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

Walton’s Whiskers

There was a rule against facial hair for players on UCLA basketball teams. One day Bill Walton came to practice after a ten-day break wearing a beard. I asked him, “Bill, have you forgotten something?”

He replied, “Coach, if you mean the beard, I think I should be allowed to wear it. It’s my right.”

I asked, “Do you believe in that strongly?” He answered, “Yes I do, coach. Very much.”

I looked at him and said politely, “Bill, I have a great respect for individuals who stand up for those things in which they believe. I really do. And the team is going to miss you.”

Bill went to the locker room and shaved the beard off before practice began. There were no hard feelings. I wasn’t angry and he wasn’t mad. He understood the choice ...