SAN DIEGO - His spine and feet betrayed him, so Bill Walton's long legs and tireless mouth power him on in his 66th year, toward the next long, hard climb.
It's the uphill sections he loves so on 60-mile bicycle rides through mountains and canyons surrounding his longtime San Diego home.
The long climb also describes a life so originally lived by a man uniquely gifted and gregarious, who knows well that after the conquered climb comes an inevitable drop.
Walton was destined to be the best two-way big man of his or any generation if the little bones in his big feet hadn't turned to dust. He remains the freest of free spirits and yet a lifelong believer in the most structured of men, the late, legendary UCLA coach John Wooden.
In the 1973 Final Four title game, Walton made 21 of 22 shots and scored 44 points to lead UCLA over Memphis State. It gave the Bruins a record seventh consecutive championship, a streak starting with Lew Alcindor's three and ending with Walton's two.
UCLA's absurd winning streak ended at 88 games his senior season. His team lost four of its final 17 games, including a double-overtime national semifinal to North Carolina State that haunts him still.
"You're assuming I've gotten over it," he said, "and I haven't."
Political activist, voracious reader, honorary Grateful Dead member, berry eater and herbal expert, father, friend and mentor then or now or both. Walton stuttered until he was 28 but now won't shut up with his stream-of-consciousness commentary in the unlikeliest of broadcasting and speaking careers.