Bill Walton was a life force like no other. He also happened to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but that was secondary to the fact that he was one of the greatest people of all time.
I’ve lived in Los Angeles all my life and been surrounded by some of the most famous people in the world, and in all my time here I have never seen such a talented person, so generous of spirit, so giving of his time, so genuinely interested in to be kind to everyone he met.
Having attended countless UCLA basketball games, I have personally witnessed Bill lingering for hours after each game to ensure that every autograph, every photo, and every interaction with every fan received his full attention.
How ironic then that his favorite band was The Grateful Dead, when it was so obvious that he was always so grateful to be alive.
Willem David Steen
Beverly Hills
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I have been watching basketball for over 50 years and without a doubt Bill Walton played the game with more enthusiasm than any other player I have ever seen. I wasn’t crazy about Bill’s broadcasting style, but Bill was the best NCAA player I’ve ever seen, with Lew Alcindor, who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a close second. Like Bill’s UCLA teammate, Greg Lee, Bill left us far too soon.
Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood
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Whether he was feuding with John Wooden over his long hair, participating in anti-war protests in Vietnam, or extolling the virtues of the Pac-12 as the “Conference of Champions,” the gregarious Bill Walton was so much more than a legendary basketball player. Now the tall redhead moves upstairs and shares his love of UCLA and the Grateful Dead, while challenging anyone who dares to test their knowledge on virtually any subject imaginable to a game of Trivial Pursuit. Rest in peace, big guy. You will be missed.
Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates
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For four days in a row, six years in a row, I was fortunate enough to enjoy the company of Bill Walton at Byron Scott’s Adult Fantasy Basketball Camp. Bill was always hilarious, friendly, enthusiastic and generous. During two camps, he opened his house to campers, which was something of a shrine to basketball and the Grateful Dead.
That Walton’s NBA dominance lasted only a few seasons due to injuries does not diminish his greatness or the skill with which he played. He was exciting to watch. That Bill overcame his stutter and became an insightful and entertaining presenter is a testament to his work ethic and perseverance.
I am saddened to hear of his passing, but he will live on with all who saw him play or heard his broadcasts.
Ray McKown
Torrance
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In the fifty years since Bill Walton graduated from UCLA, much has changed in college sports. Bill was a highly recruited high school player who chose UCLA because it was his lifelong dream to play for the Bruins and Coach Wooden. Another school couldn’t wave millions of dollars in NIL money to influence its decision (yes, there was Sam Gilbert in the background looking after the UCLA players). He was not allowed to play on the varsity team as a freshman. Today, Bill would be a ‘one and done’ player and his retired uniform wouldn’t be hanging in Pauley. Now the greats leave after a year, so will there ever be another player whose uniform is retired and hung up in Pauley?
Charles Yacoobian
Valencia
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Bill Walton became known as a broadcaster for his famously unhinged, chaotic talk (which could simultaneously have everything to do with basketball and nothing at all). His matches were seen as a loud and unapologetic shilling to the Conference of Champions, so while he is saddened by his untimely passing, it only seems right that he will never know a world without the Pac-12.
Steve Ross
Carmel
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I had the amazing fortune of growing up in the era of the UCLA basketball dynasty. Lew Alcindor, Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Jamaal Wilkes, Gail Goodrich, Marques Johnson and my favorite player, Bill Walton, the best center I have ever seen.
I was incredibly fortunate to grow up listening to the likes of Vin Scully, Dick Enberg, Chick Hearn and other legendary announcers. But perhaps my favorite broadcaster was that same Bill Walton. He was obnoxious, loud, daring, outrageous, and talk about exaggerations! But you couldn’t help but love him. You loved his banter; you loved his sarcasm; you loved his enthusiasm… and you loved his undying, genuine and infectious love for the game.
I miss Scully. I miss Hearn. And I already miss Walton – the All-American and All-Pro basketball player, announcer and human being.
Steve Kaye
Oro Valley, Ariz.
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The loss of the ‘Grateful Red’, which I saw on tape delay on KTLA on so many lonely nights in LA, was a shock to all of us who admired Bill Walton. I saw Bill play several times, but my memories today are of seeing him happily bicycling through Westwood Village, adjacent to UCLA.
I can only imagine Coach Wooden greeting Bill at the Pearly Gates, welcoming him, but first insisting on a haircut and a shave.
Mike Anderson
Sherman Oaks
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Don’t worry, after two weeks in heaven, an exhausted God will return Bill Walton to his post at the court, where he will continue to ignore games and share his vision of the universe.
Mario Valvo
Ventura
Respect to Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts didn’t get enough attention after the Dodgers’ fifth straight loss on May 26 when he made a mound visit, not to pull a pitcher, but to hug one, wrapping his arms around Yohan Ramirez for an extended period of time hit and encouraged the pitcher that he can pitch. I’ve never seen that happen to a manager. Despite all the criticism of Roberts and his management decisions, that gesture of humanity has aroused my respect for Roberts the man. With the Dodgers trailing 4-0 with one final at-bat in the top of the ninth, Roberts’ focus was not on the outcome of the game, but on the emotions of one of his players. Remarkable.
Brian Crosby
Burbank
Where is the good will?
You printed a letter in response to my letter about the Sparks raising ticket prices by over 500% on the $20 tickets for the Fever/Sparks game. In this letter, the writer said that I called Sparks’ increase in ticket prices “socialism.” For the record, I didn’t use that word and that wasn’t my point.
My point was that even if a sports team claims to be helping and considering those on fixed incomes by offering affordable tickets to games… that if the opportunity arises, the sports team would throw that goodwill out the window to make a… earn extra dollars. In a sold-out game with 19,000 people… do you think the Sparks could have stayed true to their mission and kept a few hundred tickets at the regular price of $20?
Steve Shavel
Woody hills
Clippers make the right decision
Hats off to the Clippers for being smart business people by signing Tyronn Lue to a long-term, big-money contract, ending any rumors or chances of Lue going to the Lakers. Clippers 1 (won) Lakers 0.
Russell Morgan
Carson
Missed call?
Rumor has it that MLB tried to call beleaguered umpire Ángel Hernández about his impending “retirement,” but he missed the call.
Steve Ross
Carmel
Machines taking over?
So it turns out that MLB won’t be using an automated strike zone by the 2025 season. It looks like the Astros will have to wait another year before hacking the system.
Joe Kevany
Put on Washington
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
