Walt Hazzard Remembered
Walt Hazzard passed on on Friday in the age group of 69. Many younger university golf ball fans probably won't acknowledge the name, but by some of people more mature fans, your romance with student basketball, UCLA plus John Wooden began by using Hazzard.
Hazzard appeared to be the particular point defend with UCLA s very first national bill squad around 1964, when the Bruins speed damaged Duke in the championship sport inKansas City. It had been Hazzard s squad that manufactured John Wooden a winner. Wooden appeared to be often an excellent trainer and also acquired by far the most outside players, however the Bruins commonly done second as well as lastly in this Pacific Coast Conference, the particular AAWU after which you can the PAC 8. It wasCalunder Pete Newell andOregonStatewith Slats Gill this typically won the league title. In those times there seemed to be absolutely no yearend management meeting match in addition to singular staff out of every single meeting skilled for that 16-team NCAA tournament.
UCLA azines luck improved within the earlier sixty s when Walt Hazzard appeared to be recruited fromOverbrookHigh Schoolin Philly, similar school this offered the earth Wilt Chamberlain. The newbie I observed Walt as being a freshman within 1961, that reporter, while a mere youngster at that time, understood something special could possibly be brewing.
There were a very few jostles in the road. Hazzard and Fred Slaughter were being African Americans and when UCLA found Texas A&M atCollege Station,Texasthey were not permitted that will sleep within the same hotel when using the relax with the team. Wooden promptly publicised which UCLA could by no means match that Aggies again, till points changed.
In December, 1961, UCLA attained the best staff within the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes plus the great Jerry Lucas within the finals in the Christmas Tourney in the Sports Arena. I don't forget your Bruins performed the mighty Buckeyes actually for 30 minutes, right until that they torn in two away. After the particular season, Wooden talked about this was the game when his players began that will believe.
UCLA does perform well inside conference, managed to move on for the NCAA tournament as well as picked up the Western local s. When they will shed nearby games to later championCincinnatiandWakeForest(they nevertheless performed consolation games with those days) with the1962 national championships, several begun to see that potential. In 1963, UCLA again won the particular league, nonetheless dropped to Jumping Joe Caldwell andArizonaState inside Western local s.
Walt Hazzard at UCLA
1964 turned that Perfect Season. The Bruins were short, with Slaughter their highest starter at a few your five , nonetheless they were thus effective having Hazzard along with Gail Goodrich within the backcourt as well as Jack Hirsch as well as Keith Ericson, the eternally going forward. When Wooden set up the total court docket media it worked similar to magic.
UCLA swept their approach over the Western regionals and to the Final Four, these times inKansas City. The Bruins trailedKansasStatein the semifinals, nevertheless then UCLA utes wonderful cheerleaders ultimately showed up and UCLA picked up easily.
Duke appeared to be most which stood between Wooden verts wonders and history. Walt along with Goodrich weren't likely to knock back this particular possibility as well as UCLA had their first belonging to the school azines 11 national titles.
I will never overlook that Channel 11 in L.A. protected the Bruins plane clinching with LAX, and Walt Hazzard had been the best heli-copter flight aircraft hugging this trophy plus smiling and smiling along with cheerful quite a few more. Local announcer Bill Welsh interviewed my own favorite position keep and I nonetheless look about that instant today.
Walt Hazzard soon after performed within the NBA, trained at his or her alma mater, nonetheless for many individuals which have been there, the actual timeless prospect associated with Hazzard since the level guard of this perfect 1964 is usually the image of which endures.
Walt, you had been THE MAN.
Fred Wallin may be a long-time athletics talk radio host inside the southern area of California. His Sports Overnight America, on is usually heard every Saturday nights 10 that will Midnight PST.
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