By SuperWest Sports Staff
May 27, 2024
The news of Bill Walton’s passing on Memorial Day came as a gut punch to everyone who has followed Pac-12 basketball over the years.
The former UCLA great and Pac-12 Network broadcaster loved the Conference and remained one of its greatest advocates to the end.
Here’s a roundup of X app reactions from the Pac-12 media and fans.
No, Bill. Thank you for your life. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3LCRvs4XlJ
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) May 27, 2024
The timing of this is especially poignant as the Pac-12 concludes its status as a major conference. Nobody was a better ambassador of the Pac-12 than Walton.
We will always remember his vibrancy and his wildly exuberant “conference of champions” rants. https://t.co/BHPlIRSWi9
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) May 27, 2024
UCLA mourns the passing of two-time NCAA champion Bill Walton, a Naismith Hall of Fame inductee (1993) and charter member of the @UCLAAthletics Hall of Fame (1984).
𝑰𝑵 𝑴𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑰𝑨𝑴: https://t.co/VwZwd9uVDs pic.twitter.com/6GrCWvplK7
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) May 27, 2024
#FightOnForever, Bill Walton.
A legendary rival who became a passionate friend, no one championed the Conference of Champions like Walton. pic.twitter.com/fZH5PDmO6t
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) May 27, 2024
RIP to a true legend and one of a kind personality, Bill Walton.
We know Bill’s legacy will continue to Shine On! pic.twitter.com/CQsROEET1D
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) May 27, 2024
I’m devastated. I don’t know of a kinder, more generous, more thankful person than Bill Walton. And I don’t mean celebrities I mean everybody. He made me feel special, but he did that with everyone…every day…every moment. pic.twitter.com/5j8eNd5qDp
— Doug Tammaro (@DougTammaro) May 27, 2024
RIP Bill Walton. In addition to being a legendary basketball player and broadcaster, he was always gracious with his time and made everyone around him feel like the star. My last encounter with him came in the Galen Center parking lot after the last UCLA-USC game. … [continued]
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 27, 2024
No Bill, I’m the luckiest guy in the world! Thank you for my life. pic.twitter.com/2y0ATvUsKx
— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) May 27, 2024
The irony isn’t lost on me that shortly after the Pac-12 Network’s last broadcast, one of its staunchest supporters passes away. Rest in peace to an absolute legend on and off the court. https://t.co/sD6ITq57qx
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) May 27, 2024
Truly one of a kind 💔 pic.twitter.com/8FYtCwEAdF
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) May 27, 2024
I’m absolutely heartbroken right now. One of my all-time favorite athletes and broadcasters had just passed away. The legendary Bill Walton is no longer with us. This is definitely a sad day in basketball and a sad day for the UCLA family. Rest in peace Big Red. pic.twitter.com/yfzPU4qtgK
— Mike Regalado 🏀🏈🎧 (@MikeRegaladoLA) May 27, 2024
RIP Bill Walton. I’m happy that he’ll never know life without the Pac-12. He went out a king. pic.twitter.com/rDCZ3TYHMO
— Steve Bartle (@SBartle247) May 27, 2024
Thank you for your life 🤍 pic.twitter.com/tDi06LmbQc
— Ashley Adamson (@AdamsonAshley) May 27, 2024
My best personal Bill Walton story:
In January 2015, I was covering a USC-UCLA basketball game at Galen Center. Walton was on the call.
Before the game, we found out that former USC coach Bob Boyd had died. It made sense to ask Walton about him.
So I headed down to courtside…
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) May 27, 2024
The Beaver Family mourns the loss of the Legendary Bill Walton. Truly one of a kind, Bill will be greatly missed. 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/7tsZI8yXs2
— Oregon State Hoops (@BeaverMBB) May 27, 2024
The Captain went down with his ship. RIP to an absolute legend in every sense of the word. https://t.co/RB9Y5iGnvp
— Jamey Vinnick (@jameyvinnick9) May 27, 2024
So fitting that the @pac12 effectively ended its 108 year run this weekend, and our greatest Champion & advocate, from our Conference of Champions, died today. 💔 🙏🏼 Thank you for being you Bill! cc: @AdamsonAshley @YogiRoth pic.twitter.com/0rpqq9U3D6
— Rob Ryan (@IAmRobRyan) May 27, 2024
RIP Bill. Whether making precise outlet passes 2 ignite a fast break, bicycling, reading, broadcasting, standing up 4 those in need, sharing wine & stories, dancing under stars on Grateful Dead tours or expressing luv 4 Lori & your children YOU WERE ALWAYS FULLY ENGAGED IN LIFE💙 pic.twitter.com/h0UWwC3ljJ
— Steve Lavin (@SteveLavin64) May 27, 2024
Few people were more curious than Bill Walton.
Ex.: Earlier this MBB season, Walton arrived at Oregon State several hours before a game, and asked an athletics staffer to give him a tour of campus. He didn’t want to just see the buildings. He wanted some history of each.
— Nick Daschel (@nickdaschel) May 27, 2024
Incredibly sad news about Bill Walton. Pac-12 legend for his legacy as an analyst just as much as a player.
Nobody could take you on a roller-coast ride through a conversation like Walton could. Truly one of a kind.
— Zachary Neel (@zacharycneel) May 27, 2024
We were all the luckiest in the world to be around one of the greatest ambassadors to the game of basketball, Bill Walton.
Bill’s exuberant spirit was a gift each and every time he visited UW and he will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/dYUMtoxLwk
— Washington Men’s Basketball (@UW_MBB) May 27, 2024
A singular icon of the game & an ambassador for Cal, the @Pac12 & all of basketball. Our hearts are with the family & friends of Bill Walton. pic.twitter.com/yTS49xRVjQ
— Cal Basketball (@CalMBBall) May 27, 2024
The Beaver Family mourns the loss of the Legendary Bill Walton. Truly one of a kind, Bill will be greatly missed. 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/7tsZI8yXs2
— Oregon State Hoops (@BeaverMBB) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton, who died today at age 71, once told me he’d have come to play at @CalMBBall in “a heartbeat” had John Wooden made the move:https://t.co/JZD2wxCHdk
— Jeff Faraudo (@JeffFaraudo) May 27, 2024
Farewell to the great Bill Walton.
We know who he was b/c of his greatness on the BB court, both collegiate-ly and professionally.
Big Red was serious when he said he didn’t want to go on w/out the Pac-12. More strange poetry in the timing pic.twitter.com/om8zCPB3bi pic.twitter.com/JzVHwRFt9d
— Mark Schipper – 5th Down CFB (@5thDownCFB) May 27, 2024
Thank you for your passion, wisdom, humor and love you showed to the game and all around you. You will be forever missed, Bill. ❤️
Our hearts go out to the Walton family. pic.twitter.com/c2hYYakupw
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) May 27, 2024
Always a champion of the Conference of Champions, Bill Walton was able to hang on until the last PAC-12 live broadcast aired the other night.
Thoughts with the Walton family and his friends. ❤️
— Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) May 27, 2024
❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/3d4lr65Yyp
— Matt Ensor (@Ensor) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton died within 12 hours of the final Pac-12 sporting event. Dude was the quirkiest, weirdest, and most ardent supporter of west coast sports there has ever been. RIP.
— Matt Loveless (@MattLoveless) May 27, 2024
Bill Walton was an icon for our sport and a tremendous ambassador for Stanford and the @pac12. Our love and support goes out to his family, friends and the basketball community ❤️🌲 pic.twitter.com/TF5X7wo77D
— Stanford Men’s Basketball (@StanfordMBB) May 27, 2024
Welcome back to Pullman @BillWalton
Thanks for making the trip and seeing the history of the Palouse. #GoCougs #WAZZU #Pac12MBB pic.twitter.com/3NwNBbhfwD
— Washington State Men’s Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) December 31, 2022
Bill Walton couldn’t exist in a world without the Pac-12.
RIP “The Conference of Champions” legend
— Josh Furlong (@JFurKSL) May 27, 2024
I’m stunned with the news of Bill Walton’s passing. I don’t know ANYONE that more fully enjoyed life. Kind, funny, intelligent, competitive, entertaining. Absolute one of a kind. I will miss you Big Guy. Prayers out to all his family and friends. RIP 🙏
— Todd McKim (@toddmckimsports) May 27, 2024
A legend of the game and an even better person.
Rest in Peace, Bill Walton pic.twitter.com/A8FNezd0vX
— Colorado Men’s Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) May 27, 2024
Heartbroken by the death of Bill Walton, a Trail Blazers legend and shining light of positivity and joy.
Met Bill at the Pac-12 MBB tournament in 2017 and shared that my Dad grew up in Portland watching him and the ‘77 champs.
He was in a hurry but said one thing: “Rip City.” pic.twitter.com/V81pkVLZff
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) May 27, 2024
We join the basketball community in mourning the loss of one of the game’s great ambassadors, Bill Walton. pic.twitter.com/NoBtTe6Qjh
— Oregon Men’s Basketball (@OregonMBB) May 27, 2024
There will never be another Bill. Love you & miss you my friend. pic.twitter.com/JiVJyQHIO4
— Dave Pasch (@DavePasch) May 27, 2024
I was lucky enough to meet Bill twice working out west. 1st time was @ @pac12 BBall Media Day '21. I was getting a water & felt this claw on the top of my head & all of a sudden I heard his unmistakable voice say "You stole the color of my hair".
Best Ginger Athlete of ALL TIME! https://t.co/ur9h22yUYx— Dan Lynch (@DanLynchSpurts) May 28, 2024