Died today after a battle with cancer at the age of 71. RIP

RIP.  Great player, an acquired taste as a broadcaster (I loved him). 

Rest in Peace Big Guy.

Sad that is final days of calling college basketball marked the end of the "Conference of Champions" he so loved.

9 hours ago, theguru said:

Both of those guys were pretty good!

When I first got Sirius satellite radio in 2005, he had a show on the Grateful Dead channel that would air on Saturday night, appropriately called, "One More Saturday Night." It was the coolest thing ever and a big reason I love The Dead.

I am not old enough to witness his basketball play, but from all I've consumed, you could argue he was the greatest college player ever and the ultimate "what if" guy had he not been injured. I was always taken with the reverence he had for John Wooden and the love he had for that man.

 

6 hours ago, bugatti said:

When I first got Sirius satellite radio in 2005, he had a show on the Grateful Dead channel that would air on Saturday night, appropriately called, "One More Saturday Night." It was the coolest thing ever and a big reason I love The Dead.

I am not old enough to witness his basketball play, but from all I've consumed, you could argue he was the greatest college player ever and the ultimate "what if" guy had he not been injured. I was always taken with the reverence he had for John Wooden and the love he had for that man.

 

There’s a great bit out there where Walton is talking about the first time he took the Celtics to a Dead concert. 
 

All except Ainge.  His wife wouldn’t let him go. 

I read a long time ago that Walton was seven feet tall, but considered that to be a bit freakish.  He insisted that he be listed at 6-11. 

6 hours ago, bugatti said:

When I first got Sirius satellite radio in 2005, he had a show on the Grateful Dead channel that would air on Saturday night, appropriately called, "One More Saturday Night." It was the coolest thing ever and a big reason I love The Dead.

I am not old enough to witness his basketball play, but from all I've consumed, you could argue he was the greatest college player ever and the ultimate "what if" guy had he not been injured. I was always taken with the reverence he had for John Wooden and the love he had for that man.

 

I’d say Alcindor, Walton and Laettner, in that order.   Hard to go very wrong with Walton at number one, though. 

8 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

There’s a great bit out there where Walton is talking about the first time he took the Celtics to a Dead concert. 
 

All except Ainge.  His wife wouldn’t let him go. 

Watched that clip again yesterday. It's awesome.

4 hours ago, mcpapa said:

I’d say Alcindor, Walton and Laettner, in that order.   Hard to go very wrong with Walton at number one, though. 

I'd throw Elvin Hayes in that mix as well.   Bill was definitely one of the top 5 college basketball players, ever.  And by all accounts a down to earth dude that realized there were many many things in life more important than basketball.