My Father………My Inspiration……..My Hero……….Walt Hazzard.
Mahdi Abdul-Rahman aka Walt Hazzard played a major role in UCLA’s undefeated season in 1963-64 and won the NCAA Championship that year. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player and College Player of the Year. He was a part of the USA Men’s Olympic basketball team which eventually won a Gold Medal. He then moved on to the NBA, playing for The Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, Altanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, and The Golden State Warriors. He was selected to play in the 1968 All Star Game during his best season as a pro with The Seattle Supersonics. He decided to retire the day I was born. My dad always said I was his retirement present. In 1984, he became the head coach at UCLA and had a very successful career in developing young talented players like Reggie Miller and Pooh Richardson. He then moved on to do work for the community, working with Young Black Scholars and eventually starting The Sports Academy to help young African Americans acquire a higher education and excel in Athletics. He then moved on to be a Special Consultant for The Los Angeles Lakers, assisting Jerry West in developing the team that would include Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Presently he is recovering from a stroke that he suffered in 1996, but he still is very active with the Laker organization. He personifies Integrity, wisdom, dedication, love, sincerity, courage, and he continues an incredible legacy for which I am happy to be a part of. Love you dad.