San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Lee was UCLA’S magician, much more
Bill Walton wasn’t near his usual 7 feet of exuberant self. He was down, and talking around emotion, as if he were a man who had just lost his best friend. Because he had.
Greg Lee, a point guard who played with Walton and Jamaal Wilkes on John Wooden’s phenomenal national championship basketball teams in 1972 and 1973, passed away at 70 here Wednesday, from what was reported as an infection caused by an immune disorder.
Lee, a two-time Los Angeles City Player of the Year and All-american/valedictorian at Reseda High, doubled as a Hall of Fame beach volleyball player and was an excellent tennis player. He taught advanced math here at Morse and Clairemont high schools (he also coached basketball and tennis at Clairemont and played basketball professionally for the Conquistadors/sails, Clippers and Trail Blazers).
Over the phone, Bill spoke of Greg, his UCLA roommate, in reverent tones, so rather than interrupt, I’m basically going to let him speak, as only he can speak.
“Very sad. As great a friend as I have ever had. In the spring of 1968, Jamaal, Greg and I made a trip to Stanford and we committed that weekend to go to UCLA. They were two of the biggest reasons I went to UCLA. Greg was more famous than either of us. He was the key to our success, the heart of our team. He was fantastic at everything he did. An incredible person.
“It’s devastating, even though we’ve faced this day for 25 years. He had endless and severe health challenges stemming from a botched back surgery in 1998, but he never complained. His wife Lisa has been so wonderful. Greg was the centerpiece of our lives. He was a family member — by choice. The world he opened up for us.
“From the first time I met him, I said, yeah, this is what I want to be. He was instrumental in raising our children. He meant so much to so many of us. We did everything together.
“Our first game at UCLA, we beat The Citadel by quite a bit. Coach Wooden didn’t allow media into the locker room, so he sent Greg out to talk to the reporters. I couldn’t talk; I stuttered. One of them asked if Citadel was like a high school team. Greg said: “No, it’s more like a junior college team.” Coach loved Greg, but when he saw that quote the next day, he blew up.
“When Magic came to the Lakers, they asked Jamaal what it was like to play with Magic Johnson. Jamaal said, ‘I played with Greg Lee.’
“Greg was great at everything he did.”
Finally, I asked Bill for the cause of Greg’s death and I got a short answer.
“Life.” …
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I tried and tried to get this column published by just thinking about it. Failed.