When I was 14 I did a book report on Bill Walton - When I was 44 he signed it at a card shop. Now that I'm 64 - he's passed away. A part of me passed with him - he was my idol from my youth.

@Texas_Cruiser

2 ай бұрын

Incredible. I'm 42 and he always struck a chord with me. Mostly from his time as a commentator and in the studio. We both have similar free spirited personalities. Maybe that's why I felt connected to him. Awesome you had that experience and met him years later.

@finch45lear

2 ай бұрын

I grew up in the 1970s. We got sports illustrated in the mail . I remember Bill at UCLA with coach Wooden . His hair was cut short and conservative. I got a kick of how he could be more himself when he got to Portland and the NBA . Long hair and a beard along with the headband. Felt bad about his bone issues in his feet. He was a great player and huge music fan . I also loved his take on life. RIP.

@carlbaumeister3439

2 ай бұрын

That’s an amazing story!

@xxlionroarxxxxxxxx4438

2 ай бұрын

Same here and I’m also 64 .Bill was my sports idol growing up

@mountcomfort740

Ай бұрын

That's very cool. Rarely you meet a hero of yours and they are cool. That happened with me an Drew Breeze

One of the nicest and coolest guys that ever walked earth.

We used to see Bill at Dead concerts for years. He was easy to spot. He always had a smile on his face.

Bill Walton had all the qualities that make a special person, joy, empathy, curiosity, selflessness. RIP.

I met Bill at a John Fogerty concert and he couldn’t have been nicer. RIP Bill, you were a class act and one of the greatest basketball players to ever walk this earth. My deepest condolences to the Walton family.

I actually sat next to him at a Bob Dylan concert in Costa Mesa back in 93. It was an awesome experience. RIP big fella! 🙏

@mountcomfort740

Ай бұрын

That is awesome

As a Portland fan, thank you thank you thank you Bill Walton for starting Blazermania, winning us our only championship in dramatic Star Wars-esque fashion, and for being a positive awesome dude. "Shine The Light, Be The Light." #legend

I knew Bill since 1973 because I attended over 300 Dead shows (71-95) and I got to know him pretty well. We shared a love of music and never discussed basketball. I only saw him a few times after Jerry Garcia died and he always remembered me and even the specific songs in the shows we saw together.

This one hit me hard. Bill Walton was a shining light. He will be missed.

RIP Bill. One of the great characters, players and persons in all of sports history.

I remember those times when Bill would call in and we would not hear you for the longest time because you couldn’t get a word in. The funniest one was when he started talking and he began to run over the time. You were desperately yelling out “Bill! Bill!” He kept going and we could hear the Danette’s laughing so hard that they were crying, which I found myself doing as well. Thank you Bill Walton for being you and making life that much more enjoyable and funny. Thank you Dan for sharing Bill with the rest of us, you have made memories that I will cherish and enjoy playing over and over in my head.

May the Four Winds blow you safely Home... Rest easy, Big Red

Thanks, DP. This segment is why this show is special.

I knew Bill since HS. Just a great guy. Never had a bad word to say about about anyone. Just a wonderful basketball player. He loved the game.

What a great tribute to such a great man! God bless you DP!

RIP, Bill !! 😭😭😭 We will always love you here in Oregon ...

@murrayspiffy2815

2 ай бұрын

Wilsonville - in the house!

I wept in my car all the way from work to home listening to your tribute . I wondered why it moved me so much about a man I never met, only watched his highlights and listened to his interviews? Then it dawned on me that the sheer goodness bill Walton exuded all his life has to move anybody in their tracks. Thank you DP for dedicating the show to a wonderful soul. Bill, you finally get to hang out with jerry Garcia again.

“shine the light! be the light” God Speed 🙏🏽

I could listen to Bill Walton talk for hours and hours...he had soooo many interesting stories and interesting thoughts.

Wonderful tribute. I was fortunate to be around Bill for 2 hours, 47 years ago, and I feel like I lost a dear friend. Rest easy, Bill.

I saw Bill at many Bob Dylan concerts, and was lucky enough to catch a photo with him at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach for a Grateful Dead cover band. He was so gracious, as was his wonderful wife who orchestrated and took our picture. I, like most, walked away INVIGORATED from his natural enthusiasm and energy. Bill was a great example for us all and is already missed by Planet Earth.

I never met Bill Walton but as a UCLA alum I followed him closely. I will miss him very, very much. RIP, Bill. There are thousands of us Bruins who will miss you very much but at the same time will appreciate every single second that you were in Westwood.

Beautiful tribute Dan. RIP to the great man and more importantly, to this beautiful soul.

Well said Dan….. RIP Bill

How poetic and sad that Bill died one day after the PAC12

@mikereynolds2313

2 ай бұрын

I was thinking the exact same thing!!!

@neilschauer5080

2 ай бұрын

Yeah..that was a very underrated conference .You know Bill absolutely hated the breakup of the Pac12..

@user-iv9er3nr6z

2 ай бұрын

❤️ pac ten conference & ❤️ bill Walton very very sad both are passing

@kevinbrooks1104

Ай бұрын

The tradition since 1959of the pac 12 kills me as a cougars fan . Bill was with Ucla . But having a whole conference canceled to me is crazy . The cougars president of athletics should be canceled for non action

@neilschauer5080

Ай бұрын

@@kevinbrooks1104 It's absolutely filthy that Washington State & Oregon State are stuck in a state of suspended animation..

RIP Bill..A true legend in all phases

I blew out my L4 and L5 in the Navy. I cannot fathom the levels and timeframe of pain Bill endured. It saps everything from you... Everything you have. This man dedicated every ounce of his being to making Others feel Happiness, love, and support. This is a shining example of how good you can be, no matter your circumstances. Throw it down, big man. Today is a lot less Great without that Wonderfully special man. Love you, Bill. Rest easy, sir. 💔

Wonderful tribute to Bill Walton, Dan. RIP Bill. A true sports legend.

Sad day indeed, Bill Walton was truly one of a kind, I miss him already.

Dan Patrick, thank you for helping a lot of us out today. We needed you today. All that Bill Walton was, he is still. Amen

Rest in peace Bill. Dan this is one of the greatest segments you have ever done. Thank you.

Bill's death hit me hard I actually cried when you talked about him not committing suicide and being so awesome to ppl making them laugh. I perked up when he spoke and was a kindred soul we just never met

I got to walk through the parking lot in San Diego to a UCLA / SD State football game many years ago with Bill and he was such a great guy, so friendly and positive. RIP Bill, we will miss you so much!!

He was such a a genuine dude. Rest in paradise Mr. Walton

Great commentary Dan as always. Living in San Diego now I never got the chance to meet Bill Walton but 2 years ago I went to see Pearl Jam. They took the time to put the spotlight on Bill in the crowd during the show because he was friends with the band (and everyone). It was really cool!

You can see and hear the hurt in Dan here. I too am very emotional of this, more so than any other athlete I can remember. As incredible as Bill was a player, everyone is talking about what a truly great human being Bill was. Rip City Bill. Rest in peace.

Loved BW. Great player, broadcaster and human being. Nice, heartfelt tribute by DP.

Thank you for this Dan. I was a young teenager here in the PNW when Bill played for the Blazers. AW, the memories. I to will miss him

Thank you Dan , and Thank you Bill Walton for everything. I was not born during his playing era. , but what he has done for basketball game is tremendous and you cannot stop loving his passion.

When I heard the news yesterday I reflexively went to KZread to find the most recent Bill full interview with DP. I came across one from 1/24/23. It was so quintessentially Bill and the chemistry with DP so strong I told a friend that if it wasn't the last one I wanted it to be. There is another video that says it's an appearance just a few days before he passed. He was so alive and enthusiastic and present that you would just never guess in a million years he was so close to the end. Bless him. May God rest his soul, forever pain free.

Thank you Bill Walton, for blessing us all on this Earth with the tremendous gift of your life, and always leaving wherever you went better than you found it! R.I.P.

Dan will definitely miss him, you can hear it in his voice. Bill was an awesome "person". RIP

God bless Bill Walton! I was 10 years old and living just outside of Portland when Bill led the blazers to their only world championship. I dreamed of being the next Bill Walton and leading the blazers to another championship, I marveled watching this man’s greatness on the court and his zest for life.

Thank you for the great Bill Walton Stories. I’m sorry you lost your friend. What a great person

Thanks DP, so many great memories. I grew up in the Portland area and was 9 when they won the championship in 1977. That Blazer team was such a part of the community and I've got so many great memories from those years. It's really heartwarming to see so many people remembering Bill as not just the basketball player or the broadcaster, but as just the good person that he was.

@blazerhawkdarren68

2 ай бұрын

I was 8 when that happened and I've been a trailblazers fan ever since. I lived in Bend and so I was never able to go to the game because of their sell out streak. But I was constantly watching or listening to Blazer games.

@Texas_Cruiser

2 ай бұрын

I'm from Austin and can imagine how Portland was back then. Wish I could've visited.

Thank you, Dan. Appreciate your narrative on the great Bill Walton.

Very Nice tribute Dan....Thank You !!!

I met Bill in 1984 in Iowa. Charming dude. RIP to his "conference of champions."

One of my favorite storied about Bill Walton is that he went to the playground where Larry Bird played at growing up. Mr. Walton took a jar and put some dirt from Larry Bird's basketball playground into the jar.

Man that was great!! Thank you for that reflection!!

DP is a top 5 all time personality at ESPN... Dan knows his stuff....he is the GOAT.. so was Bill Walton....

I played college basketball at Arizona from 2005-09 and luke Walton would come back every summer to play pick up with us when he was with the lakers. All of us from socal would all tell him stories of meeting bill as kids and how he was always so nice to us and he would always tell us the importance of fundamentals but he also made sure to tell us to make sure we were enjoying the game and enjoying life as kids. Dude was such a legend and always so kind to everyone. RIP Bill, thanks for always being so nice to us as kids. Thinking of Luke and the rest of the Walton family 😞🙏🏽

I was at Helix High (1965-1969) with Bill and his brother Bruce. Even then he was a GREAT guy, always friendly, helpful, and humble.

Bill Walton made me want to watch basketball 🏀. Throw it down, Big Man...Throw it down!! RIP Mr. Walton 💔

I love u Dan. U have the best stories (& friends) ♡

I was keen to hear Dan’s reaction, I loved all the moments Dan shared with Bill and this was a beautiful recollection. This one hurts but there’s just so much positive to remember ❤

Bill was probably the only real professional American hippie athlete. And to me that's high praise.

What a player one of a kind grew up watching UCLA 86-4 he was if he was healthy forget about it he dominated I'm gonna miss em when he beat Philadelphia 77 finals game 6 20 pts 23 reb 7ass 8blks I could go on forever RIP

Big Red I will not forget you! You were a creative broadcaster and I loved it. This guy cherished the human spirit!😊😊😊😊 This man was full of life! This guy was a true 'Warrior' for life. I wish The Walton's family the very best during this tough time. I had to lay rest a friend recently too. Peace to the whole basketball community of this great loss we have incurred.😢😢😢

Wonderful heartfelt tribute

Bill made this call once during a Bulls Finals game. The Bulls were down a little, the crowd was quiet, and Bill said something like "All you can hear is silence and the rattling of jewelry." AMAZING!!!

Brilliant man. Many times I wished I could sit down with him and have a good listen. There really isn't anyone else quite like him in sports or anywhere else for that matter. RIP.

Great tribute, Dan!!! I met Bill a few times in San Diego at social events and it is true, Bill ALWAYS left people smiling and wow was he smart! He had an exceptional memory and would "do" this name memorization routine where he would ask people their names at the beginning of a speech and then at the end, some 45 minutes later, he would repeat everyones name. In my case, the audience was about 40 people strong and he perfectly named ever single one without error. An exceptional person doesn't even come close to encapsulating Bill's impact on others throughout his life.

Dang it.... the story of Bill and Dan riding in the car listening to Bob Dylan got me tearing up. He seemed to be at peace and loving life ALL the time. He will be missed. Throw it down, Big Man, throw it down.

waited for this. knew Dan would have great stories.

Thank you DP for another moving and awesome town square meeting time. I am 67 and eady to recall how Bill was an inspiring enervating presence with his creative athletic journey. It was about sharing. 🌟🗾🦋

Bill at ucla was also an academic all american along with teammates lee and wilkes. Rip!

I once heard one of those Walton call-ins to Dan’s ESPN radio show. 10 minutes of NBA musings interspersed with the lyrics of Franklin’s Tower. Once of the best, funniest things I’ve ever heard on the radio

Thanks for that, Dan. Bill Walton was just great fun to listen to. He was always enthusiastic and positive about basketball and about life. He had such a big personality. What a character. I'll miss him. RIP Bill o

Bill Walton was so funny...I was sad to hear of his passing and will miss him as a fan of his broadcasting, just made you laugh, and not take the game as seriously when watching a game.

Was a bit young to catch his playing days but loved his commentary, truly the white Charles Barkley.

Just thinking of him makes you smile and chuckle over the things he said and did. May we all have a bit of Bill Walton in us

Great comments and stories on an amazing man! Thank you

As a kid growing up in Portland we all wanted to be Bill Walton on the playground ( and Maurice Lucas) and we thought Queen’s “we are the champions “ song was written for us.

DP, thank you for sharing these memories of Mr. Bill Walton. The world lost a great one. Be kind to others, and most of all, be kind to yourself.

Dan thank you for your thoughts each and every day. I can feel your pain and love for the Bigman. I appreciate your insight each and every day on everything you’ve taught us thru your journey of life. Thank you again sir and to your team, much love to all of you. Joe P. In Port Richey Florida.

I loved watching pac 12 games on tv and listening to bill’s sidekicks try and get him back to the game lol. Genuine.

Bill's bright presence and joy for life leaves a hole in humanity today I miss simply knowing he is on this earth.

As a millennial, I’m too young to actually know bill beyond his announcing, but as a fellow enlightened weirdo - his messages of living his life with selfless purpose are squarely in my heart. Shine on bill.

Great tribute Dan. Thank you!!

LEGEND. One GREAT MAN. 😢❤

Awesome testament to a great human. Thank you Dan!

Truly one of a kind. RIP

Thank you Dan.

RIP Bill Walton

Well Stated! Thanks.

San Diego native In between the ‘Blazers and the Celtics was 7 forgettable years with his hometown Clippers. He missed more games than he played. He blamed himself for the team’s move to LA, thinking if he played more, they wouldn’t have moved. Bill Walton loved San Diego and we loved him

Those are beautiful recolections thx

Great stories Dan, sorry for your loss…

Love Bill. That game against Memphis in the NCAA tournament was amazing. RIP.

Only during a tribute to Bill Walton would I find a patch of the Fremont CA Police on a desk. Cool of Dan Patrick to show that off. Of course, Walton probably visited Fremont a few times when calling games in Berkeley, Moraga, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco. Fremont was my childhood-to-teenage town when Walton won both of his NBA titles. I didn't know that Jim Gray assisted on Walton's spinal surgeon search. Never saw that side of Gray. I do remember Patrick's ESPN years including Walton working with him.

One fine man honoring another fine man..

Love Bill watching a game he called was an adventure you never knew what he may pontificate on he was hilarious.One of the greatest all around players ever even though injuries limited his career.Truly the second greatest college player ever.Kareem being the first which Bill always deferred to.

Great tribute

In 1972 at UCLA, we students demonstrated against Nixon’s Vietnam War by first occupying the Franklin Murphy Administration Building and then had a mass sit-down demonstration at the intersection of Wilshire and Veteran. Bill Walton was always there standing up for what he believed in. Thank you BW.

Always loved Bill. He was great as a commentator on NBC

I called Bill for an interview. He called back, left a 10-minute voice mail, which served perfectly as the interview.

Very nice tribute.

Love you, Bill!

Rest in peace Bill Walton 👍