I am the answer to an intriguing trivia question.

“Who was the starting center at UCLA between Lew Alcindor, who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Walton?”

That would be me – Steve Patterson.

While I certainly wasn’t the player Lew and Bill were – in fact, my sophomore year I was a “human victory cigar”, meaning Coach Wooden would only put me in when the game was not in jeopardy – nonetheless, my years at UCLA were so formative for everything I was to become.

I was in the premier college basketball program in the country, playing against the best players in the world – not during games, but during practices. I played against Lew Alcindor more than anyone on earth. I was 6’9”, and he was 7’2”.

It was a struggle. At first I was confident, but after a while I became a bit demoralized. I found myself thinking, “Lew is either the best player who’s ever lived, or I’m lousy.”

It was always at the times I was most discouraged that John Wooden would say to me, “Just be ready. Your time will come.”

It did.

I was the starting center my junior and senior years at UCLA, when we won two more national championships. My last game at UCLA was against Villanova, in 1971, for the national championship. While I had games I thought were better, many pointed to that particular game as my best at UCLA - 29 points and 8 rebounds.

The next year, I was the first pick in the second round, going to the Cleveland Cavaliers. I played with the Cavaliers for four full years, and in the fifth year, I was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Nate Thurmond.

I was a journeyman player, but the exciting thing about being in the NBA was simply being on the floor, competing with the best players in the world – people like Jerry West, Willis Reed, John Havlicek, and Dave Cowens. It was a humbling experience to jump center against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain. Physically, I wasn’t big enough; strong enough; quick enough; or athletic enough; but I worked hard and was always prepared, like Coach Wooden had taught me, and had a wonderful experience.

While I had many other wonderful experiences, serving as CEO of Super Bowl XXX, Commissioner of the CBA, Executive Director of the Grand Canyon State Games, my highest calling in life has been to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

I was very fortunate to grow up in a strong, Christian home. At a very early age, maybe 10 or 11, I recognized the offering of eternal life and accepted Jesus as my Savior.

Church was a big part of my life through high school and college. But my experience was similar to many growing up in a Christian home. I trusted God for my eternal salvation but did not trust Him with the details of my daily life.

Since I had very little adversity in my life, the reality of a daily walk with God did not seem to be a requirement. Then, at UCLA, things got a bit tougher. I took an anthropology course and began to go through a process of checking in with my faith. The question became whether my faith would hold up in the real world. UCLA became a crucible for my faith. I really relied on the Lord to sustain me, despite what those around me were saying.

Then, when I went to Cleveland and the NBA, I became a bit complacent. My ego got the better of me. The adulation and glory were intoxicating. I believed it was all about me, and not about the Lord, and began to rely on my own strength.

When I did experience some real adversity, I found myself turning to the Lord again. In fact, that became the pattern. I’d become complacent, experience adversity, draw close again, until the adversity had passed, and then I’d become complacent again. I needed to learn to be obedient regardless of the circumstances.

My turning point came after my playing days. I became totally surrendered. I became honest with myself and honest with God and acknowledged that if it was up to me to keep the faith; I wouldn’t be able to do it. That was my watershed.

Since that time there have been ups and downs in terms of work and family and life, but the one thing that has sustained me through it all has been my faith.

I never understood the grace of Jesus Christ until I stopped fighting it and simply accepted it. That’s when I found a total peace.

While I might be the answer to a trivia question, there is nothing trivial about grace. In fact, it’s the most profound thing I’ve ever experienced.

If you would like to know more about Jesus and what He can do for you, just click button on the left side of your screen to change your life.