In Reply to: A nice piece about Bill posted by ej on May 29, 2024 at 10:34:40
The outpouring of stories and appreciation for my sports hero Bill Walton has been marvelous to behold. Believe me, having screen name "waltonisthebestever" here has not always been a recipient of good comments. But that has been true throughout my fan hood. I remember talking basketball during the 1977 Finals, and Bill referred to as "a big dumb hippie.". I bet my dad commented on his pony tail and poncho in Bill's rookie season.
If you have a sports hero, I wish you a season as a fan like I did in 1985-1986. After the injuries and the lack progress of the Clippers, to see Bill's goal of moving to the Celtics or Lakers club me true, have him play 80 games, score over 20 on the two starts he had, a key basket in a Finals win, and a second title, it was amazing.
Here are some other things that have rose to my "best ever" moniker.
--Bill's teams were undefeated for six years, from midway high school junior year until the 1974 loss in South Bend.
--I believe, he is only player to be Academic All American and basketball All American every varsity season.
--In addition to the 1973 championship game shooting 21/22, 3 field goals were wave off because of his hands in the cylinder during the no dunk era. Wooden said that in the Sunday practice that he sensed Walton was nervous, so Wooden allowed them to have a dunk contest, because Bill loved to dunk, and the it relaxed him.
--Many people challenge my best ever rating of Bill, but to me, leading the Blazers to a title at age 24 on an extremely young team with no other hall of famers is an unmatched accomplishment. In addition to the undefeated string of seasons.