The December 28th issue of Sports Illustrated arrived this past week with Will Smith and the movie “Concussion” featured on the cover. As compelling as that issue is I was drawn to an article by Mark Bechtel titled “Farewell.”

This article was about the sports figures that had died in 2015. It seemed to be a large number (69) and that many of them had touched my life in some way. I am sure my age (81) has something to do with that.

The first athlete featured was Yogi Berra, the great Yankee catcher. I only spent 30 minutes with Mr. Berra at the winter baseball meetings. I was attempting to explain my new business in plain english without using any words that might be seen as weird or crazy. He listened and was very kind, but I doubt if he was impressed.

There were several basketball figures that, of course, I knew about but never met. The list includes Hall-of-Fame coach Dean Smith, Dave Meyers, the  UCLA great from John Wooden’s last team and Neal Walk, a competitor of my Trail Blazer teams.

Other basketball people that contributed to my life were Marques Haynes, a member of the original Harlem Globetrotters, a team that inspired me to be a good player when I saw them perform when I was 12 years old. And, there were others … Guy Lewis who coached 30 years and brought his Houston team to Las Vegas two years running to play my Runnin’ Rebels when he had nothing to gain. In fact, only UCLA was better than his ‘60’s teams.

I counted Hot Rod Hundley as a friend. He was a great player and an even better play-by-play announcer for the Utah Jazz. I coached against the great Dolph Schayes and once was chased down the court by 49ers Hall of Famer Bob St.Clair in an exhibition game. I can still hear those 265 lb. footsteps pounding the floor. Lon Simmons broadcasted our Fresno State games well before becoming famous with the Giants and 49ers. Speaking of baseball, Ernie Banks, the man in Chicago, played against my Bulldog team in spring training his rookie year.

Of all those who left us in 2015, I am most proud of my college roommate, Jerry Tarkanian. We talked basketball constantly. I preceded him at UNLV and always told him that I paved the way for his success. We worked together one year at Riverside City College. The result? 37-0 and a State Championship. We were 2-2 against each other when he was at Long Beach State. You are missed my sad-eyed, towel-sucking friend.

We are always affected in some way by the people we meet along the way. There are many others I have met in my life and I thank each of you for enriching my life. It has been a ball.

And, remember …
check out Coach Todd’s books in the Coaching bookstore for more great information and advice for coaching your team.