Coach John Wooden Honored at L.A. Coliseum Ceremony

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA Coach John R. Wooden on Tuesday was inducted into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum's Court of Honor.

Wooden, making his first public appearance since he was hospitalized earlier this year, is the first basketball figure ever bestowed the honor.

Though the 97-year-old Wooden arrived in a wheelchair, he was in good humor. "You think I'll be able to fly out of here when I leave?" Wooden joked, referring to all the praise directed his way.

Ben Howland, Dan Guerrero, Chancellor Gene Block, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were among local dignitaries and former UCLA players at the ceremony. Legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully was also present.

Scully called Wooden "a genius in his ability to inspire." Abdul-Jabbar summed up the feelings of those present to honor Wooden: "We love you, Coach."

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said, "Of everyone at UCLA, John Wooden's name is the best known nationwide. He produced not just good players but good people."

Wooden said he was honored that his plaque was being added alongside Scully's and those of athletes who starred in the Coliseum and adjacent Sports Arena. "I can't understand why a basketball guy would be here ... [but] that's fine."

Coliseum Commission president David Israel called it appropriate that Wooden became the first 'basketball guy" in the Court of honor. "He's John Wooden," Israel said. "USC's baseketball team played here from 1959 to '06, but there wasn't an SC basketball coach we would consider."

UCLA played at the Sports Arena from 1959 until 1965 then moved to Pauley Pavilion.

(photo credit: AP)

Comments

[BruinFan]

Howland's DYNASTY is a result of this guy, Coach WOOOOOOOOOOODEN

AS a young buck, it is wise to open your ears, your eyes and speak when necessary.....

Getcha season tix

Hey Mr. Morgan....I have some models waiting for you...come on over....

Hey Mr. Stephenson...it would be worth the wait IF u have to sit out a year.....

Hey Dragovic - two words all summer:
"defensive stance" ...do squats bro

U-C-L-A

[Super Cool Me]

Uhhhh... about time.

[jake]

Just curious if Kevin Love was in attendance - anybody?

The answer would be... NO.

[Scarry Larry]

Ok folks... it's almost over. We find out tomorrow. Heard rumors that Morgan has scheduled an announcement for Thursday morning.

[JD]

Heard the same. Rivals announcing Morgan has a press conference scheduled tomorrow 12N at his Texas high school!

[BruinFan]

Press Conference....to announce UCLA?
If not, I'm not working...I am going straight to the bar...my life depends on Mr. Morgan...

-Die hard

Uh oh... heard there's gonna be a "surprise" at Morgan's annoucement. Rumor has it that Kansas has MADE a BIG push.

[BruinFan]

fingers crossed
He'd be a fool to go the Midwest...

[1&done]

I hope todays press telegram report is accurate. My life is riding on this too BruinFan! Here it is below!

Texas prep star to choose UCLA
By Brian Dohn, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/22/2008 12:00:00 AM PDT

UCLA's already stellar recruiting class will get a lift when former LSU signee J'mison Morgan announces he will join the Bruins' class during a news conference today in Dallas, Morgan's mother said.

Bianca Morgan reiterated Wednesday night what she told the Daily News last week, which was that her son, a highly touted center from South Oak Cliff High in Dallas, was going to attend UCLA in the fall.

J'mison Morgan has a news conference scheduled at noon today in Dallas (10 a.m. PDT) to make the announcement. When asked if he was still planning on attending UCLA, Bianca Morgan said, "yes." She added her son was also looking at Kansas and Cincinnati, but it would take an unforeseen change of heart for him to pick one of those schools.

Two weeks ago Morgan's brother, Ronnie, told the Daily News that J'mison was "planning for sure to attend UCLA next year." When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Morgan's high school coach, James Mays, was asked if Morgan changed his mind about attending UCLA, and said, "Not that I know of."

Morgan was released from his national letter of intent last week, but Bianca said UCLA still has not received the release. That will be faxed to the school today, she said.

Morgan cannot sign another letter of intent. Instead, he can sign scholarship papers, which binds a school to a player, but allows a player to change his mind until he attends a class.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[JackB]

Just read the Morgan pressor was rescheduled to next Monday. Time to worry???

JB

[BruinFan]

I am having a heart attack....
I need to know where u getcha info....

[BruinFan]

positive thoughts...hope the post above about Monday is b.s.

[bruin66]

Martin Luther King was a Bruin fan. Speaking on campus aginst segregation back in 1963, he said he dreamed of a nation united like the UCLA varsity where Goodrich passed to Hazzard to Erickson to Slaughter to Hirsh (... to Washington to McIntosh) - the great man named the entire lineup alternating black and white.

A great tribute to our tradition.

[slayerella]

The post about moving the press conference to Monday came from Brian Dohn at his LA Daily News blog. This wishy-washy stuff feels shady, truth be told. Not sure I like it much. Even if Morgan annouces UCLA, he can still back out until he enrolls in classes and the earliest he can do that is August. Which means he'll have two months to dither still, if he wants.

Back on topic -- what a great tribute to Wooden! Watched the video at the LA Times Bruins blog. Looking forward to seeing he & Scully on June 13 at Nokia Center.

[1&done]

Looks like it's not b.s. BruinFan. Looks like it is delayed to Monday(Memorial day?) I may need therapy now man! Here's the Dailey Breeze blog.

Morgan's delay
By Brian Dohn on May 22, 2008 10:11 AM | Permalink |
Just got to my computer and wanted to let you know that J'mison Morgan did not have a press conference today, and it is now scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. pacific. I am told the school of choice, as of now, remains UCLA.
Of course, Monday is Memorial Day, so we shall see if it happens then.

Not looking good everyone. If everyone knows he's going to UCLA, why doesn't he JUST COME OUT ALREADY AND SAY SO? The fact that he postponed this announcement only can mean one thing - that he is UNSURE about UCLA. Who would ever question this?? It's a NO BRAINER...

[slayerella]

The latest from Dohn's blog is this:

And More Morgan
By Brian Dohn on May 22, 2008 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | ShareThis

Let me preface this post by saying in the world of blogging, new information becomes available by the hour, and sometimes there isn't a seamless meshing with something reported earlier.
That said, I bring you another update from J'mison Morgan's South Oak Cliff (Dallas) High basketball coach, James Mays, who said the target date for an announcement is Friday, but it may wait until Monday.
"It's scheduled for tomorrow around 12 o'clock,'' Mays said. "He had some things going on today, which is why it was delayed."
So what happened to AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell saying the press conference would be Monday?
"He's got some stuff (senior awards for graduation) going on tomorrow, but we're going to try and do it right after the senior awards program,'' Mays said. "There's a chance (it could be pushed to Monday), but we're shooting for tomorrow.''
So, is he still going to choose UCLA?
"At this point, yes, he is,'' said Mays, who added he spoke with Morgan in the last 14 hours about the change.

[BruinFan]

Pull up to your local pizza parlor and annouce already!!

[1&done]

"Bobo" Morgan is looking more like "Dodo" Morgan. It's obvious this guy's very unsure of himself. Uh.... Kansas(bad weather,weak chicks & warm beer) or UCLA(great weather,hot chicks & ice cold beer? That's a tough decision???

[Bruin Basketball Report]

I wouldn't be too concerned just yet about Morgan's recruitment.

No confirmation here - just a hypothesis, but perhaps UCLA may have requested Morgan to put off his decision until Monday since the school may not have received his LOI release papers from LSU. UCLA can not comment on Morgan nor offer a grant-in-aid until it receives the release papers.

I suggest everyone just chill, stop calling our recruit names, and simply have a restful Memorial weekend.

- BBR

[1&done]

Sorry for my negative comments BBR, I'll chill now w/some cold ones!

[BruinFan]

BBR, will you help me host a party at Westwood Brew Co for the signing of Morgan???

Thanks...shoot me a personal email....

[barry]

I was at the event and it was very special. As to basketball players in attendance. the only players at the event were Kareen, Keith Erickson, and Rafer Johnson, who I believe did play. I was somewhat surprised by the scarcity of former players, who had played for coach, as well as any former UCLA players, period

[barry1817]

Morgan signing, or not signing.

It is just a sign of the times when a high school athlete needs to call a press conference to say where he is going to school.

And the media perpetuates this by bringing the cameras and microphones.

As to waiting with baited breath, he either signs or he doesn't, in the grand scheme of things it is like taping an event and I'll watch it later without the commercial interuptions.

[Bruin Basketball Report]

No problem 1&done, you're a solid contributor to the site. However, you might be surprised by who (i.e. players, recruits, etc) visits the site.

BF, you're the party man, I'll leave it to you to organize Morgan's signing party.

- BBR

[BruinFan]

Bruin Nation - Westwood Brew or Q's
when Mr. Morgan signs...
I am currently in negotiations as to who can offer a better deal....
I'll provide wristbands or have a code word/phrase....to get drink discounts....
basically, I'll make it happen.....
but give me 1 week or two depending on when he signs....BBR will assist me....cuz he's the man w/ a plan....
gotta go...off to LAX at 4:30am..Ta HO baby

Morgan, if you're reading this... ANNOUNCE UCLA! You know it's the best school for you and will do the best to push you onto the NBA in the future.

[1&done]

Count me in at either location BruinFan! We are so fortunate to have Howland as our coach and bruinbasketballreport as our home for reliable up to date Bruin hoop news! Also, I forgot to mention major props goes out to BBR's KS Wong...aka "the Bruin insider"!!!

[1&done]

Fab 5 baby!!! Here's the latest Brian Dohn(Dailey Breeze) blog!

Morgan announces...
By Brian Dohn on May 23, 2008 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | ShareThis
I just got off the phone with J'mison Morgan, and he told me he just announced he is going to attend UCLA. He said the release has been sent to UCLA and he will speak with coach Ben Howland in a little while.
Morgan said he will arrive on campus in late June and begin taking summer classes