Remembering Bill Walton

The world was dealt a huge loss over the Memorial Day weekend, as NBA and college basketball legend Bill Walton passed away at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer.

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz remembered the icon during Tuesday’s show.

Dan says he always associated Bill Walton with being in a great deal of pain but his disposition never revealed that. Dan says he doesn’t know how Bill did that. Dan says he thinks we can all get caught up in our own self-involvement and there probably isn’t a lot beyond pain that anyone listening would be able to notice if they’re in pain. Dan says it’s intensely personal, and Walton’s body didn’t work right basically from the moment he stepped into the spotlight. Dan says Walton always gave off a positive energy to anyone he came into contact with despite his pain.

Stugotz agrees, saying Walton was always smiling, always in a good mood in public, which Dan says he has to imagine was a mask at times because you can’t always be in a good mood. Stugotz notes that he has gotten to spend a little bit of time with Walton over the last few years as a fellow Deadhead and he had some good times with Walton. Stugotz says he knew Walton was in pain because of his history, but looking at him you would never know he was in pain spending any sort of time with him. He was always gracious.

Dan says when it’s every walking step, he doesn’t know how you can keep up a positive mood. Stugotz says as an example of the pain Walton was in, once at a Dead and Company concert he asked Walton why he didn’t sit rather than stand for the entire show. He says Walton told him sitting down and standing up caused too much pain.

Mike says his wife once asked him who Walton was, seeing a bunch of things around him on social media, and Mike says that while he has no memories of Walton as an active player he always remembers him being around the game and being a wildly charismatic and popular figure. Walton was just beloved by everyone around the sport. Even if he could carry on a conversation all on his own.

Dan says that as great a player as Walton was, that’s not what he will be remembered for. Dan thinks Walton will be remembered for his spiritual, aligned-with-the-cosmos broadcasting persona that we’ve all seen for decades now. Dan says he had a career that was more memorable as a personality than it was as an athlete. Stugotz says Walton’s broadcasting career was unique and different. He says Walton was different and took chances as a broadcaster.

Rest in peace Bill, thanks for the memories.

Check out the full Best of video above and tune into The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network!

SHOW BREAKDOWN

Local Hour: How Much More We Gotta Lose?

• Today’s cast: Dan, Stugotz, Chris, Jeremy, Lucy, Mike, and Roy. Angel Hernandez, we will miss you and your truly lousy umpiring. The Celtics have advanced to the NBA Finals, and the Mavericks are now just a game away from sweeping the Timberwolves. Dan, Stu, and the Shipping Container share their greatest takeaways from both series. Have the Timberwolves lost enough yet? Is Luka Doncic in shape? Is he young? Is Jayson Tatum doing enough? Plus, is the Panthers Game 3 OT Loss on Dan’s Top 5 Worst Feelings South Florida Sports Fans Have Ever Felt?

Big Suey: The Power Ballad

• After wrapping up our conversation on the Florida Panthers, Dan finally gets to his Top 5 Worst Feelings South Florida Sports Fans Have Ever Felt. Then, it’s Hip-Hop Weekend in Miami, but the music selection has been…questionable. Plus, Furiosa flopped at the box office, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of movie theaters as we know it. Also, why don’t movie stars make power ballads the way they used to in the 80s?

Hour 1: Celebrating Bill Walton

• There are NEVER enough monster ballads for this group and our very own white snake. Then, we pay tribute to one of the most positive figures in sports history and one of our all-time favorite guests, Bill Walton. Plus, Ron Magill is here to discuss the animal kingdom and whether or not HE likes Rudy Gobert.

Hour 2: History Tells Us…

• Stugotz kicks things off with his Weekend Observations from the long weekend! Then, the New York Mets have given us a reason to revive WFAT, and college athletes are getting money, but maybe not as fairly as you think. Plus, Roy Wood Jr. is here to discuss is Sorta Kinda Maybe Lock of the Week, the Trump Trial, Kyrie Irving, Mike Tyson, and his new podcast “Road to Rickwood.”

Postgame Show: Spliffnotes

• Juju joins Dan to discuss the show coming off Memorial Day Weekend. He also gives a rather surprising update about how he’s feeling as the Celtics head into the NBA Finals. Plus, we dive into the Angel Reese controversy from over the weekend and how Caitlin Clark responded after the Fever finally picked up their first win of the season.

VIDEO:

Check out the Le Batard and Friends YouTube page for more and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the show on X at @LeBatardShow.

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