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Palin's John Wooden Quote Actually From Native Activist

John Wooden Legs more into tribal land rights than UCLA coach

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 1, 2009 6:39 PM CST

(Newser) – Sarah Palin has made many a mention of her background as a basketball point guard, but in her memoir she completely misses the net with a quote attributed to coaching legend John Wooden, Geoffrey Dunn writes. In fact, it’s Native American activist John Wooden Legs behind the quote, which she uses as the epigram to Going Rogue’s third chapter.

“Our land is everything to us,” Wooden Legs in a 1960 essay. “I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember our grandfathers paid for it—with their lives.” Dunn, who “never figured the Wizard of Westwood as an advocate for radical land distribution,” scoffs, “There’s also no small amount of irony in the quote, given Palin's abysmal record on Alaska Native issues during her truncated term as governor.”

Hall of Fame UCLA coach John Wooden.
Hall of Fame UCLA coach John Wooden.   (AP Photo)
Sarah Palin greets a supporter at a book signing today in Tempe, Ariz.
Sarah Palin greets a supporter at a book signing today in Tempe, Ariz.   (AP Photo)
Sarah Palin, left; John Wooden, right.
Sarah Palin, left; John Wooden, right.   (AP Photos)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 28 comments
Rob
Dec 5, 2009 2:18 AM CST
So the influx of Hispanics coming from south of the border are invaders too? I didn't think so. And by the way, the American Indians here now are the second wave of humanity; they killed the previous wave when they arrived here will better weapons, weapons so effective they were able to exterminate all the megafauna at the same time. So if you think that your people (I am assuming) are invaders then perhaps you should leave in self righteous glory.
rockermocking
Dec 4, 2009 4:39 AM CST
wow, I don't even like Sarah Palin and I got the thumbs down like crazy for this. I'm just stating the obvious from someone in the literary world people... especially since her book was ghostwritten!
bewilderbeast
Dec 3, 2009 8:25 AM CST
dax, hip & objectivemind, you all cracked me up. Made my day. Cheers!
 

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