Wooden's Legacy
"Wooden’s Legacy," a sculpture honoring legendary basketball Coach John Wooden, was unveiled March 2, 2012 just west of the intersection of Georgia and Meridian streets. Mayor Greg Ballard, members of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, sculpture donors and representatives from John Wooden’s family were present for the reveal.
"Georgia Street is turning into one of the most fascinating streetscapes in the city and perhaps the country," said Mark Miles, chairman of the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. "While the community first experienced this area as the Super Bowl Village, with additions like this sculpture and the pillars that were unveiled, Georgia Street has become a civic asset and destination."
"During the weeks surrounding Super Bowl XLVI, the Indianapolis community shared our sense of civic engagement, ambition and team spirit through volunteerism with the world," said Mayor Ballard. "With this sculpture, we honor the legacy of a man whose values so many strive to emulate."
"Wooden’s Legacy" captures the intensity and focus of Coach Wooden with his expressive facial features and pose. Conceived as a moment in his coaching career, he is in a kneeling position, grasping a "signature" rolled up playbook, gazing towards Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He is surrounded by the legs of his team with historically appropriate socks and footwear highlighting key periods of his basketball career and beyond. The base is encircled with the words from Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, such as confidence, honesty and cooperation.
From www.indydt.com/GeorgiaStreetWooden.cfm
"It was an honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of depicting Coach John Wooden," said artist Jeffrey Rouse, who previously lived in Indianapolis. "I am struck by his passion and conviction as both a player and coach. He deeply understood the fundamentals of integrity and what was required of a team to ensure success. I had the good fortune of working with a great team to create this monument to an iconic man, including the Bright Foundry, CGM Precast and RATIO Architects.
About John Wooden
John Wooden (Oct. 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) grew up in Martinsville, Ind. where he took his high school team to the State Championship Finals three consecutive years and was named three-time All-American. He went on to play at Purdue University and helped win the 1932 National Championship. He was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern for three consecutive years and became known as the Indiana Rubber Man because of his suicidal dives on the hardwood.
Wooden spent four years in the Navy and upon returning coached Indiana State University basketball for three years, winning the Indiana Intercollegiate Basketball National Tournament. He became the basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins in 1948 and guided them to 88 consecutive victories, four perfect seasons, 20 PAC 10 championships, 38 NCAA tourneys, seven consecutive National Championships and 10 National Championship titles all together. In 1961, Wooden was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named Coach of the Year seven times, became the first man to be inducted into the Hall of Fame again as a coach and a player and remains untouched as the winningest coach of all time.
Quoted from www.indydt.com/GeorgiaStreetWooden.cfm
