When This Bruin Talks, Trojans Listen Too

The seating assignments at the 20th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular fundraiser Sunday night at the Century Plaza had Pete Carroll sitting next to a Bruin. In some cases, putting a Trojan and a Bruin together might not be a good idea, but Carroll was thrilled because the Bruin was John Wooden.

Carroll, who regards Wooden as an inspiration because he enjoyed his greatest success late in his coaching career, was able to pick Wooden’s brain.

“I had lots of questions,” Carroll said. “One thing I asked him was, ‘How much should you change from year to year?’ He said, ‘Your players change, but you don’t.’ ”

Trivia time: Carroll attended Redwood High in Larkspur, Calif., with what famous actor-comedian?

A fitting award: Carroll, Wooden and Jerry Rice received lifetime achievement awards at the Cedars-Sinai affair, which was attended by more than 100 sports celebrities and raised $1.5 million to benefit the medical genetics birth defect center at the hospital.

“I wasn’t sure why I would be getting a lifetime achievement award,” said Carroll, 53, “until I saw [former Dallas Cowboy coach] Jimmy Johnson here earlier and he reminded me I have been alive and dead a number of times in my career.”

Simple requests: Wooden was introduced by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who said his UCLA coach didn’t ask a lot of players.

“All he wanted us to do was learn a little basketball, come to practice on time, and not get blisters on our feet,” he said.

Kinder, gentler: Abdul-Jabbar, after being introduced by former NBA opponent John Salley, said, “It’s nice to get some kind words from John rather than a sharp elbow.”

The proud coach: Wooden said, “What I’m most proud of is, so many of my players graduated and have done well in their chosen professions. Take Bill Walton, for example. Here was a kid with a speech impediment who is in a situation now where he can’t stop talking.”

Priorities in order: Kobe Bryant was at the affair to present an award to a surprise recipient, and there was some conjecture that it might be Phil Jackson. But it was the head of Cedars-Sinai’s birth defects institute, Dr. David Rimoin, of whom Bryant said, “He has a job that’s a lot more important then putting a ball in a hoop.”

Later, when asked to comment on the Laker coaching situation, Bryant said, “Tonight is more important than that.”

In awe: After receiving his award, Rice said of the celebrity-filled room: “I see all the kids walking around getting autographs and think, ‘That’s what I need to do.’ ”

Trivia answer: Robin Williams, who was voted by his high school classmates as “least likely to succeed.”

And finally: Jim Hill, Sunday night’s emcee, giving credit to Beth Moskowitz for lining up all the celebrities in attendance, said, “You can change your phone number, and she will have it before you do.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.