David Bragdon remembers how Bill Walton treated a Portland Trail-Blazers bus driver. Here is a taste:
After the silent stretching, they slowly and methodically walked through plays, never breaking a sweat, Walton always in the middle, making slight gestures and corrections with each meticulous step. Then it was back in the elevator, and back on the bus, for the return to the Parker House, Walton again in the front seat. When we arrived back at the hotel, the MVP in the NBA stood and stepped toward the exit, first in line to get off, then turned to the man behind the wheel and said, “Thank you, driver.”
Of all the memorable phrases Bill Walton uttered in his years as a player and a TV commentator, that’s the one I will always remember the best: “Thank you, driver.”
That humility, matched with good humor and confidence, was an expression of Walton’s character, on and off the court. His death leaves us with many lessons to live by: Be aware of what’s going on around you, whether you’re goofing around in Portland’s Wallace Park or in the paint at Madison Square Garden. Look for the open man. Find opportunities for your teammates. Ride your bike to the victory parade. If someone has a better shot, pass him the ball; if you have the best shot, take it. When there’s an unjust war, speak out against it. When greedy owners want athletes to play hurt, say no. If there’s a good concert in Egypt or in Eugene, Ore., be there.
And always thank your bus driver.
Read the entire piece here.