Talk:Wilt Chamberlain
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Wilt Chamberlain is arguably the greatest athlete in history. A remarkable gifted all-around athlete, Chamberlain gained his fame as the most dominant basketball player ever, but was actually better at track and field. Wilt, known better as "The Big Dipper" than the annoying Wilt the Stilt, won his first championship in sports when he was just 15. Already 6'9" and very athletic, Chamberlain's local Philadelphia AAU team won the AAU National Championship with Wilt as the starting center, often against college-age opponents. Became the first high school player to gain near-national media coverage as far away as Chicago. Over seven-feet and black, Wilt would not get the fame others would get in later years, but his high school games often drew as many as 10,000 spectators. Wilt accepted a combination track-basketball scholarship to the University of Kansas in 1954. He had set several Pennsylvania state track and field records in events as diverse as the shot put and the 110 hurdles, an incredible set of feats. Literally a one-man team with little quality help at Kansas, Wilt carried Kansas to an undefeated season as a sophomore, his first season of varsity eligibility. Games of 40 points, 30 rebounds, 15 blocks, and 6 assists were routine for the young center. A clear embarrassment to college ball, the white-dominated game of that era allowed Wilt to suffer more than a little physical abuse on the court. A fistfight was something Wilt could expect to be in nearly every game. The one-man team finally lost in triple overtime to North Carolina in the NCAA Final. Wilt was engaged in three fights in that game. Clearly the dominant player of 1955, Wilt watched North Carolina forward Lenny Rosenbluth be named player of the NCAA Tournament, an insult he never forgot. Things changed little for Wilt as a junior, and a dispirited angry Wilt left school to join the Harlem Globetrotters in 1956. Often playing against NBA centers in exhibitions with the Trotters, Wilt clearly showed he was the best player in the world, and he was signed by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959. His next six seasons are the stuff of legend, being asked by Warriors owner Eddie Gottlieb to score as much as possible to sell tickets. The NBA's best team, the Boston Celtics boasted seven future Hall of Famers and coach Red Auerbach. Even Wilt could not defeat that. Still, the 7'2" 270lbs. Wilt showed himself to be the greatest scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker in the history of the sport. Wilt moved with the team to San Fransisco in 1964, but Philly fans clammered for his return until a trade to the new Philadelphia 76ers was made in 1966. The 76ers (the former Syracuse Nationals ), had a solid core of stars such as Dolph Schayes, Hal Greer, and Chet Walker. In 1967, they also drafted future All-Pro Billy Cunningham, giving Wilt the talent he needed to rival the Boston stars for a title run. In 1968, the 76ers went 68-13 to beat the Celtics and the Warriors for the NBA Title many jeeringly said Wilt could not win. He also became the only center to lead the league in assists. Shooting less, he still scored over 30 points per game while making over 66% of his shots, an incredible feat. Now satisfied as a player, Wilt, who had designs on Hollywood, joined the Los Angeles Laker team that already had legends Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. The team would give Wilt his second title in 1972. In 1975, Wilt retired from basketball to form the Association of Volleyball Professionals as it's president, star and coach of it's San Diego franchise. Still able to jump amazingly well, Wilt could literally put his waist above the league's regualtion eight-foot net. A powerful weightlifter as well, Wilt was once filmed benchpressing 500 lbs. with his long arms, an amazing feat. Wilt had also flirted with pro boxing and football in the 1960's, astounding those present with his incredible abilities. More famous for his social dating exploits than these other sports, the sensitive giant never married so that his children would not have to grow up in the klieglights of the media. Wilt received offers to unretire as late as 1990. He awed NBA players thru the 1980's with his still-present ability in scrimmages. When he died in 1999, the seven-footer had become ill after training to run a marathon. It's highly unlikely we will see another athlete of Wilt's caliber for decades to come.
Shouldn't there be something in the article about the oft-repeated claim that he bedded over 1000 women? Matt gies 05:30, 5 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- I've heard versions of this too, and even if it's an urban legend, it deserves mention. Anyone know anything? Meelar 17:57, 14 May 2004 (UTC)
In his book he said he had about 20,000 women