Quote:
Originally Posted by dynalow
You probably already know that Russell and KC Jones were college team-mates at USF back in the day. Russell & Wilt. Classic duels. Wilt came in the league facing Russell & went out battling Kareem. Long, stellar career. Two records not lkely to be broken: 100 pts in a game and season average of 50. pts a game.
Yeah. Lenny Wilkins. Providence College. Great player. Great coach. Good man.Trifecta.
When the NBA players go from being old enough to be your father to young enough to be your grandson, interest naturally fades.   |
Good point. Most people think the stuff in their day was better.
Yeah, the Russell/Chamberlain match-up was something else. I heard Russell say recently that the two of them were religious about playing within the rules, as they respected the level of competition each provided the other. It's too bad Wilt pulled out his '20,000 women' remark cause he was cool in every other way. I've seen pictures of him with one hottie and several others circling, trying to get in on the action. I heard him sheelpishly try to aplogize for that claim on NPR's Fresh Air once, it was endearing.
One game with the Lakers, it was in the playoffs against NY IIRC, Jerry West, with about 2 seconds left and trailing by two, got a defensive rebound and had just enough time to get off a full court shot, sort of a hook/jump shot combo that hit the back of the rim and down. These days, it would have won the game, but it tied it, West was looked dazed-happy and Wilt came over, grabbed him, and rubbed his head vigorously. It was one of the sweetest displays of on court affection I've ever seen, and just cool on cool.
I drove cab in Oakland for a while and have been through West Oakland many times (a rough part of town). I was surprised to learn that nondescript looking McClymonds High School was Russell's alma mater as well as that of Paul Silas and Joe Ellis.
Silas. There's another guy they don't make any more. He was instrumental in the winning record of every team he was on, had a lot to do with the Sonics running up and then winning the championship a year later, both times against the Washington Bullets. The only title by any Seattle team yet.