Nice job John. I had some contact with Walton when he was playing for Portland, especially the year they beat the Sixers to win the NBA title. He was not the gregarious, entertaining person he became with a microphone in his hand. A great player whose injuries kept him from leaving a greater legacy but so much like Troy Aikman and Tom Brady, guys who could be prickly with the media, then have so much to say when their career is over and they no longer have to mince their words.
Thank you, sir. I guess what made Walton different from those other guys is that he really was uncomfortable speaking publicly until he beat the stutter. And, of course, there was that typical thing where UCLA shielded him, the way Georgetown shielded Patrick Ewing. (I found that really frustrating because John Thomas used to argue that Ewing was much more than just a basketball player and we ought to write about him as a person.) And, of course, for years Ewing's "answer" to any question was, "Could you repeat that question?" And then not answer.
Thank you, Fred. Though I sorta failed as a reporter on that old trip, it gave me a little insight as far as not jumping to conclusions about a famous fellow, or feeling singled out as an enemy of the sporting press. Can't remember if it was Russell Baker who said that, instead of going to journalism school, the way to learn about the job was to wait outside some important person's office for two hours, then have his secretary tell you, "He has no comment."
Nice job John. I had some contact with Walton when he was playing for Portland, especially the year they beat the Sixers to win the NBA title. He was not the gregarious, entertaining person he became with a microphone in his hand. A great player whose injuries kept him from leaving a greater legacy but so much like Troy Aikman and Tom Brady, guys who could be prickly with the media, then have so much to say when their career is over and they no longer have to mince their words.
Thank you, sir. I guess what made Walton different from those other guys is that he really was uncomfortable speaking publicly until he beat the stutter. And, of course, there was that typical thing where UCLA shielded him, the way Georgetown shielded Patrick Ewing. (I found that really frustrating because John Thomas used to argue that Ewing was much more than just a basketball player and we ought to write about him as a person.) And, of course, for years Ewing's "answer" to any question was, "Could you repeat that question?" And then not answer.
One of the best Walton appreciations I've read, John. Sleight-of-hand passer. Nice. /fb
Thank you, Fred. Though I sorta failed as a reporter on that old trip, it gave me a little insight as far as not jumping to conclusions about a famous fellow, or feeling singled out as an enemy of the sporting press. Can't remember if it was Russell Baker who said that, instead of going to journalism school, the way to learn about the job was to wait outside some important person's office for two hours, then have his secretary tell you, "He has no comment."