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I couldn't find a thread for this, and apparently there isn't a general NBA thread, so I'll create one, lest I sully the Jazz thread....
Today is the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-pt. game in Hershey (!), PA. Here's an interesting column by Scott Ostler (a distant cousin) that makes the case for why his performance is the most significant record in sports. Among the surprising (to me, anyway) revelations:
--The NBA was struggling to survive. The game was not televised, no video of the feat exists, and the small arena was half-full.
--The league had an unwritten rule that no team would have more than four black players (there were nine teams, and 37 black players). Chamberlain later said he understood the rule, because the owners feared that a black-dominated league would reduce audience demand. Black players were seen as role players. The great Bill Russell was a defender and rebounder and didn't sell a lot of tickets.
--Audiences came to see offense (still true), and it was the white players who provided it--until Wilt.
--Some say Wilt was a selfish player, but at times he led the league in assists.
Anyway, a good essay. Nothing about his off-court prowess.
Today is the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-pt. game in Hershey (!), PA. Here's an interesting column by Scott Ostler (a distant cousin) that makes the case for why his performance is the most significant record in sports. Among the surprising (to me, anyway) revelations:
--The NBA was struggling to survive. The game was not televised, no video of the feat exists, and the small arena was half-full.
--The league had an unwritten rule that no team would have more than four black players (there were nine teams, and 37 black players). Chamberlain later said he understood the rule, because the owners feared that a black-dominated league would reduce audience demand. Black players were seen as role players. The great Bill Russell was a defender and rebounder and didn't sell a lot of tickets.
--Audiences came to see offense (still true), and it was the white players who provided it--until Wilt.
--Some say Wilt was a selfish player, but at times he led the league in assists.
Anyway, a good essay. Nothing about his off-court prowess.
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