Love this picture of Ali and Wilt...remember, Ali was a little over 6'2" and look at Chamberlain towering at least 12-14 inches above him...Wilt was alway listed at 7'1" but many opponents claimed he was around 7'3"...

Wilt Chamberlain’s 70th birthday just went by the other day and as I am want to do, I post the following to remind you of how unreal his brilliance really was:

High school:

Keep in mind that high school games are 32 minutes long, made up of four 8-minute quarters…as a high school senior at Overbrook High in Philly he averaged 39.6 points per game and 22 rebounds per game, often only playing in the 1st half…he once scored 90 points in a game…he once scores 60 points in a 10-minute span against Roxborough High School…read that again…that’s 6 points a minute, or a field goal or two free throws ever 20 seconds…ridiculous…he led Overbrook to 2 Philly City Championships in 1954 and again in 1955…he scored 800 points in his first 16 games (1955)…that’s 50 points a game if you’re counting…as a track star he ran the 100-yard dash in 10.9 seconds, high jumped 6 feet 6 inches, ran the 440 in 49.0 seconds, ran the 880 in 1:58.3, threw the shotput 53 feet 4 inches, and long jumped 22 feet...

NCAA:
He played two seasons at Kansas and scored 1,433 points (29.9 ppg), grabbing 877 rebounds (18.3 rpg) in 48 varsity games…he scored 52 points against Northwestern (1957) and had grabbed 36 rebounds against Iowa (1958) both still KU records and the rebounding total is still an NCAA record…as a sophomore he averaged 30 points per game, 19 rebounds per game, and 9 blocks per game (a Kansas assistant claims to have counted that year after being asked by coach Phog Allen)…he was the NCAA Tournament MVP (1957) leading the Jayhawks to the 1957 championship game, a 54-53 triple overtime loss to North Carolina coached by Hall of Famer Frank McGuire…as a track star he won the high jump in the Big Eight track and field championships...he left before his senior year to join the Harlem Globetrotters…

NBA:
NBA Rookie of the Year (1960)…NBA Most Valuable Player (1960, 1966, 1967, 1968)…All-NBA First Team (1960-62, 1964-68)…All-NBA Second Team (1963, 1965, 1972)…NBA All-Defensive First Team (1972, 1973)…NBA Finals MVP (1972)…Holds the NBA Finals record for most rebounds (41, April 5, 1967 vs. Boston)…Scored 53 points as a rookie against Syracuse (March 14, 1960)…NBA All-Star Game MVP (1960), after scoring 23 points with 25 rebounds…Thirteen-time NBA All-Star (1960-69, 1971-73)…Holds the career All-Star Game record for most rebounds (197)…Holds the single-game All-Star record for most points (42) in 1962…NBA championships with the Philadelphia 76ers (1967) and Los Angeles Lakers (1972)…Scored 31,419 points (30.1 ppg) in 1,045 pro games, best in the league when he retired; currently third all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone…Led the NBA in scoring seven straight years (1960-66), including a career-high 50.4 ppg in 1962…Holds single game record for points in one game (100, March 2, 1962) against the New York Knicks in Hershey, PA…Scored 78 points against Los Angeles in three overtimes (Dec. 8, 1961)…Scored 73 points vs. Chicago (Jan. 13, 1962)…Scored 72 points against Los Angeles (Nov. 3, 1962)…Scored 50 or more points 118 times…Scored 50 or more points 45 times in the 1961-62 season, including seven consecutively (Dec. 16-29, 1961)…Scored 40 points or more 271 times…Scored 40 or more points 63 times in the 1961-62 season; 52 times in the 1962-63 season…Scored 40 or more points 14 straight times (Dec. 8-30, 1961)…Scored 30 or more points 65 straight times (Nov. 4, 1961 - Feb. 22, 1962); had a 31-game and a 25-game 30-point streak…Holds single-game record for most points by a rookie (58, Jan. 25, 1960 vs. the Detroit Pistons)…Made 35 consecutive shots (Feb. 17-28, 1967)…Went 18 of 18 from the field against the Baltimore Bullets (Feb. 24, 1967)…Led the league in field goal percentage nine times (1961, 1963, 1965-69, 1972)…Holds record for most free throws attempted (11,862)…Grabbed 23,924 rebounds (22.9 rpg), best in history in both number and per game average…Holds seasonal records for most minutes (3,338, 41.7 mpg), most points (4,029), points per game (50.4), field goals made (1,597) and field goals attempted (3,159), all in 1962…Holds the rookie record for most points (2,707, 37.6 ppg) and rebounds (1,941, 27.0 rpg) in 1960…Led the league in rebounding 11 times (1960-63, 1966-69, 1971-73)…Led the league in minutes seven times (1961-64, 1966-68)…NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980)…NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)…Ranks second all-time in scoring with 31,419 points (30.1 ppg)…Ranks second all-time in rebounding 23,924 rebounds (22.9 rpg)…

So all of these are amazing, preposterous, absurd…but here are the things that really freak me out:

In 1968, he became the only centre to lead the league in total assists and was 2nd in assists per game…

In that same 1968 season, averaged 24.3 ppg, 23.8 rpg and 8.3 assists per game…This is without a doubt the single most incredible statistical season ever…to give some perspective here, he accomplished the combined 2005 stats of Jason Kidd's assists, Vince Carter's points, and he outrebounded the combined rebounding totals of entire NJ front line of Jefferson (6.8), Kristic (6.4), Collins (4.8) and Robinson (3.3)...ridiculous...

In 1961-62 when he averaged 50.4 points per game and 25.7 rebounds per game he averaged 48.5 minutes per game…WHAT? A game only goes 48 minutes…well the Warriors played 10 overtime periods and he played all but eight of 3,890 minutes that season…OK, maybe this is the most incredible…

By averaging 50.4 points in 1961-62 he become and still is the only player to crack the 4,000-point barrier in a season (he had 4,029)….

You know what’s really crazy about the 1961-62 season? If he’d shot 70% from the line instead of 61% he’d have averaged 52 points per game…if he’d averaged 80% he’d have averaged 55 points per game…

He never fouled out in 1,045 games…at 7’1 (listed...at least) and around 285 lbs. and he once bench pressed 480 lbs…and he never fouled out…ever…I sometimes foul out by walking into the gym…

He scored at least 65 points 15 times over his 143 year career…everybody else in NBA history combined has managed this feat just 7 times over the 60 year history of the league…

Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history to record a double-triple-double (meaning 20 points, 20 rebounds, 20 assists in one game). In 1968 against the Pistons, he went for 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists...Oh my god...

While were at it...Chamberlain is also the only player in NBA history to record a quadruple double-double (meaning 40 points, and 40 rebounds or 40 assists in a single game). On December 8, 1961, when he scored a then-record 78 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, he also collected 43 rebounds....can't breathe...

Chamberlain as well holds the record for the longest continuous streak of triple-doubles with nine straight in 1968...

During his time with the Harlem globetrotters, Chamberlain played point guard because the Trotters already had Meadowlark Lemon at centre...I'm serious...

While Chamberlain was an ABA coach, he once came on the court to find his players complaining that the ball was stuck between the 24-second clock and the top of the backboard...the players were aksing a janitor for a ladder to get the ball...Wilt took bets from his players that he could jump up and tip the ball out saying "put the money on the floor"...several players took the bet...Wilt took off his dress shoes, and in his BARE FEET jumped up and knocked the ball loose from the clock, 12 feet off the floor above the backboard...sounds like a myth, but the story has been coroborated by at least 5 players who played for the San Diego Conquistadors...

Chamberlain’s talent forced the NBA into several rule changes…the lane was widened after in 1964-65 from 12 feet to 16 feet after chamberlain had posted scoring averages of 37.6, 38.4, 50.4, 44.8, and 36.9…instituting offensive goaltending rules in both the NCAA and the NBA to limit the number of times Wilt would simply catch jump shots and dunk them in…instituting the 4 foot rule to allow space for the inbounder to get the ball in, after Wilt had over 20 steals (approx. steals were not an official stat until the late 70s) in a game as a rookie guarding the inbounder…

And my favourite rule change? The NCAA and the NBA instituted a rule requiring the free throw shooter to not cross the free throw line until the ball hits the rim, after Wilt started broad-jumping from the free throw line and dunking the ball in on his free throws…read that again…

Huh? …A report in the Indianapolis star indicates that the Indiana Pacers have contacted Kendra Davis about having Antonio play for the Pacers again…

World championship notes: Leading scorer’s? Yao Ming (China) 28.4 ppg, Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) 24.8 ppg, Pau Gasol (Spain) 21.4 ppg, Dwyane Wade (USA) 21.3 ppg….other notables Darko “El Busto” Milicic (Serbia-Montenegro) looks good with 15 ppg., 8.2 rpg and a tourney leading 2.8 blocks per game…Chris Paul (USA) is leading the tourney in assists (6.8 apg)…

Cue the repeat talk…Pat Riley said Wednesday he'll return as coach of the NBA champion Miami Heat, ending speculation he might retire at age 61. He'll be on the sideline when the title banner is raised at the season opener Oct. 31 against the Chicago Bulls. "After winning the championship, I realized there's always something meaningful that happens in your life that becomes the primary point of your destiny," Riley said in a statement. "Winning the championship showed me that I am definitely in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. I can't wait to get started." Riley won his seventh league title last season as a player or coach, returning to the bench in December to lead the Heat to their first championship.

1) Tony Meija of Cbssportline.com looks back at Team USA’s early success and the other groups in the World championships:

Now the fun begins. Knockout play. You lose, you go home. Everything that has gone down doesn't matter anymore. Before the action starts up this weekend, it's worth taking a look at what has happened thus far.

Group D Top four: 1. United States, 2. Italy, 3. Slovenia, 4. China. MVP: Carmelo Anthony, USA. He was consistent and clutch throughout the opening week. First-team All-Group D: Carmelo Anthony, USA; Yao Ming, China; Chris Paul, USA; Dwyane Wade, USA; Elias Ayuso, Puerto Rico. Biggest surprise: Despite fielding a young team not including No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani, Italy lost only once. They won with defense and savvy play, overcoming their struggles from 3-point range (33.6 percent). Only the Americans averaged fewer turnovers. Biggest disappointment: Puerto Rico failed to get out of the first round despite shooting a tournament-best 51 percent from behind the arc. Carlos Arroyo had a dreadful performance in the 73-72 loss to Italy that officially knocked it out, shooting 2-for-12 with four turnovers. More incredible was that Ayuso's contributions were wasted. He went 22-for-35 from 3-point range and has nothing to show for it but memories. Lasting impression: Shipeng Wang's buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave China a 78-77 victory over Slovenia, allowing it to advance. It was Wang's only field goal of the game.

Group C Top four: 1. Greece, 2. Turkey, 3. Lithuania, 4. Australia. MVP: Antonis Fotsis, Greece. The Dynamo Moscow standout paced his country in scoring and rebounding and shot 65 percent. First-team All-Group D: Antonis Fotsis, Greece; Kerem Gonlun, Turkey; Andrew Bogut, Australia; Arvydas Macijauskas, Lithuania; Dimitrios Diamantidis, Greece. Biggest surprise: Turkey was supposed to contend for a spot in the second round yet exceeded expectations and nearly won the group. Biggest disappointment: What happened to Brazil? On paper, it appeared to field one of stronger teams in this group yet was able to beat only Qatar. Anderson Varejao shot 31 percent. Leandro Barbosa went 3-for-17 from 3-point range, and the team had more turnovers than assists. Lasting impression: The defending European champs finished undefeated in group play, but it wasn't easy. Australia led Greece 69-66 with 19 seconds remaining, only to watch Fotsis and Nikos Zisis knock down back-to-back 3-pointers to steal the victory. Unfortunately for the Greeks, Zisis is out for the remainder of the tournament after a collision with Varejao broke three bones in his face.

Group B Top four: 1. Spain, 2. Germany, 3. Angola, 4. New Zealand. MVP: Dirk Nowitzki, Germany. Tough call here with Dirk over Pau Gasol, but Spain would be all right without Gasol. Germany without Nowitzki? Not so much. Averages of 24.8 points and 10.6 rebounds don't hurt his cause. First-team All-Group D: Dirk Nowitzki, Germany; Joaquin Gomes, Angola; Pau Gasol, Spain; Juan Carlos Navarro, Spain; Eduardo Mingas, Angola. Biggest surprise: Angola was the best of the African contingent, routing the teams that finished below it in the group while playing Germany and Spain tough. Nowitzki needed every one of his 47 points to get his country past it in a 108-103 win that gave it second place. Biggest disappointment: Host country Japan failed to get out of the first round. Its chances were foiled in a 60-57 loss to New Zealand in which it squandered a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit. Lasting impression: Spain's 92-71 win over Germany was an eye-opener. It proved the Spaniards were far and away the best in the group, holding Nowitzki to just nine shots with suffocating defense. Their average margin of victory was 28 points.

Group A Top four: 1. Argentina, 2. France, 3. Nigeria, 4. Serbia & Montenegro. MVP: Luis Scola, Argentina: The reigning Olympic champs took care of business by committee, with someone different stepping up in every game. Scola was consistently solid throughout the five games, ending up as Argentina's leading scorer and rebounder. First-team All-Group D: Walter Herrmann, Argentina; Fadi El-Khatib, Lebanon; Luis Scola, Argentina; Ime Udoka, Nigeria; Igor Rakocevic, Serbia & Montenegro. Biggest surprise: Lebanon failed to make the second phase of the competition because of tiebreakers, but the fact it won two games should be applauded. Given the difficult situation facing the country, it would have been very easy for players' minds to have been elsewhere, yet they gave a great account of themselves and generated some much-needed pride. Biggest disappointment: Boris Diaw stepped up in Tony Parker's absence, but Mickael Pietrus sure didn't. The Golden State swingman shot 8-for-37 from the field and 2-for-16 from 3-point range in group play. Unless he snaps out of his slump, France's run will be coming to an end sooner than later. Lasting impression: Argentina struggled with the Serbs in the final game of the group, entering the fourth quarter behind. Despite having first place already clinched, it clawed back for an 83-79 win to remain unbeaten on the strength of a Carlos Delfino scoring flurry.

2) Notes from the AP on coaching Team USA:

Talented coaching staff adds to Team USA's depthEvery once in a while, Jim Boeheim has the urge to jump off the bench and call a play or lecture the referees. "I've been a head coach for 30 years,'' Boeheim said with a chuckle. "I'm used to telling people what to do.'' But that's not Boeheim's job with Team USA. As an assistant to coach Mike Krzyzewski, Boeheim's duty is to provide an experienced set of eyes and ears as the Americans bid for their first world championship since 1994. The Americans like to boast about the depth of their roster, which includes NBA All-Stars, rookies of the year and an NBA Finals MVP. But they are deepest at whistle and clipboard. Boeheim, who has spent his entire career with Syracuse, joins Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland coach Nate McMillan as assistants to Krzyzewski. The three assistants have a total of 1,462 victories - 726 belong to Boeheim - and 48 seasons as head coaches among them. Boeheim is in the Hall of Fame. D'Antoni was the NBA's coach of the year in 2004-05. And McMillan, then 36, was the NBA's youngest coach when he was named Seattle's head coach in 2000. Boeheim and D'Antoni have extensive international experience. Boeheim has been the head coach or assistant coach on seven U.S. teams, while D'Antoni coached and played in the Italian pro league. The assistants don't have specific responsibilities. D'Antoni has been teaching the Suns' up-tempo offense. Boeheim has contributed expertise on attacking the zone defense, which is a staple of the international game. McMillan helps out on defense. "We just try to come up with ideas,'' D'Antoni said. "Some work, some don't. But it's Coach K's call.'' Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said he and Krzyzewski wanted the staff to have a blend of pro, college and international experience. "The bottom line is that they all brought something to the table,'' Colangelo said. "That's why they're all here.'' When Colangelo and Krzyzewski began putting together a staff, Colangelo insisted that D'Antoni be part of it. Colangelo owned the Suns when D'Antoni joined the team as an assistant coach in 2002. Eighteen months later, D'Antoni was promoted to head coach, and within a year he had transformed the Suns from a 50-loss eyesore to one of the NBA's more entertaining teams. They've won the Pacific Division and reached the Western Conference finals in each of his first two full seasons. "I felt that Mike D'Antoni was an absolute natural must because of his international experience,'' Colangelo said. "And Boeheim for his knowledge of the zone, offensively and defensively. He was there for a purpose. Nate's a young, up-and-coming coach, and we're building a program.'' Late in the first quarter of the U.S.' 114-95 victory over Slovenia on Tuesday night, Coach K stepped aside in the huddle and let D'Antoni diagram a play on a greaseboard. Afterward, a reporter asked D'Antoni to share the wisdom he'd given to the players. "I was saying 'lunch at Mario's at 10 o'clock,''' D'Antoni said. Unlike many of the NBA's walk-it-up offenses, D'Antoni's attack requires players to fill lanes as they try to beat the defense down the floor. His Phoenix players often refer to the "controlled chaos'' of the scheme. Whatever it is, the approach is working for Team USA. After five games, the Americans have averaged 108.6 points per game, by far the most in the field. Krzyzewski credited D'Antoni with teaching the players to spread the floor and make the defense work harder. "Mike's been really good with that, especially the spacing,'' Krzyzewski said. "When you have the talent we have, you should give it more space, so guys can make some plays.'' As an NBA coach, D'Antoni knew many of Team USA's players, including Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, who did not make the final roster. D'Antoni also coached U.S. guard Joe Johnson before he was traded to Atlanta. Team captain Carmelo Anthony played for Boeheim in 2002-03, leading the Orangemen to Boeheim's first national title. "We talk all the time about the national championship and how I got that monkey off his back,'' Anthony said. Boeheim had heard the stereotypes about NBA players - that they would be more concerned with personal statistics than practice. He's found the opposite to be true. "They've been good teammates,'' Boeheim said. "They've been unselfish. All the things that people said they couldn't be, they've been. "They've exceeded my expectations for them, and I think they're still working and they're getting better,'' Boeheim said. "These guys have done everything we've asked.''In a few months, Boeheim will be back on the sideline at Syracuse, gearing up for another season in the tough Big East conference. "You miss it,'' Boeheim said. "I like going back to my regular job. But it's been fun doing this.''