Bill russell regularly feared being embarrassed by chamberlain, walt frazier called his dominance on the court comical, and when 6ft 11in, 250pound in his early years halloffame center bob lanier was asked about the most memorable moment of his career, lanier answered. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball by taylor, john isbn. In 1966 wilt chamberlain was traded from the golden state warriors to his new hometown philadelphia 76ers. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives. Wilt chamberlain was the second best center in pro basketball during the 1960s behind bill russell. Wilt chamberlain russell had a different role and purpose for his teams. Bill russell plays the word association game the dick. Definitive biographies of wilt chamberlain and pete maravich. Which center singlehandedly changed the way defense was played.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. That he was a contemporaryrival of bill russells, backbone of 11 celtics title teams, muddles wilts legacy further. Itss the kind of novel, or biography that can just blow your mind, but it also can be a page flipper at every corner. 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. 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. Jun, 2018 yet this saying neglects the fact that in recent decades many great books have been written about basketball a sport with a much larger ball than baseball. Just like any other 7foot black millionaire who lives next door, lj 873.
Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball. Just like any other 7 foot black millionaire who lives next door by wilt chamberlain macmillan publishing 1973 biography. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball, by john taylor tall tales. Lebron james not on the level of wilt chamberlain or bill russell. 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. Did wilt chamberlain really sleep with 20,000 women. Russell held chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of game 3.
Taylor the count and the confession offers a vivid account of the fledgling days of the national basketball association and the intense competition between two of its biggest early stars. Yet this saying neglects the fact that in recent decades many great books have been written about basketball a sport with a much larger ball. Wilt was a huge hero of minemy supreme basketball hero, as a kid and to this day. Bill russell 1 1934 professional basketball player, coach, sports announcer in a brothers shadow 2 a superstar blossomed 3 anchor of the nbas greatest team 4 first black coach in nba 5 challenged shaq 6 sources 7 if winning championships is the most important criterion of sports g. Careerwise in rebounds, russell ranks second to wilt chamberlain in regular season total 21,620 and. Wilt chamberlain list of movies and tv shows tv guide. The best basketball books to get you through the offseason. Wilt had many facets to him, millionaire, basketball star, ladies man, thinker. True stories and nba legends boston celtics icon red auerbach is full of stories. In 196263 russell was named most valuable player in the nba for the fourth time, and also won most valuable player honors in the allstar game. Wilt chamberlain full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films.
Before bill debunks what he calls the six most common myths of the chamberlain russell debate, he begins by comparing wilt s supporters to oj simpsons defense team. Basketball legend bill russell discusses lakers, celtics, his views on the amos n andy show as well as playing a game of word association with dick. For the first time in the bill russell wilt chamberlain rivalry chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the celtics, although many contend that the celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. Theres no other way to start this list than with wilt. At 71, wilt chamberlain may have been the most dominating and amazing basketball player of all time. Why isnt wilt chamberlain considered the greatest of all. Bill russell floats high above the hardwood to block a shot by wilt chamberlain in this 1960 game in new york.
Wilt chamberlain and bill russell, the two best centers to ever play the. Gripping, insightful, and utterly compelling, the story of bill russell and wilt chamberlain is the stuff of sporting legend. Bill russell of the boston celtics and wilt chamberlain of the philadelphia 76ers. Having read many basketball books, i find this as one of the best. Wilt chamberlain continues to loom large in sixers history. Larry bird and bill laimbeer have genuinely hated each. Just like any other 7foot black millionaire who lives next door. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball reprint edition by taylor, john 2006 paperback on. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of. Wilt chamberlain has a largerthanlife personality that fits well alongside his. Unfollow bill russell book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. List of career achievements by wilt chamberlain wikipedia. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball john taylor. John taylor books list of books by author john taylor.
In game 5, russell contributed 28 rebounds, 10 blocks, seven assists and six steals. Wilt chamberlain american basketball player britannica. The credit for this remarkable transformation largely goes to two giants. Baseball almanac is pleased to present all the bill chamberlain books currently listed on the leading providing of online bill chamberlain books. Whose hands were so big he held the basketball like a grapefruit.
Bill chamberlain made his major league debut on 08021932 with the chicago white sox. Overall the books is a wellwritten, very readable narrative of the rivalry between the games two icons of the 1960s, wilt chamberlain and bill russell and its impact in the culture at large, but taylor provides far less narrative on their impact on the culture and the civil. From wilt chamberlain and bill russell to kareem abduljabbar, larry bird and michael jordan, young hoops fans can read about eleven legendary players in this exciting look at basketballs greatest slamdunking, hoophanging superstars. The story of wilt chamberlain and the 1967 nba champion philadelphia 76ers. The story of wilt chamberlain and the 1967 nba champion philadelphia 76ers new york. How would you rank kareem abduljabbar, wilt chamberlain.
Now retired, he still evokes moments that made legends out of wilt chamberlain and larry bird. In the 1965 nba playoffs, the celtics played the eastern division finals against the philadelphia 76ers, who had recently traded for wilt chamberlain. 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. Oct 14, 2019 basketball legend bill russell discusses lakers, celtics, his views on the amos n andy show as well as playing a game of word association with dick. Chamberlain has written his second book in over 18 years the first was wilt. The 10 best books written by nba players, from a fan whos. Yet this saying neglects the fact that in recent decades many great books have been written about basketball a sport with a much larger ball than baseball. For russell to be at his best, you had to surround him with good offensive players since he wasnt and cant be the focal point of a.
For pure sports journalism, one would be challenged to find a finer book than john taylors the rivalry. Wellwritten, thoroughly researched, it captures the era of the 50s and 60s from the perspective of two of the greatest players ever, bill russell and wilt chamberlain. Bill russell and wilt chamberlain, had great careers, including wilts 100 point game, and russells greatest defensive performance in nba history. For this project, i relied repeatedly on these two books.
Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball new york. See all books authored by john taylor, including pocket oxford classical greek dictionary, and the rivalry. Feb 06, 2018 did wilt chamberlain really sleep with 20,000 women. 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.
He explains how, in order to win acquittal, team oj reprehensibly exploited americas racial divide to shift the focus away from the evidence. Bill russells stretch with the boston celtics was one of the most successful dynasties in league history. The glory years of the nba, by terry pluto there are a host of other books about wilt and russell, but i can heartily recommend these two for anyone who finds this topic of interest. There just wasnt as much competitionlets take a look at the competition wilt played against, compared to the competition faced by shaq, a player with equally. Larry bird and bill laimbeer have genuinely hated each other for over 30. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball 9780812970302. Bill russell s stretch with the boston celtics was one of the most successful dynasties in league history. Chamberlain posted the most famous stat line in nba history on march 2, 1962, scoring 100 points for the philadelphia. During his 196162 season he became the first player to score more than 4,000 points in a. Boston celtics basketball vintage sports photos for sale. Bill russell and wilt chamberlain interview 1997 2 raw 4 tv. This article concerns the career achievements of basketball halloffamer wilt chamberlain, who holds numerous nba records in scoring, rebounding and durability. Bill russell, wilt chamberlain, and the golden age of basketball, and more on. Wilt chamberlain, professional basketball player, considered to be one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the game.
His peers and the sportswriters of the day always said he had a chip on his shoulder for that reason. Written with a reporters unerring command of events and a storytellers flair, the rivalry will take its place as one of the classic works of sports history. Bill russell and wilt chamberlain interview 1997 youtube. Get the best deals on boston celtics basketball vintage sports photos when you shop the largest online selection at. Boston celtics legend bill russell issued a statement wednesday about the death of his friend and rival, wilt chamberlain. Among others, he is the only player in nba history to average 40 and 50 points in a season, score 100 points in a single game, and grab over 2,000 rebounds in a single season. When wilt chamberlain lifted me up and moved me like a coffee cup. In his legendary career, chamberlain scored 31,419 points, including the unbelievable time he actually scored 100 points in one game. Oct 09, 20 ahmad rashad interviews russell and chamberlain.
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