Masterpiece

The first week of March. The days lengthen. Afternoons grow warmer. And spring cleaning, an annual rite of passage, begins.

I hunker down in the basement, surrounded by various pieces of patio furniture, boxes of books and clothes, tins of leftover paint, a battered bicycle missing its chain.

Time to declutter.

Instead, several plastic tubs, wedged tight among the shelves and bursting with a lifetime of sporting memorabilia, capture my attention. I wander down memory lane, digging through match programs, newspaper clippings, referee reports, various plaques, trophies, and jerseys. Reexamine framed photographs, signed balls, and many other knickknacks.

Then I come across it.

It is a red duotang, dog eared and musty. Housing a grade 6 term project, completed in the fall of 1968. Multiple sheets of paper, bound by fasteners to keep them in place, stare back at me.

Immediately, I travel back in time. Skim through handwritten summaries of selected NCAA basketball teams. One page, complete with stats, analyses, the team logo, for each of the twenty teams listed. See how my preseason rankings stack up against the AP and UPI polls, and versus experts writing for national publications such as the Sporting News.

On one thing we all agree.

UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), led by their superlative centre Lew Alcindor, will be the consensus #1 pick.

To say that Alcindor enjoys a storied basketball career would be a massive understatement. Growing up in New York City, he drives Power Memorial high school to seventy-one consecutive wins, three Catholic state titles and two national crowns.

Moving on to college at UCLA, he leads the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships, is chosen Most Outstanding Player on each occasion.

Then, he officially converts to Islam in 1971. Now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he stars for twenty seasons in the professional ranks, first with the Milwaukee Bucks, then with the LA Lakers. He wins countless NBA MVP and All-Star awards, in addition to being a six-time league champion and named to the Naismith Hall of Fame. By any measure he is considered one of the absolute greatest players of all-time.

Still, life is not always easy for Alcindor as a boy and then a young man. Already 5’8” at age nine, and then 6’8” in grade 8, he is ridiculed because of his height. And, perhaps not surprisingly, first as one of few black students at Power Memorial, later as a developing athlete negotiating a tumultuous civil rights era, he becomes the target of numerous racist epithets.

Needless to say, as a highly coveted high school player, Alcindor has his pick of colleges. He decides on UCLA, a school which might nourish his growing sense of social activism. Yet mostly because of a hugely successful basketball coach who could refine and improve his already considerable skill set.

Enter John Wooden.

Initially a brilliant, driven, All-American basketball player in his own right, Wooden transitions seamlessly to the coaching ranks. For the “Wizard of Westwood,” superior work ethic and fitness levels, relentless attention to detail, and repeating drill after drill until perfected, become the norm. With this foundation, his UCLA teams capture a staggering ten NCAA titles in a twelve-year span from 1964-75.

Yet, as evidenced by a long and deep relationship with Alcindor, Wooden is so much more than just a superlative coach. By way of example, take note of his simple, inspirational messages. Consider his much-acclaimed Pyramid of Success, a roadmap for individual and group excellence. Reflect on his unshakeable core values and life lessons. Most telling of all, appreciate the indelible impact he made on his players, and countless others, until his death at age 99 in 2010.

Indeed, as certain lives are so extraordinary and touch so many, their story, wisdom, and standards must be passed on to future generations.

I wonder what Wooden would make of both America and a world currently in tatters. Of Trump 2.0. Of a MAGA base either intoxicated by power or cowering in vile servility.

Of democratic norms and traditions shattered, of might makes right, of rejection of the rule of law. Of traitors and tyrants, of treachery and cowardice. Of retribution and revenge. Of a complete lack of soul.

Certainly, a rapidly deteriorating global situation is so hard for most to absorb, let alone formulate a response.

The next few years will no doubt feature continued adversity, hardship, setbacks. Despair and frustration. Yet, one must endure. As difficult as it might be, remain optimistic. Find reservoirs of courage and resolve. Seek avenues to fight for justice and against hate.

This being the case, one of Wooden’s key teachings can assist.

First, do not allow events beyond one's control to be a distraction. Yesterday is gone, the door shut, the key thrown away.

Secondly, tomorrow is yet to come.

However, tomorrow can be determined by what one does today. Work diligently together. Maintain a positive attitude. Prioritize health through sleep and daily exercise. Take less, share more. Help others, be kind, be patient. Promote the common good, avoid the relentless negativity of social media.

Success is a daily battle. Self and collective discipline will be critical.

As Wooden would himself champion, aim to make each day your masterpiece.

Amidst the doom and gloom, all is not lost. Tyranny will not prevail over those who refuse to succumb.