Live Like Bill
Bill Walton: Tribute to the NBA Legend & Legendary Human Being
We just dropped a tribute podcast for Bill, featuring his first episode with us.
It’s so legendary.
Bill was a magical mashup of philosopher king, saint, monk, zen master, hippie, world-class athlete, champion, genius IQ, entertainer, fierce drive and a massive spirit.
And you get him in his full (Bill-ness) glory on this podcast.
Even if you’ve never heard of Bill Walton, the way he lived his life is inspiring.
And you’ll love getting to know Bill.
He’s the rare athlete who leverages their sport to make an even bigger difference after they retire.
Bill’s transcended basketball to become an American treasure.
Bill loved music.
And he was friends with Gerry Garcia and everyone in The Grateful Dead. He saw over 850 shows.
Bill was friends with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Eddie Vedder and countless others.
You don’t want to miss the podcast with Bill.
😎🏴☠️
Apple:
Spotify:
https://tinyurl.com/3a3u6nkc
Beyond the podcast, I also wanted you to get a different lens on Bill.
Because looking back on our relationship, it’s breath-taking (and legendarily inspiring) to see how Bill lived his life.
So I’m not going to tell you his life story, or re-tell the many, well-known legendary Bill accomplishments.
People have asked me to share what it was like to know Bill.
I’ll do my best.
We became friends with a simple twist of fate.
We were both speaking at Netsuite/Oracle executive event in San Diego.
I was the opening act.
Bill the closer.
Growing up I didn’t idolize Bill.
I didn’t even know who he was.
(I grew up in Canada)
So when I met him, I didn’t have the context that most people Bill meets do.
I was meeting Bill as he was. I (of course) knew who he was.
But, I was not meeting the Bill Walton.
I was not star struck.
What did strike me was the (radical) Bill-ness of Bill.
Bill was way Bill.
And Bill was different.
In (about) as many ways as a person could be different.
Rather than cowering from his different, Bill empowered it.
And, Bill was radically himself in a way that made it okay for everyone else to be themselves.
(The night we met 8/24/2017)
The guy in the middle is Jason Maynard. At the time he was one of the top executives at Netsuite. Now he’s a big deal at Oracle. (Jason’s one of the smartest people in tech.)
Bill and I became friends that night.
Bill was intrigued by category design and became an enthusiastic fan of our first book Play Bigger.
Bill was radically generous.
With his thoughts, ideas, time, money and spirit.
Not long after we met, this showed up.
Over 35 (signed) photographs, magazine covers, art prints, book markers and his #1 bestseller “Back From The Dead”.
(Which I highly recommend)
Inside his book, Bill writes:
“To Christopher,
Thank you for your kindness, and for my life,
You’re a giant in a world of sniveling midgets.
Thanks for your vision, passion, intellect and humanity, ethics, moral clarity and everything else,
Stand tall, Play Bigger, shine the light, be the light, beam on,
Gratefully,
Bill Walton
That’s Bill.
He talked like that.
And, if he was your fan, he couldn’t stop telling you how legendary he thought you were.
Bill was this delightful duality.
A guy who could talk without taking a breath for an hour straight, yet at the same time, in the same conversation, display deep interest and empathy, for you.
We was both a legendary listener and a legendary talker.
And, Bill loved flowers.
This is an example of (the gift of) texting with Bill.
And man, did he give a shit about people.
As special as our friendship was (and it really was) I bet 10,000 people thought Bill was their best friend.
That was part of the Bill-ness of Bill.
He was open to falling in love.
And when he did, he was all in.
Bill was a radically different man, who dared to make a massive difference.
(The second time we met, at an Oracle event in Vegas)
Bill was fully self expressed.
And Bill was funny.
I love this story (during his last game on air) about him being inspiration for “Chewybacca”.
So there’s a little different (and I hope inspiring) glimpse into Bill.
Bill’s audacity to live to the fullest.
Love to the fullest.
To be radical different.
Radically alive.
Fearlessly himself.
And of course Bill’s life does inspire the question.
What if I lived a little more like Bill?
(Don’t miss this podcast with the legendary Bill Walton.)
🏴☠️
Bill Walton ~ remembering a man of culture
Bill Walton honored at Dead & Company Sphere performance
Shaquille O'Neal's Emotional Tribute to Bill Walton Moves NBA Fans
Mike Breen tells an incredible Bill Walton story
Bill Walton...Full 3 Minute Ramble on Bob Dylan and Calling Players "Snoop Dogg"
Elvis Costello on Bill’s passing
Obama Calls Bill Walton One Of The Greats Of All Time As Tributes Pour In For NBA Legend
Pearl Jam tribute to Bill Walton
Mickey Hart the drummer in The Grateful Dead said of Bill’s book (his life story),
“This isn’t a basketball story, it’s a story of victory over adversity and the Tao of positive thinking. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Bill Walton is a winner.”
🏴☠️
Bill Walton was as magical with words as he was with basketball