Wilt chamberlain 193699 was considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. Wilt chamberlain bio, facts, family famous birthdays. Login to obtain your course materials, view order history, and more. Limitededition lithograph by renowned sports artist stephen holland features one of basketballs classic matchups. The inspiring story of one of basketballs legendary. Both bill russell and wilt chamberlin set records that have not come close to being conquered. Bill russell ministers in the usa as well as several foreign countries. Wilt chamberlain, in full wilton norman chamberlain, bynames wilt the stilt and the big dipper, born august 21, 1936, philadelphia, pennsylvania, u. Chamberlain association of america chamberlain collection contents of black book no. Wilt chamberlain biography childhood, children, story. Bill russell on wilt chamberlain and their rivalry youtube. Wilt chamberlaina man who was as uncompromising on the basketball court as he was in his life. Bill russell, also the greatest and the champ, remembers.
Better late than never scatological sarcasm is a sharpe speciality. Chamberlain was simply one the greatest scoring machines in the history of basketball. But chamberlains success extends to more than a single game. In porterhouse blue he uses it to parody oxbridge tradition. At seven feet, one inch tall, he was a towering figure, nicknamed wilt the stilt a moniker he is said to have despised. Wilt chamberlain was born in philadelphia and was one of nine children. Wilt chamberlain is considered one of the worlds alltime greatest professional basketball players. Wilt chamberlin vs bill russell the odyssey online. Billy the hill and the jump hook the autobiography of a.
Bill russell, civil rights hero and inventor of airborne basketball. The best basketball books to get you through the offseason. He scored 100 points in a single game on march 2, 1962 while playing for. Did wilt chamberlain really sleep with 20,000 women. The argument boils down to the idea that russell had better teams, but wilt was the better individual player. The fact that only the 121 best basketball players in the world could play in the nba condensed the talent pool to nine teams. In a 14year professional career studded with superlatives, wilt chamberlain established the centrality of court dominance in basketball, and thus changed the game forever. Born to play basketball wilt chamberlain was born august 21, 1936, in philadelphia, pennsylvania, one of nine children raised by william and olivia chamberlain. Many people are being saved, healed and set free by the message he brings. Bill russell, the boston celtics hall of fame center who almost singlehandedly redefined the game of basketball, was, in the words of basketballs big men by david klein, the standard against whom all others will be judged.
Throughout the 1960s the two men and their teams went head to head and though chamberlain outscored and outrebounded russell, the celtics always seemed to wind up on top. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball. Wilt had many facets to him, millionaire, basketball star, ladies man, thinker. Russell chamberlin is the author of the emperor charlemagne 3. John taylor does a wonderful job of at first focusing on russell individually and chamberlain individually and then eventually tying both of their lives together. The nba according to the sports guy is the second book by former espn columnist bill simmons. On november 7, 1959, russells celtics hosted chamberlains warriors, and pundits called the matchup between the best offensive and defensive centers the big collision and battle of the titans. Two of the nbas greatest players, bill russell and wilt chamberlain, are often criticized for playing in a weak era. He won 11 nba titles in the seasons that he played with the boston celtics, and he became the first african american. Wilt chamberlain biography 100 points and 20000 women you gonna hear a lot of things in this wilt chamberlain biography.
Bill russell, byname of william felton russell, born february 12, 1934, monroe, louisiana, u. William felton russell born february 12, 1934 is an american former professional basketball. A great high jumper and volleyball player, but, alongside bill russell, he revolutionized basketball. Billy the hill and the jump hook the autobiography of a forgotten basketball legend 328 pages. Wilt chamberlain is perhaps best known as the only player in the history of the nba to score 100 points in a single basketball game. There is conversation as to who is the greatest of all time. He was the best player of all time because he dominated the floor like nobody else ever could. I met wilt the stilt at a book signing for the infamous a view from above, and i even got to. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball john.
Bill russell had a lot in common with muhammad ali. He declared that he hated jews in the sense that he hated all corruption. Sharpe was born in holloway, london, and brought up in croydon. Wilt set records most rebounds, 100 points in a game, a 50 ptsgm average in 196162, but russell won championships. A much smaller league meant more competition for fewer spots. Years after taylors book, russell published an autobiographical account, red and me which chronicled his lifelong friendship with auerbach. Wilt chamberlin stayed with the warriors when they moved to san francisco, but in 1965 he went back to philadelphia. The boston celtics and their center bill russell 1934 dominated the game in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The litho has been signed by russell and chamberlain in pencil along the lower margin each grading 10. All materials will be displayed for your registered courses and are available to order with a school authorized purchase andor credit card.
He is remembered for his 11 titles in years of professional basketball, the nba finals mvp trophy bearing his name, and for his statue in boston. Nobody seems to appreciate what an incredible player wilt was, russell said at 1997 allstar game when the league named and honored its 50 greatest players. In college, he led the kansas jayhawks to the ncaa title game and later he played with two nba championshipwinning teams. Here, in his own words, are the outspoken opinions that made wilt chamberlain one of the most controversial sports icons in the world, such as his. In the rivalry, awardwinning journalist john taylor projects the stories of russell, chamberlain, and other stars from the nbas golden age onto a backdrop of racial tensions and cultural change. Later editions were published by pan books, and overlook tp. The greatest defender in basketball of that era, bill russell would often hold him under 25 points, when wilt was having an off day. Bill russell always made sure he didnt block wilt chamberlain until the end of the game i was listening to the university of washington husky coachs show yesterday and coach lorenzo romar brought up a story of when he was sitting in a suite at a supersonics game with bill russell.
He is the author of four books, including, most recently, the count and the. In 36 playoff meetings, russell came away victorious 21 times to chamberlains 15. Its success led to the author writing several sequels. If you have any questions, please view the help center or. This is far from the truth, as the 1960s were a very good time for basketball. Bill russell and wilt chamberlain battling under the boards. Remember, he averaged 50 points per game that season. Looking at everything, from each players private demons to the racially charged era in which they competed, taylors book is by turns an intimate profile and a. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball 9780812970302.
Im sorry he would not be just taking hook shots and post fadeaways all day. Wilt is a comedic novel by tom sharpe, first published by secker and warburg in 1976. Buy a cheap copy of a view from above book by wilt chamberlain. View from above by wilt chamberlain, hardcover barnes. The final score in hershey was philadelphia 169, new york 147.
He was chairman of the acton and ealing branch of the link, and a member of the nordic league. Bill russell heard about it and said, the big fella finally did it. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. This book should have picked one of those facets and explored it but i felt it jumped from one story to another without really giving you the detail needed to appreciate the mans talent and mind. Holland has also signed the piece in pencil in the lower right. Wilt and russ were the first to combine sheer size with unparalleled athleticism both were multisport stars. Discover book depositorys huge selection of neville chamberlain books online. A big man who specialized in defense rather than scoring, russell was the ultimate winner. Despite chamberlain s scoring achievements, he and his teammates were not winning nba championships. Being in a somewhat sheltered environment in the 70s educationalwise, as wilts wife eva might say i spent most of that period on a. Legendary nba center who was a time allstar, 4time mvp, and 2time nba champion.
Wilt was possibly the greatest athlete in basketball history. This isnt a biography of bill russell or wilt chamberlain, but what it is is a great biography of both of them at the same time. Wilt goes for the jugular of californiachic, a somewhat more recent tradition inserting itself into british life during the 1970s. The credit for this remarkable transformation largely goes to two giants. Most of these 315 persons, and 127 more persons after. Wilt would be looking for easy dunks or passing the ball looking for a shooter. The following is an excerpt from the ebook the crossover. A brief history of basketball and race, from james naismith to lebron james. Imagine a 71 deandre jordan with the speed of embiid with passing as good as like shaq.
Did wilt chamberlain and bill russel have real competition. In the 195960 season, the nba witnessed the debut of legendary 7 ft 1 in 2. The former basketball star speaks out on bill russell, race relations, the nba, sex, women, kareen abduljabbar, and many other hot topics. If you are looking for an individual biography of either russell or chamberlain, this book may not be for you, but if you want a wonderful piece of writing that. Lot detail wilt chamberlain and bill russell dual signed. Chamberlains line score reads like the work of a comic book superhero. Sharpes father, the reverend george coverdale sharpe, was a unitarian minister who was active in farright politics in the 1930s. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Chamberlains seemingly effortless talent made him a hero in philadelphia while russells tough workmanlike approach to the sport endeared him to boston fans. Below is a table of contents for each chamberl mentioned in black book no. Bill russell and wilt chamberlain interview 1997 youtube. This is the story of this kansas native who scored well in every aspect of his lifeeven after he retired and. Wilt chamberlain american basketball player britannica. Bill s attempt to muddy the waters is surprising, considering that it comes on the heels of his claim, if we are arguing about the greatest debate in nba history bill russell or wilt chamberlain i can prove russell was better. Robert edward auctions bill russell and wilt chamberlain. In 51 regularseason meetings, russell won 26 to chamberlains 25.
Bill russell is considered the greatest winner of alltime in many sports circles. For pure sports journalism, one would be challenged to find a finer book than john taylors the rivalry. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball reprint edition by taylor, john 2006 paperback on. He would rewrite the nba record book many times over. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives next door by wilt chamberlain and david shaw. Larry bird and bill laimbeer have genuinely hated each other for over 30 years duration. The counter, of course, is that russell simply got the better of chamberlain so many. Absent wilt chamberlain, bill russell would have been great.