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

My Favorite Four-Letter Words: “Kids” and “Love”

The greatest word in the whole dictionary is love. Love your children. Listen to them. Share with them. Remember that love is the most powerful medicine in the world.

Do not force them or drive them too hard. Set the example of what you want them to be. Try always to be a good model.

Children are impatient. They want to do right, but maybe they don’t know how. Maybe you haven’t taught them how. Being a good example is a powerful teaching device. This verse is accurate:

No written word

nor spoken plea

Can teach our youth

what they should be.

Nor all the books

on all the shelves.

It’s what the teachers

are themselves.

—Unknown

I think that’s it. Those teachers and coaches are the mothers and fathers, ...