Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Right from Wrong

Bill Walton came to my office one afternoon at Pauley Pavilion with a serious question for me. His knees had been causing him increasing pain over the last several months, to a point where it was obvious to anyone watching him play that just running the length of the court hurt him badly.

“Coach,” he said, “I’ve heard that smoking marijuana will reduce the pain in my knees. Is it OK with you if I use it?”

I looked up from my desk and replied, “Bill, I haven’t heard that it is a pain reliever, but I have heard that it is illegal.”