Wooden is hospitalized

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was hospitalized Friday after breaking his wrist and collarbone in a fall at his Encino home Thursday night.

The 97-year-old Hall of Fame coach suffered a hairline fracture of his left wrist and a fractured left collarbone in the fall, according to a statement released by Wooden’s daughter, Nan Muehlhausen.

Wooden also hit his head in the fall but a CT scan of his neck and head were negative, according to Muehlhausen.

“Dad’s spirits are good,” Muehlhausen said. “He is up and joking around with the family. He will probably be in the hospital for a couple of more days before he goes home.”

Wooden most recently attended a game at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 2, when the Bruins beat Arizona, 82-60. That had been his first trip to a UCLA game in almost two months.

He has been hospitalized two other times in the last two years -- the first time for three days in April 2006 because of an inflamed colon and the second time in April 2007 for a suspected reaction to arthritis medication. The first time was during UCLA’s first Final Four appearance under Coach Ben Howland. Last April he needed several blood transfusions to recover from internal bleeding.

Muehlhausen said the family was withholding the name of the hospital where Wooden was admitted. “We appreciate everyone’s concern but we are requesting that people do not call the hospital and do not try to visit Dad at this time,” she said.

-- Diane Pucin