John Wooden in "Grave Condition"

[The Poet]

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden is hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center in what both KCAL and the LA Times reports is "grave condition". The 99-year-old coach has had health concerns of late, but neither the family nor the hospital will comment . . . as is likely best.

For those of you youngsters who may not know more than the name (if that much) Coach Wooden led his Bruins to 10 NCAA championships, which included 7 in a row. From 1971-74 his team had an 88-game winning streak, and from 1964-74 they won 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games. But aside from that, he considered himself an educator first and foremost, and taught his players to conduct themselves with the same integrity and dignity he himself did . . . and hopefully will continue to do, for a while more at the least.

If you have a moment, send him a tiny bit of your best wishes today.