A Modern Parable of The Prodigal Son

Lewis Alcinder and John Wooden

John Wooden and Bill Walton

John Wooden and Bill Walton

Kareem Abdul Jabbar and John Wooden




What can you say about people that you never knew? Never met? Only watched on TV? UCLA's dominance in college basketball paralleled the consciousness known as The '60s in American Culture~~~from 1967 to 1975~~~and the tale of two centers pictured above told the story. Both of these big men over the years revealed themselves to be philosophers at heart~~~and both had their lives touched by a man who became more like parent~~~than a coach. The preciousness of the unconditional love that they shared is obvious~~~even through the crassness of American Media and sports entertainment bent only upon winning and money. When you are young you really can't appreciate just how precious knowing a man such as John Wooden is~~~but it sinks in over time. It's The Pearl of Great Price~~~something that when you realize how rare it is~~~you will sell everything that you have just to possess it. Such character is a rare thing here in The Great American Spiritual Desert~~~but these two love stories have been obvious to see~~~even through the TV. And Bill? He was The Prodigal Son. He tested his coach~~~but Wooden never held it against him ~~~and the love that grew between them was something to behold. Walton went to visit Wooden three months before his death and when he walked into the room Wooden exclaimed: "Oh No. Not you again." I'm sure there was a twinkle in his eye and smile on his face when he said it~~~they had been close for years and Bill had even taken his children to visit his old coach so that they could see for themselves what he had told them about for years. "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." is the Wooden quote attributed to Walton. We all should be so lucky to have a man such as John Wooden in our lives~~~unconditional love is a rare thing in a world gone mad. It not only changes you~~~it truly saves you. And as for Kareem? We all know the prodigal son seems to get more attention~~~but just take a good look at the picture of the two of them holding hands. Love has no comparisons.