UCLA to honor Abdul-Jabbar for Presidential Medal of Freedom

UCLA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be honored Saturday before the Bruins game against Arizona, in what will be called Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Day the school announced.

"The reason we honor Kareem is more than just a pair of goggles and the skyhook," President Barack Obama said at the White House ceremony. "He stood up for his Muslim faith when it wasn't easy and wasn't popular. He's as comfortable sparring with Bruce Lee as he is advocating on Capitol Hill or writing with extraordinary eloquence on patriotism."

The three-time NCAA champion was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in November, the highest honor a civilian can receive, for his advocating of civil rights, social justice, cancer research, and science education.