Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle shared a heartwarming and amusing story about how NBA legend Bill Walton played a pivotal role in his first date with his future wife, Donna. This touching anecdote highlights Walton’s generosity and the significant impact he had on those around him.
“I have him to thank probably also for me being married to my wife Donna. Our first date was to a Dead Show in Washington, D.C. and I called Bill and, this is 1987, I said, ‘Look, I’ve got a date with a girl I think is really cool, I’d love to go to the Dead show at Capitol Centre, but I don’t have any tickets, can you help?’”
“He said, ‘Just go to the back door, ask for Dennis McNally, tell him you’re Rick Carlisle from the Boston Celtics and everything will be just fine.’ I said, ‘Really?’”
The story dates back to 1987, when Carlisle, then a player for the Boston Celtics, had just started dating Donna. Wanting to impress her, he planned to take her to a Grateful Dead concert at the Capital Centre in Washington, D.C. However, there was one significant problem: he didn’t have any tickets. In a moment of desperation, Carlisle reached out to Walton, a renowned Grateful Dead fan and a former teammate.
“So I drove up to the loading dock. And so Donna was with me. We hadn’t known each other that long. I said, just wait here a second. She’s like, ’What, do you have tickets?’ I said, ’Just give me a couple minutes here.’ So I walked down I knocked on the door, the whole thing ended up working out.”
“I walked back up the loading dock ramp with two all-access laminates, one said Bill Walton, the other said Susie Walton. So we were set up for the show and we were actually on stage watching the show. And during the break, we just kind of wandered into the back and just opened up a door and ended up sitting down with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart for about 15 minutes just shooting the s**t.”
“I mean, it was an unbelievable night. And you know, obviously, it’s a good first date. So anyway I’m thankful to him.”
Pacers HC Rick Carlisle shares an amazing story of how Bill Walton helped him with his first date with his soon to be wife 🥹🫶 pic.twitter.com/QY0X336AHm
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 28, 2024
Despite feeling a bit skeptical, Carlisle followed Walton’s advice. He drove to the venue with Donna, who was initially puzzled when Carlisle asked her to wait while he checked something. Walking down to the loading dock, he knocked on the door, and as Walton had promised, everything worked out perfectly.
Carlisle returned with two all-access passes, one labeled Bill Walton and the other Susie Walton. The evening turned into an unforgettable experience. Carlisle and Donna watched the concert from the stage and even had the chance to meet and chat with the band members, including Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart, during the intermission.
This remarkable first date set the stage for their relationship, leading to their marriage 13 years later in 2000. Rick Carlisle credits Walton for this magical night and his eventual marriage.
Bill Walton’s kindness and connections turned an ordinary date into an extraordinary one, exemplifying the profound and positive influence he had on those lucky enough to know him, as the world bids farewell to the 71-year-old Hall of Famer, who passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.
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