Posted on 05/27/2024 10:43:54 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Bill Walton, a former NBA MVP who then became a legendary broadcaster, died Monday following a battle with cancer, the league announced.
He was 71 years old.
“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement “… I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
To my eye, Walton looked unwell in recent years.
Same feeling I got when I watched Tiger Woods play in the recent Masters Tournament. Woods looked physically ill to me.
Woods looked reasonably healthy in the US Open, which was a month later. Perhaps I misjudged his earlier appearance?
I grew up in Vancouver, Washington during the late 60s and 70s. Trailblazer basketball was everything. RIP CITY was the call.
We were playing a pickup game at a local school one night and in walks the big Red Head! He joined right in and just played like he was one us. Nothing hi speed, didn’t try to dunk on us, would pass us the ball to make plays. Just having fun playing hoops.
I’ll never forget it.
Whoops...
U.S. Open?
I meant PGA Championship.
I still cannot get used to the idea that the PGA Championship is now played BEFORE the U.S. Open.
On top of that, I just watched a U.S. Open TV ad - so, it was front of mind!
My sister saw him at a small Neil Young concert in California a few years ago and sent me some pics. He was walking with two canes. Very kind to all that approached him. I’ll bet he got the jab though based on him being a lifetime mouthpiece for the mainstream culture.
As a lifelong Suns fan, I had the utmost respect for that 1977 Trailblazer team. They were like a perfect machine with their cuts and Walton dropping the pass to cutters. They also were not just deep, but had guys who almost exactly mimicked the players they replaced, such as Larry Steele. Swen Nater was a great center in his own right, but couldn’t beat out Walton.
All true. But one of the greatest games was the semi-final against NC State with David Thompson, who blocked one of Walton’s shots.
I remember watching that great UCLA/Notre Dame game where John Shumate out-dueled Walton to break UCLA’s 88 game win streak. Wow.
Supposedly, his diet contributed to his foot problems. By the time they figured it out, the damage was done.
About 20 years ago, I got the opportunity to hear Coach Wooden speak. He said that him and Walton talked once each week and although they always talked politics and mostly disagreed, they respected each other. That’s the America I miss!
IIRC, taller people don’t live as long as shorter people. Baseball players have good mortality, football players bad, lefties bad.
And it ended his life at 71
Yes
Rest In Peace, Bill...
Prostate has been mentioned though I am not sure if confirmed.
Morning radio said Colon Cancer
All true. But one of the greatest games was the semi-final against NC State with David Thompson, who blocked one of Walton’s shots.
DT, the original Skywalker.
“I remember watching that great UCLA/Notre Dame game where John Shumate out-dueled Walton to break UCLA’s 88 game win streak. Wow”
I do as well, I was about 15 at the time and was inconsolable after the loss.
As a Phoenix Suns fan, I was thrilled they drafted John Shumate. He played one really good year-—was on his way to being an all pro. Then he had blood clots in his lung. Typical Suns luck.
I still consider Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Suns to be the greatest game I’ve ever seen.
That was back in the day when they showed the games on tape delay.
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