John Riordan: US mourns passing of boomer basketball icon Bill Walton

Bill Walton had it good and he was a leading light for a generation that is starting to realise just how good they had it.

Former Boston Celtics player Bill Walton attends Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Over cups of tea and too many coffees last week in Wexford, I was giving my uncle the usual affectionate bluster about his native Tipp's hurling humiliations, the fortunes of their family farm in the Golden Vale and the excessive volume of his voice.

He asked me when I was heading back to New York one too many times and I asked him to keep me in his prayers since long haul flight turbulence was the topic of the day that helped him change the subject from the pain of Cork beating the Premier.