OT R.I.P. Bill Walton

[smw6230]

In the early 90s I use to run the floor with Walton on Saturday mornings at Muni gym (Balboa Park). He lived nearby and would often ride his bicycle down for early pickup games. He was genuinely one of the purest people I have ever meet. Always had a smile on his face. Loved to kid/rib on the court but in a humorous way. A great and colorful raconteur who could spin yarns for hours. He also was very smart and extremely well read. His knowledge of music (I was a musician), not only the dead, was vast.

Personally, I loved Walton on color commentary mainly because you NEVER knew what was going to come out of his mouth. He was completely unpredictable behind the mic. I know some didn't like his on-air tangents, I thought they were comedic gold that often went over the audiences head. For crying out loud the man once mentioned Austrian composer Franz Schubert in a basketball analogy .

San Diego is a little less sunny today b/c one of our cities great ambassadors has passed away. The Breen story of kindness is one of countless ones being told today about Walton. Doesn't surprise me in the least. That's who Bill Walton was. He was arguably the best big man ever but he was a better person off the court than he was on it.

The good news is the Big Redhead is hanging with Jerry Garcia now. Jerry is undoubtedly being entertained.

[Jeffrey]

I will always remember Bill Walton on NBA on NBC. Such a great personality, at the time I didn't get all of it. Watched those ESPN commentary and I didn't know how active Bill was into politics in the 60s/70s. It resonates to what is going today more than ever.

I'm sure he got his fair share of "experts" yelling how he should just shut up and dribble the ball.

RIP Bill Walton

[Adelheid]

RIP

[Clyde_Style]

Younger folks here should google "Bill Walton Patty Hearst"

A little historical sidebar you may find interesting

[nykballa2k4]

Watch on YouTube

[smw6230]

I will always remember Bill Walton on NBA on NBC. Such a great personality, at the time I didn't get all of it. Watched those ESPN commentary and I didn't know how active Bill was into politics in the 60s/70s. It resonates to what is going today more than ever.

I'm sure he got his fair share of "experts" yelling how he should just shut up and dribble the ball.

RIP Bill Walton

Walton was arguably more radical than Ali at the time. And for a white athlete that was saying something.

[Bob Ross]

This sucks. Bill and Marv on the NBA on NBC was a huge part of my young Fandom. I met him briefly one night after a game when i was like 12 or 13. He came walking out of the old parking garage outside at the Garden. He very willingly signed an autograph for me and was very kind

[Guano]

rip to a real one

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[CharlesOakley]

He was one of the most skilled big men who ever lived. He could shoot, pass, rebound and block with the best of them. If his career had not been ruined with foot injuries he might have ended up with a few more rings. You'll never convince me he was 6'11".

[smw6230]

He was one of the most skilled big men who ever lived. He could shoot, pass, rebound and block with the best of them. If his career had not been ruined with foot injuries he might have ended up with a few more rings. You'll never convince me he was 6'11".

He had Jokic's skillset 40yrs before Jokic. Only difference is unlike Joker Walton couldn't run the point. But if you rotated on him he passed out of it as well as any big that I've ever seen.

[HarthorneWingo]

He was one of the most skilled big men who ever lived. He could shoot, pass, rebound and block with the best of them. If his career had not been ruined with foot injuries he might have ended up with a few more rings. You'll never convince me he was 6'11".

When healthy, he may have been the most complete center to have ever played the game.

[HarthorneWingo]

He was one of the most skilled big men who ever lived. He could shoot, pass, rebound and block with the best of them. If his career had not been ruined with foot injuries he might have ended up with a few more rings. You'll never convince me he was 6'11".

He had Jokic's skillset 40yrs before Jokic. Only difference is unlike Joker Walton couldn't run the point. But if you rotated on him he passed out of it as well as any big that I've ever seen.

Not the only difference. Walton was an All-NBA defender. Jokic isn't.

If Walton had played in today's game, he could've done that too.

[HarthorneWingo]

Bill talks about the 36 orthopedic surgeries, The Grateful Dead, the Celtics, Wilt Chamberlain, his family and whatever else popped into his head.

Watch on YouTube

[thebuzzardman]

In the early 90s I use to run the floor with Walton on Saturday mornings at Muni gym (Balboa Park). He lived nearby and would often ride his bicycle down for early pickup games. He was genuinely one of the purest people I have ever meet. Always had a smile on his face. Loved to kid/rib on the court but in a humorous way. A great and colorful raconteur who could spin yarns for hours. He also was very smart and extremely well read. His knowledge of music (I was a musician), not only the dead, was vast.

Personally, I loved Walton on color commentary mainly because you NEVER knew what was going to come out of his mouth. He was completely unpredictable behind the mic. I know some didn't like his on-air tangents, I thought they were comedic gold that often went over the audiences head. For crying out loud the man once mentioned Austrian composer Franz Schubert in a basketball analogy .

San Diego is a little less sunny today b/c one of our cities great ambassadors has passed away. The Breen story of kindness is one of countless ones being told today about Walton. Doesn't surprise me in the least. That's who Bill Walton was. He was arguably the best big man ever but he was a better person off the court than he was on it.

The good news is the Big Redhead is hanging with Jerry Garcia now. Jerry is undoubtedly being entertained.

Thanks for this most excellent story

[thebuzzardman]

He was one of the most skilled big men who ever lived. He could shoot, pass, rebound and block with the best of them. If his career had not been ruined with foot injuries he might have ended up with a few more rings. You'll never convince me he was 6'11".

He had Jokic's skillset 40yrs before Jokic. Only difference is unlike Joker Walton couldn't run the point. But if you rotated on him he passed out of it as well as any big that I've ever seen.

Jokic takes the mantle as best passing big ever, and I saw enough of Walton.

Walton's defense though...

Jokic is GREAT. That Portland year, mostly healthy Walton though.

[MrDollarBills]

Guys, get your prostates checked regularly, as annoying as it might be. I know, I hate it too - but it saves lives.

This is true. Also, please tell Wingo that hiring Asian masseuses with a strap on doesn't count.

This jab right here is a worthy one in a thread honoring Bill Walton. I think the Big Man would have laughed at this

[MrDollarBills]

I will always remember Bill Walton on NBA on NBC. Such a great personality, at the time I didn't get all of it. Watched those ESPN commentary and I didn't know how active Bill was into politics in the 60s/70s. It resonates to what is going today more than ever.

I'm sure he got his fair share of "experts" yelling how he should just shut up and dribble the ball.

RIP Bill Walton

I always liked Walton, he was a huge part of my childhood because of the NBA on NBC, and didn't learn about Bill's political activism until I got older. The Big Man's heart was in the right place.

getting old sucks man.

[MrDollarBills]

Younger folks here should google "Bill Walton Patty Hearst"

A little historical sidebar you may find interesting

Since his college days, long before he met the Scotts, he refused to accept the role as the “great white hope” in a Black-dominated sport. Not only did he reject this position; he regularly highlighted the workings of white male privilege in press interviews. After his arrest at UCLA, he told sportswriter Billy Libby, “The Blacks have gotten a raw deal for a long time. A lot of my teammates are Black, and I really admire the way they’ve risen above their raw deal. They’re my friends and I feel for them. I know I’ve gotten twice as much as I deserve because I’m white.” He also told the startled sportswriter: “If a Black man gunned me down right now, I’d figure it was all right because of what whites have done to Blacks.”

Empathy, and kindness. Those are traits that a real man has.

Also, I hope Bill realized, and i am sure he did, that Black folks would put our arms around men like Bill before we'd ever want to harm them.

[Capn'O]

rip to a real one

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This is amazing

RIP to Mr. Walton. What a zest for life he had.

[Guano]

rip to a real one

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This is amazing

RIP to Mr. Walton. What a zest for life he had.

Saw this yesterday and what a great reminder on the importance of living a full life.

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