John Wooden, the respected UCLA basketball coach, expresses a critical view of the sport in the United States.
- Letter to a fan, from John Wooden (1910 - 2010), about his views on basketball.
- One page, in English.
- 21.1 cm x 27.6 cm.
- Los Angeles, California, undated.
- Excellent condition of conservation.
- Unique piece.
In this letter, John Wooden explains his main concerns for basketball: the sport is becoming increasingly physical, violent, spectacular and dependent on television, losing some of its essence.
Dear Mr. Eagle,
As far as my impressions of the amazing sport of Basketball go, I worry about a few things.
1. The game is being allowed to become too physical, which is taking away its beauty and elegance. 2. I deplore the insults. 3. In my opinion, there is too much showboating that has ended up damaging the team game. 4. There is no refereeing – walking, carrying the ball, etc. 5. As a result of television, much time is wasted outside of school. It is possible to watch a game at any time of the day or any day of the week. Players, coaches, and referees often become actors. Too many games are played.
However, TV revenue has (?) been the savior of many new profitable sports, including women's sports at most schools, and demand has been increasing.
John Wooden, UCLA (retired)
Excerpt from a text by volleyball coach Bernardinho about John Wooden
John Wooden is best known as the coach who led the UCLA basketball team to 88 consecutive wins and 10 national championships, seven of them in a row.
In Wooden's words, we see a man who prioritized character, common sense and integrity, dedicated himself to work, family and the fundamentals of basketball and became a reference in sport and in life, (...) a man who chose to be honest in all aspects of life.
My first contact with John Wooden occurred during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, when we won the silver medal. During those games, the Brazilian delegation was staying on the UCLA (University of California) campus. One day I was in the university bookstore and came across a book by Coach Wooden. From that moment on, I became a follower of Wooden and a great admirer of his ideas.
Always considered important and valuable, some of the opinions of the American basketball legend are set out by John Wooden himself in this unique document. This letter is an exceptional document on basketball and the sport in general.
