John Wooden 1910-2010
•
John Wooden has,
on this 4th day of June,
in the year 2010
left this mortal realm
after 99 years
of untiring service
impeccable wisdom
and great love
a man of balance
and spiritual depth
such as John
comes so seldom
it must be seriously considered
that this world
has lost
one of its special angels
and that the warmth
and the stability
of humankind
may in fact
suffer consequence
I shed not a tear
for John
he needs no pity
it is for the rest of us
that I heartily cry
the following
are the immortal words
of a great and profoundly humble man
gather close
and hear
•
a mentor is someone
who can give correction
without causing resentment
ability is a poor man’s wealth
adversity is the state
in which man
most 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
it is amazing
how much can be accomplished
if no one cares
who gets the credit
although there is no progress
without change
not all change is progress
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
failure is not fatal
but failure to change
might be
ability may get you to the top
but it takes character
to keep you there
listen
if you want to be heard
never make excuses
your friends don’t need them
and your foes won’t believe them
failing to plan
is planning to fail
if you don’t have time
to do it right
when will you have time
to do it over
there is nothing stronger
than gentleness
the true test
of a man’s character
is what he does
when no one is watching
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
it’s not so important
who starts the game
but who finishes it
don’t let yesterday
take up too much of today
make every day
your masterpiece
it’s the little details
that are vital
little things
make big things happen
it’s what you learn
after you know it all
that counts
players with fight
never lose a game
they just run out of time
material possessions
winning scores
and great reputations
are meaningless
in the eyes of the lord
because he knows
what we really are
and that is all that matters
never mistake activity
for achievement
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
success
is peace of mind
which is a direct result
of self-satisfaction
in knowing
you did your best
to become the best
you are capable
of becoming
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
the worst thing
about new books
is that they keep us
from reading the old ones
there are many things
that are essential
to arriving
at true peace of mind
and one of the most important
is faith
which cannot be acquired
without prayer
things turn out best
for the people
who make the best
of the way things turn out
what you are
as a person
is far more important
that what you are
as a basketball player
young people need models
not critics
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
• • •
words by: John Wooden 1910 – 2010
opening by: rob kistner © 2010
Your words are beautiful, and the words of your unforgettable man are truly unforgettable. Where did you find them?
ViV
Too bad coaches aren’t like John anymore. He will be missed.
Hi ViV – I have a small collection of John’s wonderful words of wisdom that I have assembled over the years. He was a special soul, and he will be missed… 🙁
Jane – John was a life mentor, and that requires great wisdom and a special soul — not many of those come along. I believe, if there are angels, he was one…
He will be missed… 🙁
He was something, wasn’t he?
A homage with his own words is perhaps the best and only.
You might enjoy this:
http://blog.ted.com/2010/06/remembering_joh.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TEDBlog+%28TEDBlog%29
nice poem Rob…i will pass your poem on to a friend of mine up here. He went to UCLA in late 60s…had a class with Lew A and of course a huge fan of Bruins and Wooden…..a sad week for me and my two daughters….their mother….my ex wife had a horrible..fatal accident on Monday…she got thrown from a horse and severely cracked her head…everyone is devastated….a great quote of Mr wooden…BE PREPARED AND BE HONEST…is very applicable to my ex wife …she was extremely honest….and I guess a reminder to be prepared for it all…..this really truly did BLIND SIDE all of us an really not prepared…..anyways…great poem Rob and thanks for sharing
Wayne – I am so very sorry to hear this terrible news. You and your daughters are in my thoughts tonight. There is never a way to be prepared for such a thing, I can only hope that the day will come soon when peace and healing finds its way into your, and your daughter’s hearts.
Rob, This is an amazing tribute. To have had the foresight and thoughtfulness to record all of your mentor’s comments and great advice over the years… you are truly blessed to have had John in your life. I spent years in Sta. Monica (including playing the Troubadour backing Rickie Lee Jones before she got signed by Warners, etc.).
A mentor is a blessing, always, and I try to mentor young singers and teens in general on the “big bad world,” whether it’s Da Biz or talking frankly about what the real world holds in store for them.
Are you still in LA? I’m traveling cross-country (live near Buffalo) in August to meet up with other fellow performers from the old Great American and Poppy Star. Also seeing my daughter, an amazing artist and drummer, confirmed Californian.
Let me know via email:
amy@amybarlowmusic.com
Would love to meet up.
I’m familiar with a lot of these quotes, but not with the man.
Years ago I knew someone who always said ‘Show me someone who never made a mistake and I’ll show you someone who never made anything’ – must have come from JW.
Truly pearls of wisdom. Thanks for sharing Rob..
Beautiful words, Rob. He was a legend. RIP.
A beautiful mind. Thank you. May he rest in peace.
Hi Amy –
John was not a direct personal mentor, he was a mentor in the big picture of life, for anyone who wished to embrace his bounty of wisdom. Being involved year after year in sports during his era — I was one who allowed his insight to touch my life…
I am on the west coast, but in Oregon, not California. I spent some of the best of my career years in the Bay Area of NorCal, as a member of the George Lucas team. My offices were on Skywalker Ranch — an amazing place, a remarkable time…
…rob 😉
I’m not a sports fan, and I barely knew John Wooden. But, your eulogy made me want to know him, Rob. I could tell from your words that you greatly admired this man, and I’m sorry for your loss. Well done.
So very beautiful..
incomplete yet so replete
help me rewrite Greek tragedies
This is a beautiful tribute, Rob. I love your introduction, and bookmarked this page for quick access to some of Wooden’s aphorisms.
Some of these will be good prompts for quick write journal responses in my classroom.
Well done, and thanks for the inspiration.
I hadn’t really heard of John Wooden until he passed away, but it is was obvious by the news coverage that he was a well respected man in his field and out of his field. Your poem was a wonderful tribute, and it did help me get to know him better.
http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2010/06/bangkok-on-kings-birthday.html
Wow. I’m impressed not only with your poem but with all your quotations from the Wizard as well. Very impressive! Thank you!
Rob, a fitting poem for such a great man. With your permission, I would like to read your poem to my students next fall. Thank you for acknowledging such an amazing human being, and for sharing with us some of his wisdom.
Yes Mr. Walker, you have my permission to read my poem, “Words of the Wizard” to your students next fall. Thank you for asking… 😉