When it comes to wisdom, John Wooden was tops. The only man of similar stature that comes to mind is Vin Scully. Tonight Vin announced Coach Wooden’s passing on the diamond vision at Dodger Stadium. He said Shakespeare put it best: "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world...this was a man."



Wooden Quotes and Unique Notes

John Wooden was 63 years old when Richard Nixon resigned the presidency. Richard Nixon was 62.

John Wooden was 40 years old during MIckey Mantle's 1951 rookie season.

“The worst things you can do for the ones you love are the things they could and should do for themselves"

"Happiness begins when selfishness ends."

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

"Be prepared and be honest."

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

"What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player."

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."

"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."

"I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent."

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

"It isn't what you do, but how you do it."

"Ability is a poor man's wealth."

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."

"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."

"It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it."

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

Magic vs. Bird, basketball isn’t the same today. Who knows why? Maybe today’s player don’t care as much. Maybe they play the game for different reasons. Maybe it takes a lot more that 25 years to make another rivalry with as much passion and personality as the one for which Magic and Bird were responsible.
The memory I have of the 1985 finals makes me feel like one of the old guys. It makes me feel like Billy Crystal saying how baseball was “just different” when Mickey Mantle used to roam center field in Yankee Stadium. Basketball was just different when Magic brought the ball up court. I was glued to his every move. I loved how he called out the plays and tutored his teammates during timeouts. His adversary Larry Bird was a living example of how a player could make the absolute most of his talent.
Now we are forced to watch people like Kevin Garnett. When Garnett holds the ball on offense there is a 80% chance he’s going to try to go 1-on-1 with his man. If he doesn’t score, about 60% of the time, he sulks or throws as many F-bombs as the refs can take. We have to watch Kobe, who doesn’t smile for the entire months of May and June. We’re supposed to respect that because he is, “so intense” because he “wants to win so bad”. Magic was intense, he beat the best (Bird) and he did it with a smile on his face. Best of all he had fun and people, like me, had fun watching.

My favorite columnist is Thomas L. Friedman. He always seems to have an idea of what the next big thing will be. This latest column struck me as the most forward thinking thing I've heard in a while. Its also bipartisan enough to be safe reading for all.

Today on the radio I heard that Glen Bell the founder of Taco Bell died recently at his home in Rancho Santa Fe. The article mentioned he began Taco Bell in San Bernardino CA in 1946. I remembered hearing that McDonald's started in the Inland Empire also and I've been to the first Del Taco in Barstow. Could this be a coincidence? After some investigation, I have come to find out that McDonald's created the fast food model. Born out of that model were all these other fast food chains. Turns out that Baker's and Der Wienerschnitzel were also founded in the area and based on the McDonald brother's fast food blueprint.

'09 was a diaper changing year for Brooke and Ryan. Although we made it to the cinema just twice, Its nice to know that we made good choices in the eyes of Golden Globe voters. I'm sure Julie and Julia was fan-frickentastic, but I found The Hangover to be funny and apparently I'm not the only one that thought so. Avatar on the other hand, was a unique experience and its nice to see it get recognized for that.

Two of may favorite things are coming together, 3D and World Cup Soccer. ESPN will be presenting some of the World Cup 2010 in 3D. Now hopefully DirecTV will start supporting 3D content as it is rumored it will.

This is why I am happy to tell people I was born and raised in Pasadena. All day at the Rose Bowl I overheard mid-westerners talking about how pretty it is here compared to their home which is buried in snow. Even the Oregon fans were jealous of the beautiful Arroyo Seco. When I took this picture, everyone with a camera was snapping away at the San Gabriel Mountains.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for being able to enjoy a round at Sonoma CC. Its my new favorite course in California. A beautiful layout in one of the most picturesque areas in the country, Sonoma CC is a classic design. It didn't hurt that I played well and that we had perfect weather. The picture here is from my cell phone and doesn't do this tract justice.

PS - I was also thankful to spend the second half of Thanksgiving with my family, especially the nub.

The other day I stumbled upon a brilliant recipe when prepping the menu for Gemma's party. It looked so good I decided to serve it to a big crowd without even trying it first! Everything worked out great and this one will be in my repertoire for years to come. This slaw travels well so it should come in handy on the summer time for picnics and potlucks. BTW - the site it was on is pretty rad too. Lots of good stuff, enjoy! Link