I grew up in San Diego, Swen Nater the Clippers center was my neighbor. He called me up and said Bill Walton is coming over and we are going to shoot some hoops you want to come over? Bill couldn't have been nicer to a 16 year old kid. Sadly appropriate that he passed away at the same time his beloved Conference of Champions did. RIP BIG RED!
Thank you Bill Walton, for blessing us all on this Earth with the tremendous gift of your life, and always leaving wherever you went better than you found it! R.I.P.
Bill was part of my life before I knew basketball... he visited me in the UCLA hospital in 1974 when I was a little schnook, and ever since then I've thought of him as a friend. It's striking just how many people thought of him the same way... that is the hallmark of a genuinely wonderful, friendly, engaging human. As a third gen UCLA Bruin, he was a hero, far beyond all his basketball-related exploits. I remember walking into the Sports Arena back in the mid 90s, and entering through the loge, seeing Bill courtside next to Ralph Lawler, standing up as he announced because he was in so much pain. "BILLLLLLLLL!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, down into that half empty mausoleum, and he turned around, smiled, waved his arms, all while the ball was in play and he was speaking. It was wonderful and still makes me smile. Throw it down, big man.
Been out here in SoCal 33 years. Bill’s stories about Wooden, just always spell binding. Coach Wooden’s anecdotes even better. Never met these men in my life but you felt like you knew them.
As a young person Bill was the man. My quick summary of Bills career was simple. When Bill Walton was healthy his teams rarely lost. That's quite a stat.
Hard to imagine Bill Walton in a VW Jetta. Honestly I had mixed reactions to Bill. Never saw him as a player except a tiny bit on the Celtics who I hated. Thought he was overrated but then I saw his Blazers videos and realized he was a great pro pre injuries. Then post career as an NBA announcer he heralded Michael and Scottie as the best championship tandem ever and as a Bulls fan that was good enough for me lol. He was definitely entertaining. But his voluminous hyperbole was trying. To say the least. Then he went on to do PAC-10 games with Dave Pasch. Man. He put Pasch through the ringer. And you could tell Dave was a bit conservative and corporate and somewhat had it coming. But the condescending act he put on with Dave was again over the top at times. But yet it was entertaining. Bill Walton was the reason I watched some of those games. He reminded me of a teacher or a grandfather full of stories about people and events. Social movements. His memory was amazing and he liked to show off at times his retention of every personal detail of everyone he met like a kid showing off really. But he did love people you could see that. And that makes him a better man then me. For like George Carlin I find individuals one on one Ok but in groups they’re frighteningly ignorant and impressionable. Anyway for all his friendships and love of people and entertainment he gave us I’d say honestly Bill Walton was and is a great man. RIP Sir.
Of all the saddest words of tongue and pen/The saddest are these: What might have been. (Imagine what kind of a career Walton would have had if God hadn't cursed with glass feet.)
Some people mentioned Bill as GOAT. That was hilarious. Bill Walton is more like any another NBA average player. Just look his statistics. Not that great.
@@carrite Bill Walton was not that great player.Just look his statistics numbers. Not even close to great player. Just like any another average NBA player. Because of his personality He got all publicly not because He was great player. Just to mention few great players MJ, Larry, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Bill Russell, Cobi, Hakim Olajuwon, Magic, Kareem Abdul Jabar , DR J , Drexel Charles Barkley and many more.
I grew up in San Diego, Swen Nater the Clippers center was my neighbor. He called me up and said Bill Walton is coming over and we are going to shoot some hoops you want to come over? Bill couldn't have been nicer to a 16 year old kid. Sadly appropriate that he passed away at the same time his beloved Conference of Champions did. RIP BIG RED!
What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. The world is diminished by his passing.
Thank you Bill Walton, for blessing us all on this Earth with the tremendous gift of your life, and always leaving wherever you went better than you found it! R.I.P.
I met Bill walking out of a Neil Young concert I shook his hand and told him I enjoyed watching him play he will be missed😢
When not injured he was SCARY good! RIP.
Bill was a one-of-a-kind great guy. His passing is a huge loss for us all. He will be dearly missed.
I loved hearing Walton’s stream of consciousness when he called into the show. It always left me in a better mood for the day! Rest easy, Bill!
There will never be another Bill Walton
The world is a worse place without Bill Walton. Rest eternal and we love you forever Bill.
I’ve never been a B-ball fan, but have liked Bill since he was in college. Our hippie B-ball player.
Bill was part of my life before I knew basketball... he visited me in the UCLA hospital in 1974 when I was a little schnook, and ever since then I've thought of him as a friend. It's striking just how many people thought of him the same way... that is the hallmark of a genuinely wonderful, friendly, engaging human. As a third gen UCLA Bruin, he was a hero, far beyond all his basketball-related exploits. I remember walking into the Sports Arena back in the mid 90s, and entering through the loge, seeing Bill courtside next to Ralph Lawler, standing up as he announced because he was in so much pain. "BILLLLLLLLL!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, down into that half empty mausoleum, and he turned around, smiled, waved his arms, all while the ball was in play and he was speaking. It was wonderful and still makes me smile. Throw it down, big man.
Rest In Paradise Mr Bill Walton
It was an honor cooking for Bill after he called USC games, very humble!!!! Incredible person!!! Beautiful voice.
Been out here in SoCal 33 years. Bill’s stories about Wooden, just always spell binding. Coach Wooden’s anecdotes even better. Never met these men in my life but you felt like you knew them.
Salute, to the greatest 6foot11 Center of ALL TIME!!!
This was the best tribute I heard to Bill in the last 24 hours. Great Job Daniel! Godspeed Mr. Walton
The news hit me so hard.
My wife asked if he was a laker I said no he was just a beautiful soul
When those you don’t know tearfully come together with those who don’t know each other to mourn your passing, then your time on earth was not waste..
No underlying ulterior motives. He was a genuine person not acting a part or trying to be something he’s not.
As a young person Bill was the man. My quick summary of Bills career was simple. When Bill Walton was healthy his teams rarely lost. That's quite a stat.
I don’t think we should forget Pistol Pete. Bill was an inspiration! One of the Greatest Talkers known!
R.I.P. Bill Walton
Bill Walton refused to accept that this moment in time isn’t awesome.
The world is a far lesser place without Bill. Thanks for your comments Dan, you helped make a dark day a little brighter.
Hard to imagine Bill Walton in a VW Jetta. Honestly I had mixed reactions to Bill. Never saw him as a player except a tiny bit on the Celtics who I hated. Thought he was overrated but then I saw his Blazers videos and realized he was a great pro pre injuries. Then post career as an NBA announcer he heralded Michael and Scottie as the best championship tandem ever and as a Bulls fan that was good enough for me lol. He was definitely entertaining. But his voluminous hyperbole was trying. To say the least. Then he went on to do PAC-10 games with Dave Pasch. Man. He put Pasch through the ringer. And you could tell Dave was a bit conservative and corporate and somewhat had it coming. But the condescending act he put on with Dave was again over the top at times. But yet it was entertaining. Bill Walton was the reason I watched some of those games. He reminded me of a teacher or a grandfather full of stories about people and events. Social movements. His memory was amazing and he liked to show off at times his retention of every personal detail of everyone he met like a kid showing off really. But he did love people you could see that. And that makes him a better man then me. For like George Carlin I find individuals one on one Ok but in groups they’re frighteningly ignorant and impressionable. Anyway for all his friendships and love of people and entertainment he gave us I’d say honestly Bill Walton was and is a great man. RIP Sir.
Went to a number of classes at UCLA with Bill. Very grounded even then..
The redhead deadhead rest in peace 🙏 brother see you on the other side
Ambassador for Pac-10/12. RIP
Of all the saddest words of tongue and pen/The saddest are these: What might have been. (Imagine what kind of a career Walton would have had if God hadn't cursed with glass feet.)
To the Luckiest Guy in the World @ESPN 30 for 30 - Rest In Peace We will miss you 😢
Well said 😢
You got tunes!?! Awesome
RIP
Speak about WILT when you talk about centers. He was the GOAT!
I was wrong. I was thinking You mentioned Bill as GOAT. I agree with you Wilt Chamberlain was goat.
Some people mentioned Bill as GOAT. That was hilarious. Bill Walton is more like any another NBA average player. Just look his statistics. Not that great.
@@Fighterforjustice-l6y - Bill Walton was the Wayne Gretzky of big man passing...
@@carrite Bill Walton was not that great player.Just look his statistics numbers. Not even close to great player. Just like any another average NBA player. Because of his personality He got all publicly not because He was great player. Just to mention few great players MJ, Larry, Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Bill Russell, Cobi, Hakim Olajuwon, Magic, Kareem Abdul Jabar , DR J , Drexel Charles Barkley and many more.
Smle on the face? Of course Dem dan. Billy was Higher Than a Kite. Who wouldn't be.
RIP Bill Walton, probably the most famous Deadhead (and tallest, too).