John Wooden's 'Ultimate Championship', Part 2

Today marks the one year anniversary of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's death. Considered the greatest coach of all-time in team sports, Coach Wooden was much more than a leader of young men. He stood for something far more important: values, decency, and a tremendous love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Former UCLA player Andre McCarter, who played on Coach Wooden's last championship team in 1975, pays tribute to his mentor and lifelong friend.

Right before we were preparing to go to Coach’s memorial service I became hesitant about going. It had nothing to do with going to a public goodbye service for Coach but more about me not wanting to hear bits and pieces about Coach as a great man and nothing about the One who was the greatest influence and the true essence of the life he lived.

I knew in my heart I would not be able to not go to Coach’s final celebration of his graduation to heaven.

So there I was with former players and other UCLA players who didn’t play for Coach Wooden but came to the school with a hope and a dream to be the best. The Wooden family was represented by several generations, friends, celebrities from music, entertainment and sports, UCLA supporters fans and the media were all there on the floor and in the stands of Pauley Pavilion where it all took place. Several of Coach’s “Boys”, (Jamaal Wilkes, Keith Erickson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar), spoke graciously about Coach.

I did feel better when I heard Coach’s favorite songs playing, especially, “I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses and the voice I hear the Son of God discloses; He walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own.” Old and New Testament Bible scriptures were read, Al Michaels hosted, Vin Scully, UCLA’s current Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and Chancellor Young gave their view of the Coach and then a 20 minute video showing Coach’s life. 

Then it happened!

Coach Wooden’s Pastor for many years, Pastor Dudley Rutherford, appeared on the platform and told us of his first encounter with Coach Wooden that happened at his church. Many years ago Coach Wooden attended a church in Santa Monica, but because of earthquake damage the church was red tagged and closed.

Coach and his family were forced to find another church. One day Pastor Rutherford was standing outside his church greeting people and down the road a little ways he sees Coach Wooden. When Coach Wooden gets near Pastor Rutherford he asks him; “What are you doing here?” And with a stern face Coach Wooden answered “I am looking for a church!” Pastor Rutherford said that he felt like Coach Wooden was really saying; ‘What do you think I am doing here; if you’re the preacher get off the sidewalk, get in the church and preach!’

There is a reason and purpose for everything. This union many years ago was a divine appointment that brought us all to this point in time at Pauley Pavilion.

Once again just like that storm that led Coach Wooden to UCLA instead of the University of Minnesota, God was at it again, He led Coach Wooden to Pastor Rutherford and his church, Shepherd of the Hills for such a time as this; Coach’s homegoing in Pauley.

In the midst of Pauley Pavilion on the Neil and John Wooden Court Pastor Rutherford ushered in and delivered John Robert Wooden’s Ultimate Championship when he preached what was in Coach Wooden’s heart for all those on earth that he had taught, influenced, impacted, encountered briefly throughout his life. Christ Jesus crucified and risen on the third day a message of love, salvation, deliverance and eternal life in heaven or hell for all mankind. The presence of the Lord prevailed in Pauley Pavilion. Pastor Rutherford told us to roll up our program, like Coach did during games, and lift it to heaven and tell God,” Thank you for a good and faithful servant. I believe Jesus and Coach smiled down on Pauley Pavilion that day.

I believe that had Pastor Rutherford had an altar call for those who wanted to turn their lives over to Jesus just as Coach Wooden had there would have been many who would have come forth for salvation and deliverance from burdens and yokes on their lives. The fullness of who Coach Wooden was in his fullness had now been revealed.

That same pastor who had asked Coach Wooden years ago, “What are you doing here?” was bringing to light the fullness of the purpose of Coach Wooden coming to his church as a parishioner many years ago. Pastor Dudley delivered his sermon founded on the love and respect of Coach Wooden’s life. Having prayed with him I know he would have been pleased because he had been practicing all his life for the Ultimate Championship Victory in Jesus’ Name! Great Win Coach! I thought this was the end of my article, but then a detailed miracle happened that needs to be told.

Once again Pauley Pavilion would be overcome by the love of Jesus  which would be shed abroad throughout the gym like it was during Coach Wooden’s home going memorial service. A divinely orchestrated appointment was about to be made.

The favor, blessings and promises that God has for those like Coach Wooden who loved the Lord are unlimited and they revealed themselves once again at Pauley Pavilion.  When Coach Wooden planted his seeds of honor, integrity and the love of Jesus to his family, it was passed on as an inheritance for generations to come. Coach Wooden honored each day, hour, minute and second he spent in Pauley Pavilion while coaching teaching his student-athletes in games and even more diligently in practice where he felt the games were actually won.

But just as the Bible states in Ephesians 3:20 I will bless you abundantly, above and beyond all you can ask or think.

I am sure Coach Wooden was proud of his great grandson Tyler who tried out as a “walk-on” at UCLA, (a non-athletic scholarship student who plays on the team), and made the UCLA basketball team under Coach Ben Howland.

I had the opportunity to work with Tyler when he was a young boy. I was a camp coach/counselor at his uncle, Craig Implemen’s summer basketball camp.

Coach Wooden would always show up on the last day of camp. He would speak then sign autographs until every kid and their parent had everything they had brought for him to sign. Everyone left happy! Tyler was one who was always easy to coach at least for me. He was always eager to learn and was always trying to improve his game. Tyler loved playing basketball!

But there was a time, as the story goes, that one day Tyler was outside of his home shooting around having fun when his great granddad, John Wooden, decided he would help young Tyler with some tips on basketball. Unfortunately, for Coach Wooden, Tyler was not too impressed nor felt in need of PaPa’s, (as he is lovingly called by his family and others) help. Unfortunately for Tyler his Dad saw and heard the whole exchange. Paul, Tyler’s dad disciplined him and asked, “Do you know who Papa is? Well, he is one of the greatest basketball coaches of all-time. Papa knows a lot about basketball and you should listen to him because you may learn something.” And Tyler did, he met Coach Papa!

Tyler learned all about his Papa and began to try to live up to the principals, values and basketball wisdom his Papa imparted. Tyler loved, admired and honored his Papa by trying to be the best he could be as a basketball player and a young man. Tyler holds the baton of a rich legacy.