Wooden feeling stronger a day later

Former UCLA coach John Wooden devoured a lunch of chicken and vegetables Saturday, and according to his daughter was feeling stronger and better than he was on Friday.

The 97-year-old Hall of Fame legend had fallen during the night on Thursday and was admitted to a hospital Friday where it was discovered he had a hairline fracture of his left wrist and a broken left collarbone.

Nan Muehlhausen said her father was wearing a cast on his wrist and that he will need to keep his arm in a sling when he is released from the hospital. Muehlhausen said that might be as early as Monday. Muehlhausen also said Wooden was given two blood transfusions because doctors found he was anemic.

“But Dad will be fine,” Muehlhausen said. “Everyone expects him to make a full recovery.”

This is the third time in the last three years that Wooden has been hospitalized.

Two years ago, during UCLA’s run to the Final Four, Wooden suffered an attack of diverticulitis, an inflammation of the colon.

Last April, he was found to have internal bleeding that was related to his arthritis medication.

Muehlhausen said Wooden was looking forward to watching today’s UCLA at Arizona game on television.

Wooden’s family has requested no information be released on the hospital where he is staying.

-- Diane Pucin