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He made great comments like 1. "Discipline yourself and others won't have to." 2. "The best way to improve your team is to improve yourself." 3."Respect every opponent but fear none." 4. "It is amazing how much we can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit." 5. "Be quick, but don't hurry." 6. "If you can't be on time, be early." 7. And later for parents: "The worst thing you can do for your children is that which they can and should do for themselves, and the best thing you can do for them is to love their mother." Who else teaches these things? Most important for me has been the "Pyramid of Success." This is an organized approach to competing and being involved in relationships. Success is not the attainment of wealth or political position as the Webster's dictionary defines it, but "a sense of peace that comes from knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming" – in sport or marriage or business or parenting. He spoke about characteristics of people represented in words like industriousness, enthusiasm, friendship, loyalty, self-control, skill, initiative, poise, confidence and a big one, faith. When my daughter Erin was diagnosed with cancer in 1988 at the age of nine, I used to pray every day on the way to the hospital. "God show me how to be the best father to this child, and the best husband I can be to my wife Karen." We worked hard as a family, my son Eric too. We were enthusiastic, we cooperated, we were loyal, we made decisions the best we could, and we had team spirit in that we tried our best for our son as well. And then we lost Erin at 12 years old. The loss was huge and hurts today, but in a way we felt we were successful because we played the game of life at the highest level. We gave everything we could give. It's just in that part of our journey the opponent was one we and science could not understand – yet. In my own battle with cancer, I have approached the fight with the idea that I will be the best patient I can be. I want to have peace about my effort to be a good husband and father, even though I could not contribute much at times. And I lost one of the most important parts of the Pyramid –faith. I had become very toxic from heavy chemo, and I called Coach to say, "I had lost my faith. I had no hope." Within a second, this wise man responded, "Be patient, your faith will return." Is this not counsel for a lifetime? For most of my life, I have been fortunate to surround myself with wonderfully talented people with character. Just five months ago, when I had lost my way again during my second transplant in three years, I needed help again. I was toxic from all the chemo, and I had no sense of purpose, existence, future, hope or spirit. I was totally confused. Things seamed senseless. My wife and best friend for almost 40 years, Karen, turned to me, without frowning and said, "But we have come so far, and we only have a little further to go." And it continued with the relationships I have had with my UCLA family – my coaches, Coach Wooden, Denny Crum and Gary Cunningham, Ducky Drake, my teammates and many other players around my era. You have meant everything to me as I have been in my fight for my life. The prayers, the emails, the letters, the phone calls, words of encouragement from all of you and of course my friends and family, many who are here tonight. All of you are the reason I'm able to be part of this induction ceremony. It makes me very happy to be here tonight. I love all of you. Let me finish with a graduate story about my most recent learning experience with Coach. Four of us, Andy and Janice Hill, my wife Karen and I were in Coach's office a couple of months ago, when he pulled out his Coach Wooden Sportsmanship Pledge. The pledge is on a business card. It states, "I'll be a good sport when I win or I lose. No whining, complaining, or making excuse. I'll always keep trying, 100 percent to give my best effort, in every event. This sportsmanship pledge will bring out my best." Coach Wooden has taught me, to be a success. Coach asked each of us to put our hands over our hearts and recite the pledge. Andy, Janice and Karen followed direction, and I remained stoic and watched the proceeding. When they finished, all four of them looked to me and asked, "Why didn't you recite the pledge?" I responded that it was very unlikely that any of us would live up to the pledge, and I did not want to be a hypocrite and make a statement I might not be able to live up to. All of us players have aches and pains, and we let out a little whine once in awhile. I don't think I can take this Cool-Aid. I like to think of myself as a "Fine whine." Janice, a psychotherapist, agreed that I had made a good point. We discussed and laughed with each other for 20 minutes about the problem and possibilities. I asked Coach, "How can I sign this"? He said, "John. There are no perfect people." I said, "I agree, but it doesn't say that in the pledge. However, if you and I can agree on that point, then I will put my hand over my heart and take the pledge." The following day, my wife and my wiener dog Dootle and I were walking on Big Corona Beach. Walking up the hill, I stubbed my big toe and it turned into a bloody mess. I said to Karen, "I think I'm going to let out a whine!" And I did. I went home, and I called Coach. I said, "Coach, it hasn't been 24 hours, and I have already violated the Sportsmanship Pledge." Coach responded, "Don't worry John, I've being trying to reach you for 35 years now, and I believe I'm finally making some headway." Thanks for such a special night.
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