Wooden Presents Mullin With Award

Chris Mullin of St. John’s was the recipient of the ninth annual John R. Wooden Award at a dinner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club Wednesday night. And Wooden, the man for whom the award is named, was the recipient of three standing ovations.

Wooden, making his first public appearance since the March 21 death of his wife Nell, said: “My heart’s heavy this evening for the lady who has been my inspiration for 60 years. I know she’d want me to be here to honor this young man, Chris Mullin.”

Wooden, in presenting the award, said that he was particularly pleased that it went to Mullin because Mullin is scheduled to graduate in June.

Only one of the previous recipients, Michael Jordan of North Carolina in 1984, has not gone on to get a college degree. Jordan went into the NBA after his junior year.

“This year’s recipient is just the type of young man I like to see win,” the former UCLA coach said. “He plays the game the way I like to see it played. He has good statistics, but they could be much better if he didn’t play such an all-around team game. That’s what it’s all about on the basketball court or in the home.”

Sharing in the presentation of the award to Mullin were sportscaster Dick Enberg and Governor George Deukmejian, who earned his law degree from St. John’s.

Mullin, in accepting the award, said: “Just sitting here listening and talking to Coach Wooden, and seeing him and his family after having looked up to him for so many years . . . well, it was just an unbelievable feeling.”

Mullin beat out Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma in the annual voting by 1,000 sportswriters and sportscasters throughout the nation.