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Bill Walton had some doozies Thursday from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a rocking chair to Lute Olson being the 21st century version of John Wooden.
Bill Walton took on an entity of his own during the UCLA-Arizona game
After ESPN play-by-play guy Dave Pasch — who took some good-natured jabs at Walton — pointed out that UCLA was ranked 131st in the nation in rebound margin, Walton said: “Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is looking at that stat and is just spinning around in his rocking chair on his porch in Santa Monica.”
Walton said of Olson when the monitor showed the legendary Arizona coach in the stands: “Lute Olson is the 21st century version of John Wooden.” For the record, Olson coached most of his games in the 20th century, when Wooden coached the Bruins. Olson achieved 598 of his 781 career victories from 1973-1999.
Walton trended on Twitter during the UCLA-Arizona broadcast, won by his alma mater 84-73 over No. 6 Arizona at McKale Center. The reason for the trend was fans and media reacting to his unconventional color commentary during the ESPN2 broadcast. Arizona fans were especially annoyed. The Wildcats’ two losses this season — against Oregon and UCLA — have occurred when Walton was the color commentator with Pasch doing the play-by-play.
Pasch informed Walton that he was trending on Twitter. That was one moment in the game when Walton became silent. Pasch told Walton in jest that he does not care about about trending.
“I care about everything because I’m proud and I’m loyal,” Walton responded.
During the broadcast it became more obvious that Walton does not care about UCLA coach Ben Howland’s game management. He criticized Howland last week for calling too many timeouts and plays instead of just letting his talented players play.
Walton was openly critical of Howland’s usage of timeouts and substitution patterns Thursday night. He used the word “inexplicably” at least 10 times when referring to Howland sitting star freshman wing player Shabazz Muhammad early in the first half after Muhammad scored seven points.
“You’re taking him out?!” Walton exclaimed. “Goodness gracious. He’s played perfect! And he can’t be tired. He’s a teenager!”
Walton, a Hall of Fame player whose son Luke Walton played at Arizona, was also critical of UA coach Sean Miller and the Wildcats’ offensive execution.
“Wild! … Where’s the discipline? The structure? How does Arizona expect to win, please?” Walton said late in the game after an Arizona turnover that led to a UCLA basket.
Walton went so far as to say: “Sean Miller is a better coach than that.”
Finally — this blog could go another 50 paragraphs describing Walton’s commentary — Walton ended the broadcast by giving UCLA a lofty distinction. It was the Bruins’ first road victory against a ranked team in five years.
“This win for UCLA is one of the most impressive wins in the history of the program,” Walton proclaimed.
Wooden, who coached the Bruins to 10 national titles, might be spinning around in his grave over that one.
Site publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner
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Javier:
How about something more on Gabe York?
Lots of questions but no answers from the coaching staff. We all know he shoots lights out so what REALLY is the problem? No minutes? He can’t possibly be that bad that he rides the bench with Chol and the walk-ons.
Is there a chance that he stays after this year?
One more question: Given his defensive liabilities, could Steve Kerr play for Miller?
Miller is fiercely stubborn and will play his 8 man rotation regardless. Olson was similarly set in his ways but there wasn’t the sense of urgency that one sees with Miller. With Olson, he was content with developing the Sean Rooks and Jud Buechelers even as he was promoting the advancement of the Tom Tolberts and Sean Elliott’s. The Kerrs and the Loftons co-existed and thrived together, and we all enjoyed the ride. Miller to his credit right away has gone for, signed and is now playing exclusively the big name recruit, like a Jerrett and a Johnson, while putting on hold the in-game progress of a Chol and a York. It’s a gamble — for you can certainly count me amongst those who would hate to see the transfer of a Chol or a York without us seeing them reach their full potential in a Cat uni — Miller appears willing to take as he trys to fast-track the UA back to prominence. We shall see if it’s instead simply a case of mediocrity (no Tourney and a first round NIT exit vs. Bucknell in McKale) with flashes of relevance (No. 7 national ranking at 16-1, 4-1, pre-Whiteout washout).
And Javier, as with you and I’m sure many others, the Big Redhead may be a Deadhead (as in Jerry Garcia), but he sure as heck ain’t dead — on the air or otherwise. And for my money, that’s a good thing. A real good thing. He’s a man, TV-radio-paper analyst and historian of the game who gives credit where credit is due. His approach and delivery may be a little eccentric, but he’s earned the right to speak his mind. You can keep the phony, spit-shined homers in suits from Durham, NC, like Bilas and J Williams, and that one particular sweaty, slobbering bald guy who lives to give Duke it’s due and everyone else’s while he’s at it. I’ll gladly keep taking Luke’s Daddy’s take any day of the week.
there’s only 1 reason to play just 8 guys and that is its only if the other 2 guys cant play.
Vegas, I couldn’t agree with you more. Why sign a bundle of talent if you’re going to stifle competition and and development of that talent to the point of chasing a good portion of that talent away with poor player minute management? If you’re Chol or York where is the incentive to do better in practice, make the most of your minutes in the game, cheer your teammates on from the bench if all you see is unforced TOs, no hustle on defense or the boards and the unsuccessful, ill-advised launch of the 3 ball ad nauseum rewarded with more and more — and more — playing time? And more of the same results. Jerrett, Ashley and Tarczewski have had playing time pretty much handed to them with absolutely no consequences for their actions. I cannot believe Jerrett, in particular, was brought in to heave the 3 at will and, upon missing yet another one, letting his man score on an uncontested back door play or uncovered set-cock-and launch 3 point shot. Again. And again. And yet Miller keeps Angelo on the shortest leash known to mankind, not allowing him to make even one mistake without pulling him seconds later…and keeping him out of play the remainder of the game. What the hell is learned or accomplished by that?! That’s unconscienable. Period.
Miller’s credo is playing tough as in tough-minded. The only thing I can gather is a player earns his time in practice. Chol and York have not even played in some games where they could have been inserted. That to me means they’ve blown assignments in practice and have not graded as high as the three big freshmen (for Chol) and Jordin Mayes. The same thing happened to Daniel Bejarano. Miller said he might rest his starters more during games so they can have fresh legs. That has not happened. I can only think that Miller has not seen enough improvement in Chol and York in practice for them to help the team. That’s alarming.
Javier, with all due respect to Miller, what we were treated to on Thurdsay night was not tough-mindedness. My God, let’s hope how these guys played that game (and the UO game and even some of the games it won by a whisker) — a game with a chance to keep pace with Oregon and distance itself from UCLA and take care of the all so precious homecourt — is no indication of how any of these guys practice. I’d much rather have Miller’s ethics and moral compass guiding my team and program, no doubt, for let’s not Lexington or Louisville Tucson, please. And I’d rather have the leader of the team and program not think he was God’s gift to basketball and was placed, nose held high, in Durham (N.C.) or L.A., of all places, to lead the basketball world to Mecca. No thank you. But with two, possibly three Top 10 or 5 recruiting classe to his credit, one has to wonder why all this **** and ***** talent isn’t coming around, getting it, producing better, more consistently, sooner for Coach Miller. That is a fair question. A question Mr. Bill Walton would ask, no doubt.