The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball
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6*Later it became the Big Eight.
7*In 1960, two years after Chamberlain left Kansas, the NCAA issued a report that found that people representing the university’s “athletic interests” had put up $1,564 for the car, and it placed the university on a two-year athletic probation. A quarter century later, in 1985, Chamberlain acknowledged that while he was at Kansas three alumni whom he referred to as “godfathers” paid him $4,000 a year in cash.
8*Twyman spent much of the next twelve years of his life looking after and raising money for Stokes, who finally died of a heart attack at the age of thirty-seven.
9*The draft was changed to a lottery in 1985 and subsequently modified several times.
10*Some players, and Frank McGuire, recalled that the final seconds of the game were never actually played out, but both Pollack and Ruklick vividly remember the final seconds.
11*Accounts vary as to the fate of the game ball. After Chamberlain’s death in 1999, a man named Kerry Ryman claimed that as a kid he had been at the game and had stolen the ball, and he sold it for $550,000 through Leland’s Auction in New York. When Pollack gave interviews disputing Ryman’s story, the buyer canceled his purchase. According to Pollack, the ball simply disappeared.
12*Auerbach would admit years later that a “malfunction” in the clock caused it to jump forward in the final seconds of each quarter.
13*The pool for the Olympic team was so deep that among those who failed to make it and then went on to great pro careers were John Havlicek, Larry Siegfried, Satch Sanders, and Tom Meschery.
14*Russell voted for the boycott. Chamberlain, who didn’t think a showdown was necessary, voted against it.
15*In Philadelphia the floor crews tightened the baskets so the ball would bounce hard and Chamberlain could jump for the rebound.
16*Bill Russell countered this by demanding, and receiving, a contract for $100,001 a year.
17*In 1980, when Chamberlain returned to Philadelphia to be honored along with the other members of the 76ers’ 1966–67 team, broadcaster Al Meltzer and Jack Kiser of the Daily News urged him to admit he was taller than he had always claimed. Chamberlain agreed to be measured and lay down on a table while the team’s publicist, Harvey Pollack, produced a tape measure. The result: seven feet and one-half inch. Chamberlain was actually slightly shorter than he had always claimed; he just appeared taller.
18*On the same day the Celtics clinched the series, Ambrose Burfoot became the first American to win the Boston marathon since 1957.
NOTES
The archives at the Basketball Hall of Fame include newspaper clips, press releases, team memoranda, and correspondence. Not all of this material is dated, and when I have drawn from undated or unpublished sources, I have cited them BHFA.
CHAPTER 1
The citizens of Boston: Boston Herald, Nov. 2–4, 1959; “The Big Collision,” Sport, Dec. 1959.
“Just trying”: “When Wilt and Russell Meet,” Sport, March 1960.
“Pro basketball will be”: “The Big Collision,” Sport, Dec. 1959.
Chamberlain had attracted: “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?,” The Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1956.
Russell had eaten: “When Wilt and Russell Meet,” Sport, March 1960.
Russell considered himself: Russell, Second Wind, 95.
People had been feeding: Bill Russell int. in Deseret News, May 20, 2001.
Chamberlain had spent: “Great Moments in Sport,” Sport, Nov. 1963.
Pro ball was more violent: “Pro Basketball Has Ganged Up on Me,” Look, March 1, 1960.
Naulls had chased him: Chamberlain, Wilt, 106.
In mid-court: Bill Russell int. in Deseret News, May 20, 2001.
The referee tossed: “The Tall Ones in Boston,” Sports Illustrated, Nov. 16, 1959; “When Wilt and Russell Meet,” Sport, March 1960.
Russell thought: Los Angeles Times, Oct. 19, 1999.
Auerbach had first: Auerbach, Winning, 96.
He rationalized: Auerbach, On and Off, 168.
“He incites”: “A Master’s Touch,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1965.
“When I first”: Cited in Auerbach, Red, 267.
“the challenging”: Manchester, Glory, 877.
kidnapped Mack Parker: Branch, Parting, 257.
never even bothered to vote: Shaughnessy, Seeing, 17.
Brooklyn’s Williamsburg section: Willensky, When Brooklyn, 36.
street moniker: “A Master’s Touch,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1965.
Red and his friends: Shaughnessy, Seeing, 29–30.
“Da People’s Cherce”: Willensky, When Brooklyn, 36.
“requires a good”: Cited in Riess, City Games, 107.
At the Eastern District: Red Auerbach int. in Herald Traveler and Boston Record American, Dec. 20, 1972.
“He was lucky”: Salzberg, From Set Shot, 12.
Auerbach read a newspaper: Auerbach, Red, 47.
Ned Irish: “Basketball’s Big Wheel,” The Saturday Evening Post, Jan. 15, 1949.
This convinced him: The New York Times, Jan. 22, 1982.
Irish came up with: Koppett, Twenty-four Seconds, 9.
move the Empire State Building: “Basketball’s Big Wheel,” The Saturday Evening Post, Jan. 15, 1949.
Veterans were streaming: Manchester, Glory, 409.
baseball was the sport: Halberstam, Summer, 12.
Max Kase, sports editor: Koppett, Twenty-four Seconds, 13.
Harry Truman had signed: Manchester, Glory, 401.
When Red Auerbach read: Auerbach, Red, 47.
Auerbach made his case: Auerbach, Management, 15.
Ned Irish brought in: Koppett, Twenty-four Seconds, 22.
Going into his first: Red Auerbach int. in Herald Traveler and Boston Record American, Dec. 20, 1972.
“If you get obnoxious”: “A Master’s Touch,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1965.
He hated hearing: Auerbach, On and Off, 67.
He wanted it understood: Red Auerbach int. in Herald Traveler and Boston Record American, Dec. 20, 1972.
Many early games: Pluto, Tall Tales, 18.
“I’ll give these customers”: Auerbach, Red, 69.
He had never been able: Walter Brown int. in Boston Record, Jan. 29, 1962.
“Walter, I think”: Boston Herald, March 23, 1950.
Joe Looney: Boston Herald, March 24, 1950.
Brown told: Ibid.
Some of the reporters: Auerbach, Red, 84.
The photograph: Boston Herald, March 24, 1950.
a “gimmick”: Walter Brown int. in Boston Record, Jan. 29, 1962.
“I don’t know anything”: Boston Herald, Sept. 9, 1964.
“Walter, what’s going”: Marjorie Brown int. in Auerbach, Red, 83.
“Are you kidding”: Walter Brown int. in Boston Record, Jan. 29, 1962.
CHAPTER 2
“How the hell”: “The Boston Collection,” Sports Illustrated, Oct. 6, 1997.
Walter Brown also assumed: Walter Brown int. in Carey, High Above, 56.
“Walter, I’ve seen”: Auerbach, Winning, 66.
Don Barksdale: Ashe, Hard Road, 24.
“Boston takes”: Auerbach, Red, 92.
“Abe’s gonna go crazy”: Shaughnessy, Seeing, 88.
“It’s a white dollar”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 75.
“Do you realize”: Auerbach, Red, 92.
“Thank you”: Shaughnessy, Seeing, 87.
“hair is now”: Boston Herald, April 28, 1950.
“I don’t give a damn”: Cousy, Basketball, 105.
SENTIMENT OUT: Boston Herald, April 28, 1950.
Cousy himself was stunned: Cousy, Basketball, 103.
People joked: McPhee, A Sense, 62.
“We need height”: Cousy, Basketball, 105.
Accepting the fact: “The Wonderful Wizard of Boston,” Sport, Feb. 1960.
“The secret auction”: “Why They’re After Podoloff’s Neck,” Sport, June 1959.
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��I’m sick and tired”: “The Wonderful Wizard of Boston,” Sport, Feb. 1960.
As he read Cousy’s: Walter Brown int. in ibid.
Cousy, staying with his parents: Cousy, Basketball, 110.
“To me, he’s just”: Carey, High Above, 58.
“I hope you make”: Cousy, Basketball, 112.
“This is what”: Boston Herald, Oct. 18, 1950.
“the knights of the keyboard”: Auerbach, Management, 152.
“the inventor of the automatic choke”: Halberstam, Summer, 183.
“We know now”: Cited in “Hothead on the Boston Bench,” Sport, Feb. 1956.
“Syracuse flu”: Salzberg, From Set Shot, 217.
“I’ll put fifty”: Ibid, 217.
“We have to be careful”: “Is the NBA Big League?” Sport, Jan. 1957.
“those New York refs”: Ibid.
“Hey, we doubled”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 21.
Murray Mendenhall: Los Angeles Daily News, April 11, 2002.
“When fans are walking”: “Is the N.B.A. Big League?” Sport, Jan. 1957.
Biasone was alternately: Danny Biasone int. in The New York Times, BHFA.
“Take your time”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 30.
“Movement is no longer”: “Is the NBA Big League?” Sport, Jan. 1957.
CHAPTER 3
“That’s a lot”: “Farewell to Bob Cousy,” Sport, March 1963.
“I hold him”: “Hothead on the Boston Bench,” Sport, Feb. 1956.
The first time Auerbach saw Chamberlain: Libby, Goliath, 23.
“Why don’t you go”: “My Life in a Bush League,” Sports Illustrated, April 12, 1965.
“This is the most”: Auerbach, Winning, 81.
“If that kid even thinks”: Auerbach, Red, 273.
“I’m Joe Lapchick”: Libby, Goliath, 15.
“It was a manhunt”: “Wilt vs. the NBA,” Sport, April 1959.
“About the only place”: “Why I Am Quitting College,” Look, June 10, 1958.
Wilt Chamberlain grew up: Auth. int. of Barbara Chamberlain Lewis.
“Wilt worked”: Ibid.
Brown thought Wilt’s legs: Libby, Goliath, 19.
he’d lock the rec-center: Blinky Brown int. in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 21, 1999.
Wilt the Stilt: Sullivan, Wilt Chamberlain, 20.
“Where does he shoot”: Philly.com, Oct. 13, 1999.
“They didn’t want to wreck”: Libby, Goliath, 25.
“This time, I benefit”: “Wilt. vs. the NBA,” Sport, April 1959.
“to violate the Lindbergh kidnapping law”: “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?,” The Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1956.
“Nobody will believe”: Ibid.
Born is going to make: “My Life in a Bush League,” Sports Illustrated, April 12, 1965.
“the Negro talking”: “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?,” The Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1956.
“And they wanted to win”: Libby, Goliath, 31.
“godfathers” privately assured him: The New York Times, Oct. 18, 1985.
“Why does a Philadelphia boy”: “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?,” The Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1956.
“We couldn’t afford that boy”: Sullivan, Wilt Chamberlain, 35.
“I feel sorry”: “Can Basketball Survive Chamberlain?,” The Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1956.
CHAPTER 4
Three years before: Auth. int. of Hal DeJulio.
“Negro job”: Russell, Go Up, 11.
Charles Russell became: “The Ring Leader,” Sports Illustrated, May 10, 1999.
run and jump, Powles saw: “They Make Rules to Stop Russell,” Sport, April 1956.
“What good will it do?”: “I Was a 6¢9" Babe in the Woods,” The Saturday Evening Post, Jan. 18, 1958.
“If you play”: “Bill Russell’s Private World,” Sport, Feb. 1963.
Every year, a man named Brick Swegle: Russell, Second Wind, 68–79.
His adrenaline was pumping: Bill Russell int. in The New York Times, Dec. 28, 1955.
“We didn’t think”: Harris, Lonely, 20.
San Francisco was his one chance: “Bill Russell’s Private World,” Sport, Feb. 1963.
“lousy coach”: “Unstoppable San Francisco,” Sport, April 1964.
once been a football powerhouse: Maraniss, When Pride, 90.
“Homeless Dons”: Rappaport, Classic, 102.
“jackrabbit basketball”: “Unstoppable San Francisco,” Sport, April 1964.
Regarding his athletic scholarship: “I Was a 6¢9" Babe in the Woods,” The Saturday Evening Post, Jan. 18, 1958.
stayed in the gym until midnight: Russell, Russell Rules, 116.
They broke down basketball: Russell, Second Wind, 93.
“A real mass of muscles”: “Bill Russell’s Private World,” Sport, Feb. 1963.
“When Bill Russell registered”: “Unstoppable San Francisco,” Sport, April 1964.
“smart feet”: Russell, Russell Rules, 116.
“Now where in the world”: Hirshberg, Bill Russell, 37.
“They are scarcely representative”: “Unstoppable San Francisco,” Sport, April 1964.
Heinsohn . . . was flabbergasted: Auth. int. of Tom Heinsohn.
“This is like a one-man volleyball game”: “They Make Rules to Stop Russell,” Sport, April 1956.
Russell’s wingspan, which had never been measured: The New York Times, Dec. 28, 1955.
wrapped his fingers around: “The Man Who Must Be Different,” Sports Illustrated, Feb. 3, 1958.
when Woolpert saw: Rappaport, Classic, 103.
“Did you ever see”: “They Make Rules to Stop Russell,” Sport, April 1956.
“We weren’t planning”: Ibid.
“The rest of us”: “Unstoppable San Francisco,” Sport, April 1964.
“This is the greatest”: Ibid.
CHAPTER 5
Auerbach felt uncertain: “A Master’s Touch,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1965.
“Try to get this guy”: Red Auerbach int. in Herald Traveler and Boston Record American, Dec. 19, 1972.
“Red, he can’t shoot”: Ibid.
the president singled him out: “They Make Rules to Stop Russell,” Sport, April 1956.
“I was just another black boy”: Russell, Go Up, 37.
The owner of the Harlem Globetrotters: Nadel, The Night, 82.
You want to talk to Woolpert: Bill Russell int. in “I Owe the Public Nothing,” The Saturday Evening Post, Jan. 18, 1964.
“How ya doin’ ”: Bill Russell int. in New York Daily News, Nov. 3, 1996.
Harrison knew Abe: Lester Harrison int. in USA Today, April 22, 1983.
“I’m going to have to pass”: “Bill Russell’s Private World,” Sport, Feb. 1963.
Kerner knew St. Louis: “Old Days and Changed Ways,” Sports Illustrated, Nov. 25, 1968.
trading Macauley bothered Auerbach: “A Master’s Touch,” Sports Illustrated, April 5, 1965.
“Red, I need bodies”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 124; Red Auerbach int. in Herald Traveler and Boston Record American, Dec. 19, 1972.
one historian would later: Halberstam, The Fifties, 696.