UCLA center Bill Walton shoots for two of his record 44 points against Memphis State in the final game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in St. Louis, March 26, 1973.While he went away to play basketball at UCLA and the bulk of his NBA career, he never missed a chance to celebrate his hometown.
“I love my bike, I love San Diego and I love solar power,” Walton was fond of saying at the many appearances he made for various causes., the NBA announced. The Big Redhead, as he was called then, won two NCAA championships under John Wooden at UCLA before an NBA career that included winning league MVP in the 1977-78 season and championships with Portland and Boston. He played parts of four seasons with the Clippers in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The foot and back injuries that marred his NBA career didn’t slow him down later in life even as he began to show a touch of gray. He loved riding his bike and brought a custom high-backed chair with him to some concerts and basketball games.In 2016, he was so stoked to hear that the Amgen Tour of California would start in San Diego that he rode his custom bike — with a Grateful Dead paint job — from his home near Balboa Park to the news conference on the waterfront.
Some Padres fans will probably never forget Grateful Dead Night on Aug. 8, 2019. Walton played bongos with local tribute band Electric Waste Band on a stage beyond center field at Petco Park and then threw out a ceremonial first pitch that was wide left by several feet. He asked for a second chance and made a nice throw to reliever Trey Wingenter.
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