John Wooden statue to be erected at renovated Pauley Pavilion

John Wooden and Pauley Pavilion forever will be linked.

His UCLA basketball teams went 149-2 there. The basketball floor is named the "Nell and John Wooden Court" after the legendary coach and his wife.

His memorial service was held there in June 2010. His great-grandson, Tyler Trapani, even scored the final points at the arena before it closed for renovations after last season.

And when Pauley Pavilion reopens in 2012, Wooden certainly will be there in spirit -- and his image will be there in the form of a statue that will be situated on the new plaza on the building's north side along Bruin Walk, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero announced Tuesday in his weekly blog.

The statue will be sculpted by Blair Buswell, head sculptor for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

"I, along with some of my staff, was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit his studio and see his initial maquettes [concepts] for the statue when the football team played at Utah last weekend," Guerrero wrote. "The studio contains life-size replicas of some of his outstanding work, including statues of Jack Nicklaus, Mickey Mantle and Merlin Olsen ... what an amazing place"

He added: "I cannot wait until we unveil the final product."

RELATED:

John Wooden dies at 99

Photos: John Wooden, 1910-2010

Graphic: A bigger Pauley Pavilion coming in 2012

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: John Wooden coaches at Pauley Pavilion. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Greatest sports figures in L.A. history No. 4: John Wooden

Continuing our countdown of the 20 greatest figures in L.A. sports history, as chosen in voting by our online readers, with No. 4, John Wooden.

No. 4 John Wooden (251 first-place votes, 5,922 points)

A lot of people will be surprised that Wooden didn't win this voting, but he was entirely left off quite a few ballots, leaving him in fourth place.

In 27 years as Bruin coach, his teams registered 620 wins and only 147 losses while earning far more national honors than any other university.

Under Wooden, UCLA won an unprecedented 10 NCAA men's basketball titles, including seven consecutive championships (1966-73). Included in the string is one of the most amazing winning streaks in all of sports: 88 games over four seasons, including consecutive 30-0 seasons in 1971-72 and 1972-73. UCLA also won 149 of 151 games in Pauley Pavilion during his Wooden's tenure.

Wooden was the only coach to compile four undefeated seasons of 30-0 and his Bruin teams won 19 conference championships. He is the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.

In 2003, President George W. Bush presented Wooden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to a civilian.

Wooden and his wife, Nell, who died in Los Angeles on March 21, 1985, were married for 53 years. The legendary UCLA coach died on June 4, 2010.

RELATED:

No. 6: Jerry West

No. 7: Chick Hearn

No. 8: Kobe Bryant

No. 9: Fernando Valenzuela

No. 10: Jackie Robinson

No. 11: Tommy Lasorda

No. 12: Wayne Gretzky

No. 13: Walter O'Malley

No. 14: Don Drysdale

No. 15: Merlin Olsen

No. 16: Jerry Buss

No. 17: Elgin Baylor

No. 18: Marcus Allen

No. 19: Jim Murray

No. 20: Wilt Chamberlain

Your votes are in: The 20 greatest sports figures in L.A. history

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: John Wooden in 1996. Credit: Chuck Robinson / Associated Press

John Wooden, happy birthday sir

Legendary Coach John Wooden would have turned 101 today.

In honor of the man who is considered to be one of the best coaches -- and people -- of all time, here are some of his words of wisdom, according to BrainyQuote.

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."

"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

MORE:

99 things about John Wooden

John Wooden's legacy has been a great weight on his successors

John Wooden dies at 99; UCLA basketball coach won 10 national titles

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: John Wooden gives instructions to Greg Lee. Credit: UCLA.