“I live to ride, I ride to live,” said Bill Walton, former NBA champion and Hall of Famer, in his book, “Back from the Dead.”
Although William Theodore Walton III was best-known for his basketball and later sports broadcasting talents, he had other passions. Riding his bike was one of them. Going to Grateful Dead concerts was another one, attending at least 850. Being politically active and supporting social causes were also important to him.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm{2DE H66<[ @? |2J af[ (2=E@? 5:65 @7 42?46C 2E E96 286 @7 f`] |@DE A6@A=6 H:== C6>6>36C 9:> 7@C 9:D 32D<6E32== 23:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 4@==686 J62CD[ 96 A=2J65 7@C &r{p[ F?56C 72>@FD 4@249 y@9? (@@56?] w6 H2D 2 E9C66\E:>6 ?2E:@?2= 4@==686 A=2J6C @7 E96 J62C] x? `hfa 2?5 `hfb[ 96 96=A65 E96 qCF:?D H:? a }rpp r92>A:@?D9:AD]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E92E[ (2=E@? A=2J65 7@C E96 $2? s:68@^{@D p?86=6D r=:AA6CD W`hfh\g_[ `hga\gdX] uC@> `hfc\fg[ (2=E@? H2D 2=D@ @? E96 !@CE=2?5 %C2:= q=2K6CD’ E62> H96? E96J H@? E96:C @?=J }qp 492>A:@?D9:A :? `hfe\ff]k^Am
Bill Walton in his younger days as a Boston Celtic player, giving his characteristic "arms up" victory salute. (COURTESY PHOTO)
kAmx C6>6>36C H2E49:?8 9:> A=2J 7@C E96 q@DE@? r6=E:4D :? E96 >:5\’g_D W`hgd\gfX 2?5 96=A:?8 E96> H:? 2 }qp 492>A:@?D9:A] w6 H2D 2? :>AC6DD:G6 e 7@@E[ `` :?49 46?E6C]k^Am
kAm(92E x 5:5?’E <?@H 23@FE (2=E@? H2D 9:D =@G6 @7 4J4=:?8] p7E6C 9:D 562E9[ 2 4J4=:?8 7C:6?5 A@DE65 2? :>286 @7 (2=E@?’D “%@E2= q@@< @7 q:4J4=:?8[” HC:EE6? 3J (2=E@? 2?5 DA@CED HC:E6C[ q;2C?6 #@DE2:?8[ :? `hgd]k^Am
kAm~? E96 4@G6C[ 96 DE2?5D AC@F5 H:E9 9:D “4FDE@>\D:K65” 3:<6 @G6C 9:D D9@F=56C] %96 DF3E6IE @7 E96 E:E=6 :D A@DE65 @G6C 9:D 9625i” u@C 7F? @C 7:E?6DD[ DA@CE @C EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ E96 @?=J 4J4=:?8 8F:56 H:E9 2== E96 724ED J@F ?665]”k^Am
kAm|J 7C:6?5 4@>>6?E65 E92E 27E6C 4@==686 96 >@G65 E@ 2 4:EJ H:E9 =@ED @7 3:<:?8] %92E H2D D@>6E9:?8 E92E :?E6C6DE65 9:>]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5[ “x 3@F89E E9:D 3@@< E@ =62C? >@C6] %9:D 3@@< 2?5 E96 3:<6 :E 96=A65 >6 3FJ 3642>6 >J 36DE 7C:6?5D 7@C >J 7:CDE EH@ J62CD @FE @7 4@==686]”k^Am
Bill Walton poses with his bicycle on the cover of "Bill Walton's Total Book of Bicycling," the book he wrote with Bjarne Rostaine in 1985. (COURTESY PHOTO)
kAmw6 :D =F4<J E@ DE:== 92G6 E92E 3:4J4=6 2?5 3@@<] %@52J[ E92E 3@@< :D @FE @7 AC:?E 2?5 92C5 E@ 7:?5]k^Am
kAm~?46 x <?6H 23@FE (2=E@?’D 4J4=:?8[ x H2?E65 E@ <?@H >@C6] |J :?E6C?6E D62C496D 3C@F89E FA >2?J C676C6?46D E@ “q:== (2=E@? 2?5 3:4J4=6D” 2?5 9:D =@G6 7@C E96>]k^Am
kAm~? |2J ag[ 27E6C (2=E@?’D 562E9[ q6C?:6 (:=D@? HC@E6 2? 2CE:4=6 7@C p! ?6HD[ “q:== (2=E@? =@G65 9:D 3:<6 2?5 9:D 9@>6E@H? @7 $2? s:68@]” W2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:==\H2=E@?\5:6D\D2?\5:68@X]k^Am
kAmx? $2? s:68@[ (2=E@? H2D <?@H? 2D “E96 C62==J E2== 8FJ H9@ @7E6? C@56 9:D 3:<6 2C@F?5 E@H?]” w6 :D BF@E65 2D D2J:?8[ “x =@G6 >J 3:<6[ x =@G6 $2? s:68@[ 2?5 x =@G6 D@=2C A@H6C]”k^Am
kAm(96? E96 a_`e p|vt} %@FC[ 2 AC@76DD:@?2= C@25 4J4=:?8 DE286 C246[ DE2CE65 :? $2? s:68@[ (2=E@? C@56 9:D 4FDE@> 3:<6 H:E9 vC2E67F= s625 A2:?E ;@3 7C@> 9:D 9@>6 E@ E96 H2E6C7C@?E ?6HD 4@?76C6?46] w6 H2?E65 E@ 36 E96C6 E92E 52J E@ 42E49 E96 24E:@? 2?5 C6>6>36C H96? 96 C@56 E96 E@FC]k^Am
kAmx? $2? s:68@[ E96C6’D 2 =:76 D:K6 3C@?K6 DE2EF6 @7 (2=E@? H:E9 9:D 3:<6] %96 D4F=AEFC6 4@>>6>@C2E6D 9:D =:76=@?8 =@G6 @7 4J4=:?8 2?5 H2D A2:5 7@C 3J AC:G2E6 7F?5D 7C@> DFAA@CE6CD]k^Am
kAmx?E6?565 7@C $2? s:68@’D 2:CA@CE E@ H6=4@>6 EC2G6=6CD[ :E H2D EFC?65 5@H? 3J E96 2:CA@CE 2?5 A=2465 2E |:DD:@? q2J] xE H2D F?G6:=65 |2J `c[ a_`e[ 2E $<: q6249 !2C<] p7E6C E96 46C6>@?J[ (2=E@? =65 2 “b_\>:=6 3:<6 C246 E9C@F89 |:DD:@? q2J E@ 36?67:E >:=:E2CJ G6E6C2?D DF776C:?8 7C@> !%$s]” %92E’D ;FDE H92E 96 5:5\96 C@56 9:D 3:<6 2?5 96=A65 @E96CD]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2EF6 ?@H EC2G6=D 2C@F?5 $2? s:68@ E@ 5:776C6?E =@42E:@?D] rFCC6?E=J[ :E :D 2E |:DD:@? '2==6J *|rp H96C6 (2=E@? 72?D 92G6 D6E FA 2 >6>@C:2= E@ E96 7@C>6C A=2J6C[ 3C@2542DE6C[ 4J4=:DE[ 2?5 DFAA@CE6C @7 @G6C da 492C:E:6D]k^Am
kAm(2=E@? 82G6 2 =@E E@ 9:D 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E96 H@C=5 @7 DA@CED] qFE E96 C@25 96 EC2G6=65 H2D?’E 62DJ] (96? 96 A=2J65 }qp 32D<6E32==[ 96 H2D A=28F65 H:E9 :?;FC:6D] w6 6?5FC65 @G6C bf @CE9@A65:4 DFC86C:6D] r9C@?:4 A2:? 6G6?EF2==J 7@C465 9:> E@ C6E:C6 :? `hh_]k^Am
kAm(2=E@? 564:565 E@ C6\:?G6?E 9:>D6=7 2D 2 DA@CED 3C@2542DE6C] %92E H2D?’E 62DJ 7@C 2 =:76=@?8 DEFEE6C6C E@ >2?286] (:E9 E96 96=A @7 3C@2542DE6C |2CEJ v=:4<>2? 2?5 H:E9 AC24E:46 2?5 A6CD:DE6?46[ 96 H2D 23=6 E@ @G6C4@>6 E92E 277=:4E:@?]k^Am
kAm(2=E@? D2:5[ “(96? x H2D ag[ x =62C?65 9@H E@ DA62<] xE’D 364@>6 >J 8C62E6DE 244@>A=:D9>6?E @7 >J =:76 2?5 6G6CJ3@5J 6=D6’D 3:886DE ?:89E>2C6]”k^Am
During his sports broadcasting career, Bill Walton often brought a Grateful Dead vibe to the games. (COURTESY PHOTO)
kAm(2=E@? 3642>6 2 A@AF=2C DEF5:@ 2?2=JDE 2?5 4@>>6?E2E@C 7@C D6G6C2= ?6EH@C<D 2?5 E62>D] ~7E6? 5C6DD65 :? vC2E67F= s625 @FE7:ED[ 96 25565 E96:C 4@=@C 2?5 H:D5@> E@ 9:D 3C@2542DED] x? a__`[ 96 H@? 2? t>>J 7@C “q6DE {:G6 $A@CED %6=6G:D:@? qC@2542DE]”k^Am
kAmq24< AC@3=6>D 2?5 49C@?:4 A2:? 4@?E:?F65 E@ A=28F6 (2=E@?] w6 925 E@ =62G6 t$!} :? a__h 3642FD6 @7 E96>] w6 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C C:56 9:D 3:<6 @C H2=<] w6 6G6? 4@?D:56C65 DF:4:56 5F6 E@ E96 4@?DE2?E A2:? 2?5 563:=:E2E:@?] u@CEF?2E6=J[ 96 7:?2==J 7@F?5 C6=:67 2?5 2 ?6H =:76 27E6C 2? 6:89E\9@FC DA:?2= DFC86CJ :? a__h] w:D DA:?6 H2D 7FD65 H:E9 EH@ E:E2?:F> C@5D 2?5 7@FC c\:?49 3@=ED H6C6 :?D6CE65 :? 9:D 324<] xE E@@< 2 J62C 7@C 9:> E@ C64@G6C 2?5 36 23=6 E@ >@G6 62D:=J 282:?]k^Am
kAmu:?2==J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (:=D@?’D p! DE@CJ[ 96 H2D “23=6 E@ C:56 9:D 3:<6 2?5 >@G6 282:?]” w6 4@F=5 DH:>[ =:7E H6:89ED[ 2?5 3:<6[ AC676CC:?8 C:5:?8 2 46?EFCJ 6G6CJ 52J]k^Am
kAm~7 E92E E:>6[ (2=E@? D2:5[ “(96? x H2D 7:?2==J 23=6 E@ C:56 >J 3:<6 7C66=J 282:?[ x <?6H x 925 >256 :E 2== E96 H2J 324<] p7E6C 36:?8 :? D@ >F49 A2:? 7@C D@ >2?J J62CD[ E@ 36 23=6 E@ C:56 2?5 3:<6[ E@ 766= E96 H:?5 CFD9:?8 E9C@F89 >J 92:C[ 2?5 E96 DF? @? >J 7246[ E96 DH62E 4@G6C >J 3@5J[ :E 8:G6D >6 >@C6 ;@J E92? H@C5D 42? 6G6C E6==]”k^Am
kAm(2=E@? C6EFC?65 E@ 3C@2542DE:?8 :? a_`_ 2?5 4@?E:?F65 E9C@F89 a_`h] sFC:?8 E92E E:>6[ 96 HC@E6 9:D D64@?5 3@@<[ “q24< 7C@> E96 s625[” :? a_`f] p }6H *@C< %:>6D 3@@< C6G:6H 56D4C:36D :E 2D “q:== (2=E@?’D }6H *@C< %:>6D 36DED6==:?8 >6>@:C 23@FE 9:D C64@G6CJ 7C@> 563:=:E2E:?8 A9JD:42= :?;FCJ 2?5 9@H =6DD@?D 7C@> y@9? (@@56? 2E &r{p W2?5 E96 >FD:4 @7 E96 vC2E67F= s625X :?DA:C65 9:D 52C<6DE 9@FCD]”k^Am
kAmx? a_`h[ H9:=6 @? r:EJ @7 !@CE=2?5 $F?52J !2C<H2JD AC6\C:56[ (2=E@? 282:? 4@??64E65 3:<:?8 2?5 vC2E67F= s625 >FD:4 H96? 96 D2:5[ “(96? J@F 86E 4@?7FD65[ C:56 J@FC 3:<6 2?5 =:DE6? E@ E96 >FD:4 A=2J[” 96 3@@>65[ :? 2 >2D9\FA @7 vC2E67F= s625 =JC:4D 2?5 9:D @H? DA:? @? E96 >@>6?E] “%96 7:CDE 52JD 2C6 E96 92C56DE 52JD[ 5@?’E H@CCJ 23@FE :E ?@] (92E x H2?E E@ <?@H :D[ 42? J@F C:56 J@FC 3:<6n pC6 J@F <:?5n p?5 H:== J@F 4@>6 H:E9 FDn w6C6 H6 8@]” W3:<6A@CE=2?5]@C8^a_ac^_d^ag^C6>6>36C:?8\3:==\H2=E@?\A@CE=2?5D\3:4J4=:?8\3:8\>2?\2?5\?32\DE2C\bgeefgXk^Am
kAm(2=E@? C@56 @? 2?5 D92C65 9:D <:?5?6DDP sFC:?8 E96 a_a_ A2?56>:4[ (2=E@? 2?5 %@?J u:?? 4C62E65 “q:<6D 7@C wF>2?:EJ]” xED >:DD:@? H2D “E@ 5@?2E6 2 >:==:@? 3:<6D E@ <:5D H9@ 42?’E 277@C5 E96>]” p44@C5:?8 E@ E96:C H63D:E6 W93:<67@C9F>2?:EJ]4@>^X[ E96J C2:D65 @G6C Sb__[___ 7@C E92E 42FD6 2?5 >2?J @E96C 492C:E23=6 @C82?:K2E:@?D ?62C $2? s:68@]k^Am
kAm%92E’D (2=E@? 7@C J@F] w6 H2D 2 >2? H9@ =@G65 9:D 3:<6[ vC2E67F= s625 2?5 9:D 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“(92E 2 =@?8 DEC2?86 EC:A :E’D 366?[” 7@C E96 f`\J62C\@=5[ 3FE 96 =:G65 :E H:E9 8C246[ 4@FC286[ 2?5 =@G6] #x![ q:== (2=E@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8myF?6 FA4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm• (9:E6 |@F?E2:? }t|qp %C2:= (@C< s2J[ $F?52J[ yF?6 h[ 2E h 2]>][ w:89 $49@@= {@@A r@??64E@C] |66E 2E E@A @7 w:89 $EC66E[ D@FE9 6?5 @7 D9@@E:?8 A:E] #68:DE6C 2E gib_ 2]>]k^Am
kAm• #:56 }@r@ “(6=4@>6 q24<” 6G6?E[ $F?52J[ yF?6 `d[ $24@ #:G6C qC6H6CJ :? uCJ63FC8 7C@> d E@ f A]>] %C2:= H@C< E92E >@C?:?8 h 2]>]k^Am
kAm• r@@D rJ4=:?8 r=F3’D $9C65 r2>A a_ac[ |@F?E2:? q:<6 s2J r2>A 7@C <:5D `_ E@ `c[ DE2CED yF?6 ac\yF?6 ag] %96 4@DE :D S`__ A6C <:5] r@@D C6D:56?ED 2C6 Sd_]k^Am
kAm• (9:E6 |@F?E2:? }t|qp vC@FA #:56[ $F?52J[ yF?6 b_[ |2CD92== r@?D6CG2E:@? pC62 @77 (6DE $:56 #@25[ `_ 2]>]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.