By Madhuri Dey
Oct. 14 (THAINDIAN NEWS) John Robert Wooden, the legendary American basketball coach turned 99 on the 14th of October. His birthday is being celebrated all over the world as millions of ardent admirers and self-proclaimed disciples pay their respects to the living legend who continues to inspire amateur basketball players everywhere.

John Wooden was born on October 14, 1910 in Hall, Indiana, to Roxie Anna and Joshua Hugh Wooden. As a boy, he idolized Fuzzy Vandivier, member of the legendary high school basketball team Franklin Wonder Five. He was chosen captain of his high school basketball team and won the state championship title in 1927. Thrice, he was chosen in the all-state levels.

Wooden’s rise in the basketball field was meteoric: from high school champion to international basketball coach, he rose steadily. To nobody’s surprise, he was made member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, both as player and coach. He became the first person to achieve the rare honor, the only others being Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman after him. Wooden remained the coach for 40 years, 27 of which he coached the Bruins team, and the rest the UCLA basketball team He announced his retirement after the 1974-75 season. His stint as coach propelled UCLA to the top position of basketballs teams.

On Wooden’s 99th birthday, fans all around the world gear up to celebrate in their own way. Television shows, biographies, special trivia about the legend and opportunities for wishing him abound on the shops, television and the internet. Here’s hoping that all these will be done next year too.