Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton IIIis an American retired basketball player and television sportscaster. Walton achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early 1970s, winning three successive College Player of the Year Awards, while leading the Bruins to two Division I national titles. He then went on to have a prominent career in the National Basketball Associationwhere he was a league Most Valuable Playerand won two NBA championships. His professional career was significantly hampered by multiple foot...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth5 November 1952
CityLa Mesa, CA
CountryUnited States of America
My life changed irrevocably four-and-a-half years ago when my spine failed and collapsed. I spent two years on the floor, in excruciating, debilitating and unrelenting pain. I can only describe the pain as being submerged into a vat of scalding acid that has an electric current running through it. And you can never get out, ever.
There is absolutely no way the best team in the NCAA could even dream of beating the worst team in the NBA? You're talking about men vs. boys.
Life is easy when you're hot. But what happens when the ball bounces the other way? You just keep getting back up and climbing up.
If the UCLA teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s were subjected to the kind of scrutiny (other schools) have been, UCLA would probably have to forfeit about eight national championships and be on probation for the next 100 years.
Chick Hearn was my favorite broadcaster ever - he's the one who taught me to think basketball, how to love basketball.
Tim Duncan's foot issue, I think, is a major factor in this year's playoffs. That's not the kind of injury that gets better over time playing NBA basketball.
I can think. I can sleep. I can move. I can ride my bike. I can dream.
I grew up in an non-athletic family, where my parents were interested in music, in literature, in education and art.
In basketball, you can be the greatest individual player in the world and still lose every game, because a team will always beat an individual.
I have nothing but respect for the Lakers. So many of their legends shaped who I am as a person and player.
Never rank, rate, or compare coaches, children, concerts, or championships or congratulations. Just enjoy them all.
I believe in science and evolution. I've been to the Grand Canyon.
The medical device tags that are being used [in the USA] are a terrible mistake. Why are we taxing people for trying to save lives and trying to make lives better, make peoples lives healthier? Those taxes should be placed on alcohol, tobacco, junk food, guns. Those are all the things that destroy health.
I have always wanted to be part of something special, and when I got to Boston.. actually, when I bought, begged and pleaded my way onto the Celtics.. it was already a championship team. I was just glad to be able to sit there and cheer and to be Larry Bird's valet, to be sure that his shoes were fine and his uniform was folded neatly.