Post by glasspoet on Nov 30, 2014 0:07:39 GMT -5
Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain: As this is a basketball story, I will put it here instead of with the baseball stories.
Unlike many of you, I saw Wilt Chamberlain play. Granted, not in his prime. When I watched him, a period when the NBA was dominated by fast breaking teams, he walked up and down the court whenever his team fast breaked. Sometimes he didn't bother. He had already been told to pass out of double and triple teams, instead of always trying to score -- and as such had led the league in assists as well as rebounds (they didn't keep blocked shots back then). He claimed in his fifties that if he came back then -- he would lead the league in rebounds, and I believed him. (He also claimed he had slept with a hundred thousand women -- uh, maybe)
Here's the thing to remember about Wilt -- he stood 7'1" and was a champion high jumper in college. He had long arms and was powerfully built (without all the weight lifting of today). The closest thing to him today is Dwight Howard. He wasn't as quick on his feet as Dwight, but had more polished low-post moves. It is said he was afraid of hurting players who tried to block his dunks, so he utilized a lot of little flip shots and finger rolls. That is why his shooting percentages aren't as high as some centers.
His 100 point game is what he is most famous for. Not so much for me; the other team deliberately tried to foul him, which worked against them -- because their biggest players began to foul out and as he closed in, his teammates began feeding him the ball. It all worked out only because on the day he set the free throw attempted mark (recently broken by Dwight), he made almost every foul shot -- even though he was a WORSE free throw shooter than Dwight. More amazing to me is the fact that he once averaged OVER 48 minutes a game! That is a record that will NEVER be broken!!
Though he was by far the greatest offensive machine, until Michael Jordan (who more or less matched him), what I remember him the best for is for blocked shots. He blocked shots differently than today's shot blockers. He would stand about halfway between the shooter and the basket and dare them to shoot over him. You better ARC your shot! I saw him block shots at the apex of shots I swear NO ONE will be ever to block again!
In a way, its a shame he played at the same time as Bill Russell. If he didn't he would be even MORE legendary than he is (Bill Russell always seemed to outplay him in head to head competitions). If you would like to see him act, watch the 1984 movie Conan The Barbarian. (Hint: he was a better basketball player). Amazingly -- NEITHER OF HIS PARENTS were over 5'9"!
Unlike many of you, I saw Wilt Chamberlain play. Granted, not in his prime. When I watched him, a period when the NBA was dominated by fast breaking teams, he walked up and down the court whenever his team fast breaked. Sometimes he didn't bother. He had already been told to pass out of double and triple teams, instead of always trying to score -- and as such had led the league in assists as well as rebounds (they didn't keep blocked shots back then). He claimed in his fifties that if he came back then -- he would lead the league in rebounds, and I believed him. (He also claimed he had slept with a hundred thousand women -- uh, maybe)
Here's the thing to remember about Wilt -- he stood 7'1" and was a champion high jumper in college. He had long arms and was powerfully built (without all the weight lifting of today). The closest thing to him today is Dwight Howard. He wasn't as quick on his feet as Dwight, but had more polished low-post moves. It is said he was afraid of hurting players who tried to block his dunks, so he utilized a lot of little flip shots and finger rolls. That is why his shooting percentages aren't as high as some centers.
His 100 point game is what he is most famous for. Not so much for me; the other team deliberately tried to foul him, which worked against them -- because their biggest players began to foul out and as he closed in, his teammates began feeding him the ball. It all worked out only because on the day he set the free throw attempted mark (recently broken by Dwight), he made almost every foul shot -- even though he was a WORSE free throw shooter than Dwight. More amazing to me is the fact that he once averaged OVER 48 minutes a game! That is a record that will NEVER be broken!!
Though he was by far the greatest offensive machine, until Michael Jordan (who more or less matched him), what I remember him the best for is for blocked shots. He blocked shots differently than today's shot blockers. He would stand about halfway between the shooter and the basket and dare them to shoot over him. You better ARC your shot! I saw him block shots at the apex of shots I swear NO ONE will be ever to block again!
In a way, its a shame he played at the same time as Bill Russell. If he didn't he would be even MORE legendary than he is (Bill Russell always seemed to outplay him in head to head competitions). If you would like to see him act, watch the 1984 movie Conan The Barbarian. (Hint: he was a better basketball player). Amazingly -- NEITHER OF HIS PARENTS were over 5'9"!