Coach Wooden's Career Peak
This Week's Theme: Good Friends
John Wooden
Monday, October 9, 2000
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Indeed, you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:20).
Bonus Reading:1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
As I headed down the long Kansas City corridor to the dressing room, my spirits dragged. My thoughts were on Fred Slaughter. Having grown up not far away, the crowd had been sprinkled with his relatives and fans.
In a brilliant year as the blocker, screener and rebounder, Fred had started every game. But in his final game for the championship with Duke he'd gotten off to a bad start. And it got worse. Finally, I pulled Fred and put in Doug McIntosh. Doug did such a fine job that I left him in until the game was ours.
Pushing the dressing room door, I ran right into Fred, waiting for me. "Coach," he said, "I understand. You had to leave Doug in there because he played so well, and I didn't. I was disappointed, but not upset. And I was very happy for Doug."
There are a lot of peaks and valleys in every coach's life. But this was the peak. We'd just won our first NCAA title by whipping Duke 98 to 83 and closed out the 1964 season with a perfect 30 and 0 record. But my concern for Fred had damaged all of that until this moment.
John Wooden in They Call Me Coach Respond:
Who do you know who needs cheering on? Write a note of encouragement this week. Thought to Apply:
A friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
Walter Winchell (journalist, broadcaster)
Adapted from They Call Me Coach (Word, 1972). 1 of 1
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Jesus, thank you for the blessing of friends. Give me Your love for my brothers.
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