DAILY DIRT: Those words from the Wizard of Westwood still ring true

Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,034 of The Daily Dirt.

1. John Wooden, the legendary “Wizard of Westwood” and architect of the UCLA dominance of college basketball back in the days when baby boomers were just coming of age, was a man of more than fast breaks, rebounds and full-court presses.

Wooden also possessed a keen understanding of the human spirit, one of the numerous reasons he was so beloved — and respected — by all those played for him, from Lew Alcindor to Bill Walton. (For those who may not know, Alcindor converted to Islam in 1971 and adopted the name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

The life lessons Wooden taught, along with how to attack a zone defense, are truly legendary. Shortly before Walton died earlier this year, he talked about the impact Wooden (who died in 2010) had on his own life.

“Everything that coach Wooden told us eventually came true,” Walton remembered. 

Walton then shared a sampling of Wooden’s favorite life lessons:

• “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
• “Happiness begins when selfishness ends.”
• “The worst things you can do the ones you love are what they could and should do for themselves.”
• “When everybody thinks alike, nobody thinks.”
• “It’s OK to disagree, just don’t be disagreeable.”

And maybe, just maybe, the most important thing Wooden ever confided in Walton came when he graduated from UCLA. He gave the big redhead the following note:

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

Shortly before Walton died, he said of that personal note from Wooden: “That still sits on my desk.”

2. Did you know (Part 96)

• That Elvis has been dead 47 years.
• That Barry Bonds’ career record shows more intentional walks than the entire Tampa Bay Rays franchise.
• That the Corvette turned 71 this year, and the Mustang 60.
• That in 2023 there were more Tommy John surgeries among professional baseball pitchers than in the entire decade of the 1990s.

3. Restaurants that currently have the most locations, according to I Need Nostalgia @instagram.com:

• 1. Subway, 20,603. 
• 2. Starbucks, 16,494.
• 3. McDonald’s, 13,529.
• 4. Hunt Brothers Pizza, 9,703.
• 5. Dunkin’ Donuts, 9,641.
• 6. Taco Bell, 7.936.
• 7. Burger King, 7,257.
• 8. Pizza Hut, 6,561.
• 9. Domino’s, 6,338.
• 10. Wendy’s, 5,938.
• 11. Dairy Queen, 4,330.
• 12. Little Caesar’s, 4.200.
• 13. KFC, 3,978.
• 14. Popeye’s, 3,705.
• 15. Sonic, 3,550.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Well, another day has passed and I did not use algebra. (Yeah, I stole that one, but I’m pretty sure it’s true.)

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. He uses algebra, but he just doesn’t know it.