Some Players And Coaches

SOME PLAYERS AND COACHES stay in sports far past their prime. But in 1975, legendary UCLA coach John Wooden picked the perfect time to step aside.

UCLA faced the University of Louisville in the NCAA basketball tournament semifinals. At the end of regulation, the teams were deadlocked 65–65. With a minute remaining in overtime, the Bruins trailed 74–71. But then Dave Myers hit two free throws, bringing them just one point behind Louisville.

Then Cardinals coach Denny Crum made a brave move, pulling his leading scorer Allen Murphy and inserting Terry Howard. He gave Howard, a sure-handed guard, strict instructions to keep the ball away from UCLA.

However, at the 13-second mark, Howard drew a foul. The ball handler missed the free throw, and the Bruins rebounded. After calling a time-out, UCLA brought the ball downcourt. Bruins center Rich Washington slid from the high post and snared a pass from Jim Spillane. With four seconds left to play, his soft seven-foot jumper sailed through the hoop, giving UCLA a 75–74 win. During the celebration, Coach Wooden announced that the championship game two days later would be his last.

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POINT John Wooden coached basketball for 40 years—from 1932 to 1943 in high schools, from 1946 to 1948 at Indiana State, and from 1948 to 1975 at UCLA. On the day Wooden retired, the Bruins claimed their tenth national championship with him at the helm. Two other times, the Bruins reached the tournament Final Four.

As a player, John led his high school team to a state championship. A three-time collegiate All-American at Purdue, “The Indiana Rubber Man” captained the team to a national championship. What a record!

Coach Wooden was a master of details. From teaching his players how to properly put on their socks to instructing them about the offense, Wooden knew his players had to master the small things before they went on to bigger matters.

The same thing is true in our relationship with Christ. God wants us to learn the little things before he trusts us with more. If we can’t be trusted in small matters, we’ll never be able to take on greater responsibility.

GOAL! Think of some small details in your life that you need to take care of.