The former UCLA coach and Hall of Famer had been in and out of the hospital in recent years, but this time, it was different.

Warren told Wilkes that Wooden might be nearing the end of his inspiring life. A few days later, a grave Bill Walton called Wilkes, saying, “Jamaal, you need to get over here.”

So Wilkes headed to campus to see his 99-year-old former coach, one of many long-ago UCLA basketball greats who gathered at Wooden’s bedside in his final days to say farewell.

“There were lots of people coming through,” said Keith Erickson, who starred on the 1964 and ’65 national title teams. “Everybody wanted to give their last regards to him and let him know for sure that we had been there and how much we loved him.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, known as Lew Alcindor in his college days, rushed back from Europe, reaching Wooden’s side hours before he died Friday night. Gary Cunningham, a player, assistant under Wooden and later head coach of the Bruins, cut short a vacation in the Sierra Nevada. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, a longtime friend, came by, too.

USA TODAY 6/6/2010…More…careful…emotional additional must see pics and comments.

Greats Suround Wooden 2007

I mentioned that it is known who will win in advance of anyone watching the game.

Is this were the NBA is letting the game go.

Is it already so blatantly obvious that it is there…corporatized…planned and known before hand what is the outcome.

I think you can make the observation yourself and come to your own conclusion…no matter who you want to win!

I don’t think Las Vegas cares…it makes money no matter who wins, who bets etc. xpzmm646bm

The game before the NBA Championships!

Who will it be?

I have heard many different comments during this years NBA playoffs.

One that has stuck in my head is that we should change the name of the NBA to the NBE to reflect the WWE.

Let me explain…The WWE is World Wrestling Entertainment, so that having the scrip to the winner would always reflect the most profit and best promotional outcome.

Now no one can say watching the first “Smack Down” against Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant would be the billion dollar idea of Vince McMahon.

Now go back to the NBA’s and ABA’s merger…why…it was to save the both of them from going bankrupt.

Back to today.

Think that a corporation is going to make the same mistakes it made back then?

Why would they if they are to be successful during a downturn in the market.

Who are the players…You probably know in advance much like the WWE…It has been written before it is played.

The curtain comes up and the series begins…We will have many fouls, but for how much effect?

We will have announcers…with how much effect?

Now the new media is ripe for the picking after their downturn in their industry with blogs and electronic outlets making a better use of resources.

The media will do it part for the non-readers to set them up for the big final.

What you say…That sounds like the WWE…It is already set?

Well all the fans of the WWE don’t mind, and now after many years of close losses the small market teams are numb or don’t care to complain either.

That is why we already are cynical of Pro Sports today. Baseball…The strikes, Basketball and the Stars…Already known.

The steroids, the money, the owners, and the players…Makes for a great “Entertainment System” if you’re willing to pay and watch.

Do we like the non-pro sports more?

I think we are beginning to support them more than the pre-planned outcomes of the Corporate run Professional Sports!

What do you think?

Look for Wednesday’s poll and vote.

What pro sport is most corrupt? Let us hear your opinions.

Will be held in Cedar City, Utah from June 3-21st, 2009.

Resort developers (Desert Falls) have an enormous undertaking bringing this premiere sports resort to Mesquite Nevada.

Making it one of the largest amateur athletic resorts in the United States.

The resort will cover a gamut of outdoor and indoor sports, primarily oriented to the amateur athlete, but with the facilities of the quality and caliber that professional athletes use.

The Mesquite sports resort package includes a wealth of amenities that include Adidas facilities: Offices; deluxe restaurant;  training facility; two Olympic size pools; two Olympic sized diving platforms and a private workout center.

You will see six flex basketball/volleyball courts, racquetball courts, indoor track and the therapy center.

Included in the amenities will be massage, saunas, spa with a sports medicine facility as well.

Just to mention a few unique facilities, we will see 12 sand beach volleyball courts and a main beach volleyball stadium with 300 to 400 seats.

A 1500 seat softball Stadium with natural turf, a softball Hall of Fame and sports memorabilia center.

A softball complex with 4:5 flex diamonds, concession stands, restrooms, scoring boxes,  boards announcing booth, and a day care facility.

A 24 field soccer complex and a 400 to 500 seat soccer stadium, plus a park area with pavilions.

A 16 court tennis complex 300 to 400 seat tennis stadium and a pickle ball court.

A golf course with 495 residential units, including condo, town-homes and single dwellings.

A 3,000 to 5,000 seat outdoor football stadium with separate track and field areas featuring: long jump, high jump and shot put/discus throw setups.

An archery range that would house archery, bow hunting and beginning range with concession and information center.

And indoor foot ball/soccer stadium with 5,000 to 10,000 seat stadium. Artificial turf would also be used as a lacrosse center.

Attached to this stadium would be a water park with a lazy river.

An open-air street mall with food courts, sport’s brands, exclusive shops with moving sidewalk and mixed-use buildings for both commercial and retail.

A resort hotel and an athletic village.

This new facility would make Mesquite Nevada, the premier location for amateur sports in the United States and the world.

We will see a tremendous economic boost during this downturn in the economy from this new sports Pavilion.