Bill Walton Is Returning To ESPN

by Dylan Murphy | 4:56 pm, July 15th, 2012

Bill Walton’s eclectic vocabulary is unparalleled, and we were all worse off when he stopped serving as ESPN’s lead NBA analyst in 2007. Well, folks, the wait is over. Bill Walton is back – ESPN has coaxed him out of retirement. USA Today spoke with Walton on the phone today, and he had many eloquent things to say, as always:

“‘My spine failed after a lifetime of spine problems,’ Walton told USA TODAY Sports by phone Sunday. ‘My life was over. I spent three years on the floor.’”

Literally. He couldn’t really move much and says he was sometimes suicidal. But this season he’ll call ESPN Pac-12 games as ESPN — through a new deal — expands its coverage of the league. Walton also will join the conference’s soon-to-launch regional network. He’ll also return for occasional Sacramento Kings local game broadcasts.
After 36 orthopedic surgeries, he has fused ankles and a fused spine.

‘And my knees, hands and wrists don’t work,’ he said. ‘Other than that, everything is fine. I’m doing great. I’m starting over. I’m excited as can be about tomorrow. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.’”

Most of the logistics, including with whom he’ll call games and how many games he’ll call are still up in the air. What we do know, however, is that Walton is glad to be back on his feet and riding around on his bike. Why do we mention the bike? So we can leave you with this gratuitous Walton quote:

“‘How do you go back and thank the people who saved your life? My life was over. Now, I’m rebuilding my life.’

And ‘spending every free nanosecond’ on his bike. Which, he says, is ‘my wheelchair, my gym, my church.’”

[USA Today]

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