In his senior season at UCLA, basketball center Bill Walton showed up to the season’s first practice with a full beard. He knew it went against coach John Wooden’s rules. He didn’t care.
Wooden pressed to make sure Walton believed strongly in keeping his beard. Walton insisted it wasn’t going anywhere.
“Bill, I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them,’’ Wooden said. “We’re going to miss you.”
This story came to mind as reserve Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen talked about refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccination. He missed a few recent practices due to the virus protocol.