“Looking Down” (Coach Wooden, “ONE ON ONE.”)

Romans 12:3

For through grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Too often, it seems that when an individual receives unusual praise of acclaim, it has an effect on them.  I didn’t want to be changed by any honor or success that came my way, so I went about playing and coaching in a way that I would not be fazed by praise or criticism.  I wanted my players to do the same.

I always told them that they would receive criticism, both deserve and undeserved.  I made it clear that they would not like either one.  I also prepped them to receive praise, both deserved and undeserved.  I stated the obvious – that they would like that very much.  Then I did what I like to do best.  I taught them a lesson.  I said that their individual strength of character would shape how they reacted to both praise and criticism.  If they let either one affect them, it would affect them adversely.

When a person changes, he or she usually ends up with a feeling of superiority.  I usually want that to happen to my players and I didn’t want it to happen to me.  I was flattered when one of the coaches at the NCAA convention introduced me by saying. “John is no different after winning ten championships than before he won one.”  That made me feel good because I want to practice what I teach.

I hope I haven’t changed.  I don’t ever want to look down on anyone.

-John Wooden

APPLICATION

It is so easy to get uppity and full of ourselves.  It is healthy to have people around us who will bring us back down to Earth.  As it is written in Proverbs 27:6, “the wounds of a friend really are better than the kisses of the enemy.”  To show you what I mean, let me tell you a few stories, each of which stresses the importance of humility, not superiority.

A seminary student was taking his last final exam.  The final question was worth 50 percent of his grade.  “What is the name of the dorm custodian?”  The young man was outraged and confronted his professor.  The professor looked up and spoke gently, “Jesus showed compassion for, and interest in, those who occupied the lower stations of life.  If you are going to represent Jesus properly, the custodian is the first person you should have met.  For four years, she has cleaned your room, scrubbed your toilet and emptied your trash.  You have had four years to learn her name, Until she becomes of interest to you as a person, you don’t qualify to be a pastor.”

When reunions are held for players from Coach Wooden’s years at UCLA, managers are included.  They are considered an integral part of the team.  In some basketball programs, a manager becomes a gofer to all the All Stars on the squad.  Not at UCLA!  They are equals, and that is as it should be.  It’s the Wooden way.

Pharisees in Jesus’ day could be overheard praying, “Thank you Lord for not making me a Gentile, dog or a woman.”  Jesus had good news for the Gentiles and women.  He set them free.  That God didn’t play favorites was a brand- new idea.  That a person’s station in life shouldn’t make a difference as to how each was treated was radical thinking.  In Christ eyes, we are all equal.

Don’t look down on people from whatever height you climb.  Make sure you always look at them eye to eye!!

- Jay Carty