Walt Hazzard Remembered
Walt Hazzard died on Friday at the grow older associated with 69. Many younger student hockey supporters might not discover your name, but into a people more mature fans, each of our enjoy event along with university basketball, UCLA as well as John Wooden started with Hazzard.
Hazzard appeared to be this stage guard upon UCLA s primary country wide bill squad within 1964, if your Bruins acceleration demolished Duke inside your shining online game inKansas City. It appeared to be Hazzard ersus squad which created John Wooden a winner. Wooden ended up being generally an incredible trainer plus got that the majority of out of players, nevertheless the Bruins generally completed second as well as third in the Pacific Coast Conference, the AAWU and and then your PAC 8. It wasCalunder Pete Newell andOregonStatewith Slats Gill that normally won your league title. In days gone by there seems to be very little yearend conference match in addition to solely just one workforce out of just about every management meeting experienced for the 16-team NCAA tournament.
UCLA ersus luck improved inside quick sixty vertisements when Walt Hazzard appeared to be recruited fromOverbrookHigh Schoolin Philly, exactly the same institution in which presented the globe Wilt Chamberlain. The beginer I discovered Walt for a freshman within 1961, the following reporter, however solely child in the time, knew something unique might be brewing.
There were some sort of several blobs inside road. Hazzard plus Fred Slaughter were African Americans then when UCLA realized Texas A&M atCollege Station,Texasthey weren't granted to slumber inside the very same hotel room with the remaining team. Wooden without delay proclaimed in which UCLA could by no means satisfy the Aggies again, right until issues changed.
In December, 1961, UCLA found one of the best company from the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes along with the great Jerry Lucas from the finals with the Christmas Tourney in the Sports Arena. I remember this Bruins played the famous Buckeyes even to get thirty minutes, till they ripped in two away. After the season, Wooden described that was the action exactly where their gamers commenced in order to believe.
UCLA does play well from the conference, moved on to this NCAA event along with gained the Western local s. When they will lost shut online games to eventual championCincinnatiandWakeForest(they even now played consolation games around individuals days) with the1962 countrywide championships, quite a few started out to help find the actual potential. In 1963, UCLA again won your league, nonetheless missing to Jumping Joe Caldwell andArizonaState inside the Western regional s.
Walt Hazzard from UCLA
1964 started to be the Perfect Season. The Bruins were being short, having Slaughter their highest starter at some some , however we were holding consequently rapid with Hazzard along with Gail Goodrich from the backcourt and Jack Hirsch and Keith Ericson, the permanently shifting forward. When Wooden mounted the entire judge push this been effective similar to magic.
UCLA swept their particular means in the Western regionals as well as into the Final Four, this occassion inKansas City. The Bruins trailedKansasStatein that semifinals, but in that case UCLA s gorgeous cheerleaders ultimately showed upwards and also UCLA won easily.
Duke ended up being many in which stood concerning Wooden azines wonders and also history. Walt and Goodrich were not planning to whack this particular occasion and UCLA had their particular primary on the college ersus 11 national titles.
I will certainly not ignore in which Channel 11 within L.A. insured that Bruins planes landing from LAX, plus Walt Hazzard had been the 1st off the aircraft embracing the particular trophy and also grinning and beaming as well as smiling a number of more. Local announcer Bill Welsh interviewed my favored place guard as well as I continue to smile about this second today.
Walt Hazzard afterwards performed from the NBA, coached during his / her alma mater, but for everyone of us which were there, the particular endless prospect with Hazzard for the reason that point guard of their perfect 1964 could be the picture which endures.
Walt, you were THE MAN.
Fred Wallin is really a long-time sports chat radio web host in southern California. His Sports Overnight America, with is usually heard every Saturday nighttime eight that will Midnight PST.
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