Bill Walton was unique in media and life, with a message we all understood

They are all the same, even though Bill Walton was one of the most unique men who ever lived. Walton was a 6-foot-2 redhead, curiosity seeker, Grateful Dead fan and TV analyst who happened to be one of the greatest basketball players ever.

But after his death Monday, the tributes were all the same, because the common thread of Walton’s life was his tie-dyed passion for people. At times it may have seemed like he lived on another planet, but he wanted you and everyone else to join him there because it was a place where love and dreams come true.

That’s why the social media tributes were all the same, succinctly summarized by the legendary Julius Erving.

“Bill Walton enjoyed life in every way,” Erving said a statement on X.

But you didn’t have to have a fellow Hall of Famer like Dr. J to know Walton. Walton has been a part of basketball fans’ lives for decades as a TV commentator.

As a center, Walton reached the highest heights, leading UCLA and the Portland Trail Blazers to championships before becoming a sixth man — “Larry Bird’s valet,” as Walton put it — with the Boston Celtics and thriving as a role player for another ring. His importance on the floor changed, but his attitude did not.

He experienced the same thing as an announcer, working with fellow NBC analyst Steve Jones and Tom Hammond on top crews.

In 2002, Walton worked with Marv Albert on the NBA Finals for NBC. In 2003 on ABC, he was paired with play-by player Brad Nessler and co-analyst Tom Tolbert for the finale.

However, these are not the broadcasts that will live on in our memories of Walton. When Walton was more of a sixth man he stood out to a greater extent; especially in the age of social media.

His work on ESPN, late night on his beloved Pac-12, alongside Dave Pasch or Jason Benetti truly represented the groovy Walton experience.

That’s why after his death, social media played clips of Walton being Walton, comparing Boris Diaw of the San Antonio Spurs to Beethoven or eating a lit cupcake or talking about real Bears and Huskies when describing UCLA taking an early lead over Washington had. .

RIP Bill Walton, who 14 years ago spoke of Boris Diaw (career 8.4 ppg/4.4 rebs/3.5 ast) with more beauty and reverence than anyone has ever spoken of anyone else.

“When I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the era of the Romantics.” pic.twitter.com/wSN5eVyOae

— Blake Wexler 🫵 (@BlakeWexler) May 27, 2024

Bill Walton lived his life without fear.

Like when he ate a cupcake live on TV while the candle was still burning.

RIP to a college basketball icon. pic.twitter.com/fDWcRGajTp

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) May 27, 2024

Bill Walton forever pic.twitter.com/doTKjhJcSd

— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) May 27, 2024

Benetti took to social media to share an email he received from Walton four years ago:

“TURN ON THE MUSIC,

As soon as it doesn’t seem right,

change the music/channel,

but don’t turn it off”

In 1981, Walton did his version of changing the music. That year he tackled a stuttering problem that had plagued his life and made his achievements as a broadcaster even more impressive.

Until Walton was almost thirty, he was afraid to speak. During that time, Walton met legendary broadcaster and Olympian Marty Glickman. Glickman told Walton that talking was a skill, not a talent, and that he could apply the lessons of the court to improve, basically to keep it simple and practice.

“When I was 28, a chance meeting at a social event with Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Glickman completely changed my life in so many ways that things have never been the same since, nor have they ever been better,” Walton wrote in an essay for the Stuttering Foundation.

Basketball fans were better for it. Most people alive today didn’t see Walton play in his prime, but they listened to his outlook on life. It was authentic, on or off the TV.

“Bill often ended text messages with ‘Thank you for my life. Shine on. Peace and Love,” ESPN Content President Burke Magnus said on X.

That was his message. Everyone understood. What a great legacy, despite all his achievements.

(Photo of Bill Walton at the 2019 Maui Inivitational: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)