OT: John Wooden, 99, in grave condition

[buffhockey]

Reports: UCLA Bruins legend John Wooden, 99, gravely ill in hospital - ESPN Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES -- Former UCLA basketball coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden has been hospitalized in Los Angeles, according to Bill Walton.

The former UCLA star said Thursday night that the 99-year-old Wooden was at UCLA Medical Center, where Walton last visited with him two days ago.

Walton spoke at the NBA Finals, where he declined to comment on Wooden's condition.

"He's the greatest," said Walton, his voice catching, according to the Associated Press. "We love him."

Television station KCAL in Los Angeles first reported Wooden's hospitalization, and the Los Angeles Times confirmed it through school sources. Both outlets described his condition as "grave."

The former UCLA coach and Hall of Famer has been confined to a wheelchair after a series of minor health setbacks in recent years. He was hospitalized briefly a month ago and spent weeks in the hospital a year ago being treated for pneumonia.

UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins told the AP he spoke to a Wooden family member Thursday evening and the family asked that no other information about Wooden be released.

UCLA Medical Center spokeswoman Roxanne Moster said she couldn't confirm whether Wooden was there or not because it would be a "violation of medical privacy laws."

Family members couldn't be reached for comment Thursday by the AP.

Wooden led the Bruins to 10 NCAA championships -- at one time winning seven in a row -- during a 27-year run that ended with his team cutting down the nets one last time in 1975.

The Bruins won 88 consecutive games from 1971-74 and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games from 1964-74, both records.

NBA commissioner David Stern was asked about Wooden's contributions to the sport of basketball before Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

"We decided that we would not declare his obituary now, other than to say that he's the winningest coach in our history, four 30-0 seasons, and the ultimate aficionado of our game," Stern said. "We hope he's in peace right now, and we'll wait on events."

 

[naslundfan19]

Greatest college hoops coach ever, IMO.

 

[pixburgher66]

i think it's about his time now...suffering just isn't worth it. the man is a legend. by far one of the greatest coaches OAT.

 

[smo5039]

i say he holds out to the century mark. I mean, why not right?

 

[Gooch1034]

I think it was George Carlin who said something of the likes of reaching an old age is pretty much the goal so good for Wooden. When he passes, and anyone who lives a long life and dies of natural causes really is a situation where you want to celebrate their life when they die. Yea its sad that they have to go but he reached his goal and then some.

 

[naslundfan19]

RIP, Wizard

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

The man lived a life that most of us can only dream of.....RIP Mr. Wooden...