvp doing mvp things.

[mvp 78]

I actually see only one post here that is marked by hate. And please name those 'hate-filled hippies,' because most of us have no clue what you're talking about.

 

I wasn't referring to any hippies on here as there are none.

[dgalehouse]

I think Walton was a likable sort of guy. I remember when Notre Dame ended UCLA's 88 game winning streak, Walton left the arena whistling the Irish fight song. He was not exactly devastated by it all.

[cp176]

I wasn't referring to any hippies on here as there are none.

 

A hippie is a life form that once was but no longer exists as we knew it. Try as they might, it just ain't coming back. Lots of fakes out there though. Most of us jut sort of grew up or maybe we just grew old.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

A hippie is a life form that once was but no longer exists as we knew it. Try as they might, it just ain't coming back. Lots of fakes out there though. Most of us jut sort of grew up or maybe we just grew old.

 

Maybe we grew up, but definitely got older. My forehead definitely grew higher, though nothing grew inside it. Still prefer classic rock.

 

Wonder if those who hip-hopped through rap will someday sit in rocking chairs, whispering words that shook cars waiting for lights to change.