HOF Bill Walton Has Passed

UCLA’s wrong turn

All progress requires change … not all change is progress,

I’m Bill Walton,

I’m a California native, resident, engaged citizen, voter, and taxpayer,

I’m a product of California’s terrific public school systems,

I’m a proud UCLA alum,

I am not in favor of UCLA’s recent announced decision to leave the Pac-12 Conference of Champions, nor their desire to join the Big 10,

I don’t like this attempted move,

I don’t support it,

I hope it does not happen,

UCLA is a public school that is supposed to serve the interests of the State of California,

UCLA is one of the world’s greatest schools, and brands,

UCLA represents the best of what life has been, and can, could and should be,

UCLA has been as great and as important a part of my life as anything, ever,

I don’t believe that joining the Big 10 is in the best interest of UCLA, its students, its athletes, its alumni, its fans, the rest of the UC system, the State of California, or the world at large,

Some of the many reasons why I am opposed to UCLA’s attempted move to the Big 10 are, in no particular order:

the negative impact on the health, both physical and mental, of UCLA’s student-athletes,

the exponential increase in travel on UCLA’s student-athletes will hurt them physically, mentally, and in their overall lives,

the negative impact of the excessive travel will extend to families, friends, fans, alumni and everyone else,

the increased costs of joining the Big 10 will negate the projected increased revenue assumptions of this proposed move,

this proposed move to the Big 10 is contrary to UCLA’s and the entire UC System’s stated and professed environmental sustainability goals,

this proposed move to the Big 10 has serious negative implications and ramifications for the University of California, Berkeley

and flies in the face of the supposed team concept that has always been a part of the California Dream, plan and business model,

this proposed move to the Big 10, is all about football, and money,

what about all the other 24 sports and 600+student-athletes at UCLA, who are responsible for 99+% of UCLA’s National Championships,

how many of these “others” are represented and willing participants in this proposed deal,

I went to UCLA— gladly, willingly, and proudly,

it was my dream,

that dream never included the Big 10,

I have spoken to no one, other than the highest-level directors of athletics at UCLA, who think that this proposed move to the Big 10 is a good idea,

every argument made by these senior AD’s and why they like it, is about money,

these same proponents of moving to the Big 10, are the first people I have ever encountered in my life,

who have claimed economic hardship and limitations in Los Angeles,

and that the solution lies in the Midwest,

I have made my feelings known, privately, to the powers that be in the State of California, including the UC’s Board of Regents,

my hope and dream is that this proposed move by UCLA, my alma mater, will be rescinded,

Bill Walton, UCLA 1974
November 1, 2022

Some funny stuff here from his broadcast partner, Dave Pasch.

One of the little things I loved about Walton doing P12 games is that he'd talk about a player and somehow in a span of 30 seconds, he will tell you the occupation of the kid's parents, how long mom worked at the hospital (then say some kind words about how underappreciated nurses are). drop the name of the kid's HS coach and school mascot and then slip in that he knows the owner of a pizza place in the kid's hometown.   

I'll miss that.

Let's hope that Bill and Coach Wooden can influence the 'powers that be' in the afterlife to make things right again! 

I think you will enjoy Kerry Eggers excellent (and long) article on Bill:

Big Red is gone

I don't recall being this sad about a celebrity dying since Ray Charles.

Bill Walton was a contemporary, born the same year as me. I was at OSU when he played at UCLA. I remember the first time ever hearing his name. There was some discussion about the Beavers landing Steve Erickson out of Beaverton (who defeated my Churchill Lancers in the state playoffs). Somebody mentioned that UCLA was bringing in some guy named Bill Walton, who might just be better.

It was always a huge deal when the Bruins came to town, and even more so in Walton's days. I chuckle when I think about the pep band singing "Won't you go home, Bill Walton, won't you go home?"

Of course, his last visit was the most memorable of all. The Lost Weekend. George "Ice T" Tucker.

I thought he was a terrific announcer, always with so many great things to say about Oregon. Now that I think about it, I don't recall ever saying a bad thing about anything (the letter posted above excepted.)

I'll miss him.