Timely Words By Tony Cooke

When John Wooden coached men’s basketball at UCLA (he led the team to ten national championships), he was a stickler for details, and he was a very strong proponent of teamwork. He even taught his players the precise way to put on their socks and to tie their shoes to help prevent the formation of blisters. Wooden insisted that this would help keep the players healthy and on the court. Even when it came to putting on their socks and tying their shoes, Wooden was essentially saying, “We don’t do it that way; we do it this way.” One year, his star center, Bill Walton, decided that he did not want to observe Coach Wooden’s guidelines regarding hair. “You don’t have the right to tell me I have to wear my hair shorter and not have facial hair,” Walton told him. Coach Wooden responded, “You’re correct, Bill, I don’t have that right. I just have the right to determine who’s going to play. We’re going to miss you, Bill.” Walton immediately got a hair cut, shaved, and came directly back to practice. Today, many would