Steven Seybold Portfolio Site

Photo: John W. McDonough/SI

I am deeply saddened by the passing of the great John Wooden. There has been so much said already by so many others about his values, his kindness, his teachings on and off the court that I don't think I need to go into that here. Everyone knows that his character was of the best kind.

I would like to take a moment to thank "Coach" for bringing me and so many other loyal fans so much joy in the decades we saw you. I would like to thank him for being so influential to people on and off the court. I will never forget meeting him as a freshman after waiting for what seemed like hours in the line outside Ackerman to shake his hand and ask him to please coach for us again :-) It is, to this day, one of the highlights of my time at UCLA. I will also never forget how UCLA fans lit up when he made an entrance at any of the games.  What a legend!

He will truly be missed by basketball fans and non-basketball fans alike. Thanks for all the memories Coach!