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Oscar Robertson was named "Player of the Century" and John Wooden "Coach of the Century" at the National Association of Basketball Coaches Century Celebration, sponsored by MVP.com, during the 2000 Division I men's Final Four in The Big O's hometown of Indianapolis. A three-time All-American at University of Cincinnati from 1958-1960, Robertson was the first player to lead the NCAA in scoring three consecutive years or to win national College Player of the Year honors three times. Joining The Big O on the all-century team were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. The Big O has been elected to the board of directors of Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc., headquartered in Calabasas, CA. "It's a great pleasure to welcome Oscar Robertson to our board of directors," said Angelo Mozilo, chairman and CEO. "His business acumen and experience makes him an invaluable contributor to our vision of excellence and industry leadership." Robertson had previously served on the board of CCI subsidiary Countrywide Home Loans when it acquired Midwest Savings & Loan of Cincinnati. The latter company has been acquired by Western Southern Life Insurance of Cincinnati and its name changed to the Touchstone Family of Funds. The Big O is now on Touchstone's board as well. Oscar Robertson was recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century on Thursday, December 2, 2024 at Madison Square Garden. CBS carried the event live. The Big O shared the nomination in basketball with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and the late Wilt Chamberlain. Bill Russell was cited as an "athlete who changed the game." Sports Illustrated
also honored The Big O as one of its all-time top five college basketball
players in its 1999-2000 College Preview issue, along with Kareem,
Bill Bradley, David Thompson and former Cincinnati Royals teammate
Jerry Lucas. And the Associated Press named him one of its Top 10
players of the century. When the Indiana Pacers opened their new Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on November 6, 1999, Oscar Robertson was honored as one of the 50 greatest Indiana basketball players of all time. His uniform from Crispus Attucks High School is now on permanent display in a trophy case at the Fieldhouse. The Big O’s book "The Art of Basketball" is on sale at the Pacers’ Gift Shop. Oscar Robertson has joined the advisory board for the Cincinnati Stuff, one of eight teams in the new International Basketball league which began play in November 1999. The Big O will assist the team with ticket sales, promotions and community relations activities as his schedule permits. Oscar Robertson was named one of 13 "Indiana Living Legends" as the Indiana Historical Society opened its new Indianapolis headquarters on July 9, 1999. Other athletic figures included Larry Bird, former Boston Celtic and now Indiana Pacers coach; Bobby Knight, Indiana University Coach; John Wooden, former UCLA coach and an All-American during his college days at Purdue; and former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine. Honorees also included David Letterman, Ruth Lilly, Richard Lugar, John Mellencamp, Jane Pauley, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Herman B. Wells and David Wolf. "The Art of Basketball" is now on sale at the Historical Society gift shop. Last updated: 6/1/00
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