Lute

NYCat · Post by **NYCat** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:51 pm

80!

http://instagram.com/p/tL5HFpOAq0/

Happy Birthday coach.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:03 pm

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:09 pm

Wow, wished we could've seen Lute's face when he saw just how many showed up. Must be one hell of a party.

Hope there's many more birthdays in his future.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:16 pm

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:20 pm

I guess my invitation got lost in the mail

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:45 pm

AZCatGirl wrote:Wow, wished we could've seen Lute's face when he saw just how many showed up. Must be one hell of a party.

Hope there's many more birthdays in his future.

Wish I had seen his face when he saw Hansen.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:48 pm

Chicat wrote:
AZCatGirl wrote:Wow, wished we could've seen Lute's face when he saw just how many showed up. Must be one hell of a party.

Hope there's many more birthdays in his future.
Wish I had seen his face when he saw Hansen.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 5:56 pm

Chicat wrote:
AZCatGirl wrote:Wow, wished we could've seen Lute's face when he saw just how many showed up. Must be one hell of a party.

Hope there's many more birthdays in his future.
Wish I had seen his face when he saw Hansen.

It's times like this I miss rep.

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:38 am

I don't think Greg Hansen was invited.

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:56 am

Alieberman wrote:I guess my invitation got lost in the mail

Same here. I mean I did almost knock Lute over with a pallet at the bookstore in 2007 when I worked there. Makes us practically brothers.

The Butcher · Post by **The Butcher** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:39 pm

AZCatGirl wrote:

Holy crap that cake is awesome.

CBCat · Post by **CBCat** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:44 pm

Craig McMillian sighting.
McShot! I was there raising hell of course!

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sun Sep 21, 2014 2:55 pm

CBCat wrote:Craig McMillian sighting.
McShot! I was there raising hell of course!

You and me both. Only time I ran on the floor.

Had a philosophy class with McMillan.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:29 am

Lute has created a legendary crew

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 12:56 pm

NYCat wrote:80!

http://instagram.com/p/tL5HFpOAq0/

Happy Birthday coach.

This is fantastic.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 2:57 pm

http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/ ... -80-092214

TUCSON, Ariz. -- You know life is good when you can spend a long weekend with friends and family to enjoy your 80th birthday. Being an octogenarian never looked so good. The life of Riley, indeed. And doing well on the golf course didn't hurt former Arizona Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson, who Monday celebrates his 80th birthday.
"I feel great and yes, I'll be 80 but it's just a number, I guess," Olson said on Sunday just a few hours after getting off the golf course and late having lunch with some of his friends and former players. "My health is great. ... Everything is fine. Everything has been well."

How could it not? "I played the best round of golf I've played in the last two years," he said of his 86 at La Paloma Country Club.

It was a whirlwind weekend for the former Arizona coach, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and who called it a career in 2008 after suffering a stroke and its complications. Visitors for his surprise party were Harvey Mason, Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, Luke Walton, Channing Frye, Miles Simon and about 100 others, including wives and friends. His wife, Kelly, helped with close to 1,000 emails and texts over the last couple months. "We had a great time," he said.
Pictures were all over Twitter, with him as the central figure among the many former players.

"We had a great day with tons of his former players," Steve Kerr said in an email. "It's amazing how much of an impact he had on all of our lives."

Former players ranged from Iowa to Long Beach City College -- both stops before his quarter century at Arizona, where he won a national title in 1997.

"It's always great seeing my Wildcat family but this time was extra special," said Joseph Blair, a former player and now a graduate assistant coach on current Arizona coach Sean Miller's staff. "We had the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of the man that started that family for us. When I stop and really think of it, it was Coach O bringing me to Tucson that became the catalyst for many lessons learned, friendships created, the birth of my oldest son, my philanthropic state of mind, and so many other positive aspects of what now defines who I am as a man."

Those memories were typical of those who spoke of him. Daniel Dillon remembers Olson's large hands among his many memories.
"From the moment his giant hands swallowed mine when greeting me for the first time in Tucson 'til today, still not knowing whether he truly understood my Australian accent," said Dillon in a text. "The reason why I decided to select University of Arizona was because of the way he treated his players, not only on the court but outside of basketball also. The friendships that I've made through my teammates and staff can only be credited to the way Coach O selected great men into the program."

Former player Sean Rooks echoed that on Facebook:

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A COACH, FATHER, FRIEND, MENTOR & HALL OF FAMER...LUTE OLSON! Thank You For Building An Empire And Changing Young Players Into Men. Thank You For Creating A Tradition That Will Be Carried On Long After He Has Retired. We SALUTE You & Thank You. Cool Hand LUTE. THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND. HAPPY 80th #STILLtheBestHairInTheGame."

His famously perfectly placed white hair may not move but Olson surely does. Since retirement, he's actively been all over, and will be in Italy next weekend for an extended vacation Kelly got him for Christmas. And for the most of the recent years he's a constant at all Arizona home games, he's been an ambassador for the UA Foundation and a television commercial star. He's even done the robot, taught to him by Kerr as he said in the commercial. "That was a lot of fun doing that," he said, laughing. "We had a great time."

No more than the three-day celebration he had in Tucson getting to see everyone.

"It was very special," he said. "It was a family affair again." There may have even been some recruiting going on. Walton and wife, Bre (a former Arizona volleyball standout), brought their newborn son, Lawson, with them. "As you'd expect by seeing mom and dad, he's just beautiful," Olson said. "He's happy and smiling."

And, of course, a future Wildcat.

WildcatRx · Post by **WildcatRx** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 1:56 pm

Machina is still upset that it wasn't held in PHX.

Sonora919 · Post by **Sonora919** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:36 pm

I see RichRod... is Miller taking the pic?

UAtrue · Post by **UAtrue** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 9:40 pm

Awesome. That guy is loved by a lot more than his players too. Hell, I love the guy and I never met him

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 11:57 am

Phylek · Post by **Phylek** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:08 pm

He likes to point at the camera.

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 12:19 pm

Go back and watch the end of the national championship game--he was doing that with Pastner live.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:47 pm

Mr An's Tucson - Join us next Thursday for this epic event! Lute Olson will be here at 7pm autographing "100 Things Arizona Fans Need to Know and Do Before They Die!" #BearDown

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:12 pm

Is that Donnell Harris? Looks like he never got off the evil weed. AJ looks like he can still ball, same with almost every other ex player.

CBCat · Post by **CBCat** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 8:43 pm

Is that book going to be on Amazona?

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 4:35 pm

It was on the counter in the McKale shop and im sure its in the bookstore. Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Things-Arizona-Fa ... =amaz98-20

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Mon Oct 27, 2014 7:42 pm

Jefe wrote:

Mr An's Tucson - Join us next Thursday for this epic event! Lute Olson will be here at 7pm autographing "100 Things Arizona Fans Need to Know and Do Before They Die!" #BearDown

Pleased that they picked his jersey number for the cover:

Main Event · Post by **Main Event** » Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:28 pm

NYCat · Post by **NYCat** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:11 pm

97cats · Post by **97cats** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:34 pm

awesome

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:53 pm

I'm sort of disappointed it isn't him pointing to the scoreboard vs ASU, but a great tribute to a great coach.

MountainCat · Post by **MountainCat** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 1:00 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote:I'm sort of disappointed it isn't him pointing to the scoreboard vs ASU, but a great tribute to a great coach.

Exactly what I thought when I first saw it!

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 1:07 pm

they should move it up like 7-8 days so that it is the same day as our national championship parade through Tucson

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 2:27 pm

ASUHATER! wrote:they should move it up like 7-8 days so that it is the same day as our national championship parade through Tucson

If we actually win a NC after this year, I'm sure I can sustain a long enough bender to make it to the statue.

btfd16 · Post by **btfd16** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 3:36 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote:
ASUHATER! wrote:they should move it up like 7-8 days so that it is the same day as our national championship parade through Tucson
If we actually win a NC after this year, I'm sure I can sustain a long enough bender to make it to the statue.

If we won the natty, my problem would be stopping the bender... I probably would forget the month of April.

PieceOfMeat · Post by **PieceOfMeat** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:05 pm

invite-only event

boooooooooo

DiehardDave37 · Post by **DiehardDave37** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 7:08 pm

ASUHATER! wrote:
Alieberman wrote:I guess my invitation got lost in the mail
Same here. I mean I did almost knock Lute over with a pallet at the bookstore in 2007 when I worked there. Makes us practically brothers.

We sat side by side at a Tucson Youth at Risk Fundraiser. I asked if I could ask him some questions. He said sure. I pulled out an 8 X 11" sheet of paper with questions on both sides. He yanked it out of my hands and answered every question fully. I even won the door prize of a ball signed by the 1996 team and coaches.
Dickerson handed me the ball.That should make us BFF. We are of the same generation. I am 2 1/3 years younger than Lute.
I was very close friends of the founder and director Of Youth at Risk. She knew that I liked Lute and purposely put him on my good ear side. He had a fruit plate while the rest of us had a traditional egg breakfast. He did not know me, but I had heard him at a few other functions. I still have the ball and no one in my family really wants it.

Bangkok Wildcat · Post by **Bangkok Wildcat** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 7:12 pm

DiehardDave37 wrote:
ASUHATER! wrote:
Alieberman wrote:I guess my invitation got lost in the mail
Same here. I mean I did almost knock Lute over with a pallet at the bookstore in 2007 when I worked there. Makes us practically brothers.
We sat side by side at a Tucson Youth at Risk Fundraiser. I asked if I could ask him some questions. He said sure. I pulled out an 8 X 11" sheet of paper with questions on both sides. He yanked it out of my hands and answered every question fully. I even won the door prize of a ball signed by the 1996 team and coaches.
Dickerson handed me the ball.That should make us BFF. We are of the same generation. I am 2 1/3 years younger than Lute.
I was very close friends of the founder and director Of Youth at Risk. She knew that I liked Lute and purposely put him on my good ear side. He had a fruit plate while the rest of us had a traditional egg breakfast. He did not know me, but I had heard him at a few other functions. I still have the ball and no one in my family really wants it.

Awesome story DiehardDave37! Thanks much for sharing. Very interesting to read.

I attended the same church as Lute and Bobbi briefly and they were such class acts...so gracand friendly even with all the attention. He is such a beloved gentleman.

Bear Down.

PieceOfMeat · Post by **PieceOfMeat** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:21 pm

DiehardDave37 wrote:I am 2 1/3 years younger than Lute.

Dave, maybe it's time to stop counting years in third-increments

DiehardDave37 wrote: I still have the ball and no one in my family really wants it.

Hey, ya know, I'm part of your BDW family, and I'd love it

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:49 pm

PieceOfMeat wrote:
invite-only event
boooooooooo

There will be a live stream according to Wildcat Wednesday. So at least we can all watch it.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:16 pm

Dedication of the statue is tomorrow. Podcast talking about Lutes greatest accomplishments: https://www.spreaker.com/user/10228740/ ... oplay=true" target="_blank

EVCat · Post by **EVCat** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 3:31 pm

Jefe wrote:Dedication of the statue is tomorrow. Podcast talking about Lutes greatest accomplishments: https://www.spreaker.com/user/10228740/ ... oplay=true" target="_blank

I bought one of those Kerr shirts to help fund it.

I then had an accident (single person, no one else hurt, no vehicles...) that broke my rib wearing the shirt a day later.

I feel like I should at least get a mention on the plaque.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:35 pm

Starts in 1 hour: http://pac-12.com/live/university-arizona" target="_blank

scumdevils86 · Post by **scumdevils86** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:36 pm

Crazy windy outside too

Dosia · Post by **Dosia** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:10 pm

Is coach Miller listening to Damon? Lol. Switch it up

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:44 pm

Lute looking dapper.

cats101 · Post by **cats101** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:37 pm

UAEebs86 wrote:Lute looking dapper.

Very!

Congrats to Coach. Well deserved and the statue looks good. Might drive by to check it out this weekend.

KaibabKat · Post by **KaibabKat** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:21 pm

Dosia wrote:Is coach Miller listening to Damon? Lol. Switch it up

Why would he start now?

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 1:20 pm

DiehardDave37 wrote:
ASUHATER! wrote:
Alieberman wrote:I guess my invitation got lost in the mail
Same here. I mean I did almost knock Lute over with a pallet at the bookstore in 2007 when I worked there. Makes us practically brothers.
We sat side by side at a Tucson Youth at Risk Fundraiser. I asked if I could ask him some questions. He said sure. I pulled out an 8 X 11" sheet of paper with questions on both sides. He yanked it out of my hands and answered every question fully. I even won the door prize of a ball signed by the 1996 team and coaches.
Dickerson handed me the ball.That should make us BFF. We are of the same generation. I am 2 1/3 years younger than Lute.
I was very close friends of the founder and director Of Youth at Risk. She knew that I liked Lute and purposely put him on my good ear side. He had a fruit plate while the rest of us had a traditional egg breakfast. He did not know me, but I had heard him at a few other functions. I still have the ball and no one in my family really wants it.

If no one in your family is interested, I'd be happy to relieve them of the burden if you need to pass it on. You seem like a good guy, so hopefully that isn't for a while, but it can't hurt to throw my name in early.

EVCat · Post by **EVCat** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 1:49 pm

Lute probably doesn't like me. A friend and I were walking to Staples Center for the 2012 PAC tourney in the walkway north of the ESPNZone. It was early and relatively empty and who should we see but Lute and his wife talking with some couple who said their pleasantries and walked off. They had gotten a picture and my friend had never met or seen Lute off the court (Lute and I go way back, walking by each other in an empty McKale while I was on my way to a class....I'd nod and say "Coach" and he'd nod back and say "hello"), so I asked if we could get a picture of him with my friend. He and his wife smiled and he said "yes", so my friend jumped into a pic with Lute and wife (cropping is essential).

I snapped the pic, we all shook hands, and I started to walk off. My friend said "what about you?" Lute looked at me with a look I can only describe as Regal Puppy Dog. He was confused. I said "No...thank you. I took a picture with you in Flagstaff recently". (I had, in fact, been in a picture with him at a YMCA fundraiser up north). Lute looked confused, said OK, and they walked off.

My friend caught up to me and said "you totally left Lute hanging. He looked...sad."

I looked back and they were well on their way. I hadn't considered his feelings. I thought I was saving him an obligation. I didn't for one second consider that he missed coaching and the attention...albeit in small doses.

I felt bad the rest of the day...I didn't consider HE might have wanted me to ask for a picture.

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