“It’s ok to disagree. Just don’t be disagreeable.”

Lessons on life and leadership through the prism of basketball from UCLA coach John Wooden, delivered by Bill Walton. This is well worth 2:41 of your day. Rest In Peace, Big Fella.

It was the part when Michael Jordan threw an elbow into Mark Calcavecchi’s abdomen at Kenny Rogers’ ranch that I realized this one of the best stories ever in The Athletic.

It’s a Mad Libs mashup of late ‘80s sports, told masterfully by Doug Haller

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When Bill Walton heard I was teaching sports journalism at ASU Cronkite News: Phoenix Sports, he offered to guest lecture, as students were an essential part of his Pac-12 prep. The thousands of pics of him are 🎯— arms outstretched, embracing the world. What a lesson he leaves for all of us.

NEW COLUMN: Bill Walton struggled with a stutter until at 28, by chance, he met the legendary Marty Glickman.

It is part of Walton's remarkable life story.

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He recalls going to bed at 9 p.m. Ten minutes later he heard a knock at the door.

There was a Marine in full dress on his doorstep.

“I knew right away,’’ Steve Sax said.

For Memorial Day:

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Steve Sax on grief, love and the boy who was born to fly. Republished by The Athletic for Memorial Day

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Terrible news: Ronald Acuña Jr. has a complete tear of the ACL in his left knee, and will have season-ending surgery. #Braves star had surgery for complete tear of the right ACL in July 2021, and was slowed for much of 2022 season as he recovered from that. Now, the other knee.

I'm reading this 1959 (!!) SI article on pitching injuries that Dan Szymborski shared a while back and it is absolute wild how ahead of its time it was. 1959!

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“This conference is in my heart and soul.” What a lovely sign-off for the Pac 12 from the voice of so many signature moments. Roxy Bernstein

Be careful out there everyone. I had 2 Mets tickets in my car and someone broke in and left 4 more.

entering today, the Giants have never won 3 consecutive games after trailing by 4+ runs in each

h/t Elias Sports Bureau

In which I serve as quiz master and pose puzzlers such as, 'Which quarterback did Aaron Donald sack most often?' and 'Who was the Giants' winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series'?

The Tim Kawakami vs. Dylan Hernandez trivia battle begins at about the 11:45 mark ...

I love this story from Cody on the 1984 Tigers, and not just because of this Alan Trammell quote:

“When I close my eyes, I smile and I reminisce, and it’s like it was yesterday. And when I open my eyes and I look in the mirror, I realize that’s not the case.”

This is fun - the movie equivalent of ‘Let’s play two!’

An indication of what Jim Otto meant to the #raiders and to Al Davis personally: when Otto retired in 1975, Davis did something he went out of his way to avoid. He called a news conference for the first time since 1969, when John Madden was introduced as coach.

“We’ve made it a

Ok these are all excellent 😂

Very cool update: Steve Young arranged for the Johnson family to have premier tickets for the event. And Harris Barton saluted the late Leo Johnson from the stage as the family received a warm ovation. Special night at the Dwight Clark Legacy Series #49ers
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“Everything you would imagine in a horror film about a nursing home.'

How a group of 49ers alumni rallied around a former receiver in his time of need. The Golden Heart Fund

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The Dwight Clark Legacy event is tomorrow night at the California Theater.

This is one of the remarkable stories of why its existence is so important to former #49ers players.

Thank you Daniel Brown for sharing:

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If you admired Ronnie Lott, Harris Barton, Brent Jones before, read this Daniel Brown story about how they kicked into action to help a little-known 49er. It explains why tomorrow's Dwight Clark Legacy is so important ...
nytimes.com/athletic/54910…