RIP COACH WOODEN

I was honored to meet and photograph Coach Wooden back in t 2003 after the Angels won the World Series. He was a big baseball fan and had even thrown out the first pitch at one of the home games during the series. One of the writers at the Register set up a meeting with Mike Scioscia at Coach’s condo in LA. Meeting Coach Wooden was a dream assignment! At the time, I believe he was 93. His mind was sharp and he was a gracious host. I felt like I was about 12 years old getting to meet a legend!

The writer even brought his rabbi! So, the manager of the World Champion MLB team, a seasoned sports writer and his rabbi and a veteran photojournalist are all crammed into an Encino condominium all acting like a bunch of giddy school boys because we are in the presence of the JOHN WOODEN!

The walls are lined with every award known to mankind. There are little knick-knacks covering every open space in the living room. Things that have been accumulated from a very long and full life. Their are photos of his many grandchildren, too. There are no handlers are bodyguards, just the four of us.

He tells the reporter and Coach Scioscia about his love for baseball and how excited he is for the Angels. After about 30 minutes the interview ends and I begin setting up my lights for the photo session. I bring a basketball for Coach to use in the photo, so I asked him to sign it with really large lettering. He smiles and says, “You’re going to keep this right.?” I said, “You got me, Coach.” (I sent the ball to his biggest fan, my father-in-law, for safe keeping)

After the photo session, I realize that I am all alone with the Legend and it feels like I’m hanging out with my grandfather! He asks if I would like to see something and invites me into his office.

There are even more paintings and awards and baseballs crammed into his little office than you can imagine. He hands me his Pryamid of Success flyer and tells me that this is a blueprint for life. He tells me about his wife, Nell, and how he misses her.

A lifetime of achievements and all that really matters is his family. More wisdom from the Wizard of Westwood.
May he rest in peace!