Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the loss of one of San Diego's most accomplished native sons and one of our most devoted citizens. On May 27, Bill Walton passed away from colon cancer at just 71 years of age. Most people know Bill Walton as a successful basketball player, and that he certainly was. After winning titles at Helix High, he enrolled at UCLA where he was a three-time college player of the year, and he led the Bruins to two national championships in 3 years. In the NBA, despite a series of injuries, he won titles with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics, and he had an all-around game. His college coach, the great John Wooden, said: ``Walton is the type of player who wouldn't have to score at all, yet he'll dominate the game.'' Magic Johnson called Bill ``one of the smartest basketball players to ever live.'' Most count Bill as one of the two greatest college players ever, along with Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bill was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 and included in ESPN's ranking of the 50 greatest basketball players of all time. Bill retired from basketball almost 40 years ago, so his most famous accomplishments, those on the basketball court, have been history for a long time now. However, his generosity, his gratitude, and his determination, which set an example for me and so many, were present to the very end, and we will miss those qualities very much at home.…”