The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball

by John Taylor

  CHAPTER 18

  Ike Richman realized: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  “Don’t let any”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 5, 1965.

  “My sales went up”: Lynch, Season, 51.

  “By the river”: Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Jan. 22, 1965.

  “And now”: Sullivan, Wilt Chamberlain, 167.

  The two games against the Celtics: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  he’d responded by writing: “Wilt Chamberlain as We Knew Him,” Sport, Aug. 1960.

  Schayes now felt: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes; also “Trials of the Tall Men,” Dell Sports, Feb. 1962.

  “Why did this”: Libby, Goliath, 132.

  Schayes would later: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  While the older players: “My Life in a Bush League,” Sports Illustrated, April 12, 1965.

  “Bring on the Celtics!”: Sullivan, Wilt Chamberlain, 173.

  “a snakepit”: Boston Herald, April 7, 1965.

  What kind of fan: Havlicek, Hondo, 100.

  Auerbach would have paid: Fitzgerald, Championship, 148.

  Dolph Schayes thought: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  “Oh, man, this is going”: “My Life in a Bush League,” Sports Illustrated, April 12, 1965.

  The other 76ers: Boston Herald, April 19, 1965.

  “interjected many unauthorized”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 10, 1965.

  “It appeared that Wilt”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 9, 1965.

  Schayes, for his part: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes; also The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 9, 1965.

  Chet Walker felt that: Walker, Long Time, 162.

  “Pressure! Pressure!”: Boston Herald, April 15, 1965.

  “You never knew”: Auth. int. of Al Domenico.

  Chet Walker felt like: Walker, Long Time, 163.

  In the pregame huddle: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  Red Auerbach had a saying: Havlicek, Hondo, 126.

  “There’s this guy”: Shaughnessy, Seeing, 157.

  “Have you ever seen”: Carey, High Above, 142.

  Country Boy: New York Post, April 29, 1969.

  Havlicek would work up: Havlicek, Hondo, 126.

  “Oh my God”: Russell, Go Up, 115.

  Strom also had a core: Shaughnessy, Ever Green, 111.

  Schayes immediately: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  “Let’s make the play”: Salzberg, From Set Shot, 213.

  “I blew it”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 260.

  Auerbach seemed at a loss.: Boston Herald, April 7, 1965.

  “Play defense”: Libby, Goliath, 138.

  Havlicek started counting: Havlicek, Hondo, 128.

  “Havlicek stole the ball!”: Carey, High Above, 155.

  “You were great, Wilt”: Sullivan, Wilt Chamberlain, 179.

  A Boston Garden work crew: Boston Herald, April 17, 1965.

  If Russell was the heart: New York Post, April 29, 1969.

  In mid-winter: Auth. int. of Elgin Baylor; also “The Elgin Baylor Miracle,” Sport, Nov. 1967.

  “They used to say”: Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1965.

  Normally, it would never: West, Mr. Clutch, 119.

  The grudge he bore: “The Winning Ways of Red Auerbach,” Sport, March 1965.

  In game five: Boston Herald, April 27, 1965.

  It was Tommy Heinsohn’s final game: Auth. int. of Tom Heinsohn.

  DON’T LEAVE US, HEINIE: Boston Herald, April 26, 1965.

  Since it was probably: Auth. int. of Tom Heinsohn.

  “You want to know”: Boston Herald, April 26, 1965.

  CHAPTER 19

  My God, do I look: Auerbach, Management, 174.

  John Waldron: New York Post, April 18, 1966.

  “I’m announcing it now”: Heinsohn, Give ’Em the Hook, 104.

  “They want them to lose”: “A Last Cigar for a Last Hurrah?” The Saturday Evening Post, March 26, 1966.

  “Do me a favor”: Ibid.

  On December 3: Auth. int. of Michael Richman.

  Despite the strains: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  “Can’t you give me”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 5, 1965.

  At breakfast on the morning: Auth. int. of Al Domenico.

  yelling nonstop: Lynch, Season, 3.

  Suddenly, five minutes: Auth. ints. of Al Domenico and Dolph Schayes; also The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 4, 1965, and Lynch, Season, 3, 4.

  “Tell the team”: Auth. int. of Al Domenico.

  “whole new set of smoldering problems”: Cosell, Cosell, 126.

  “Bluntly put to you”: “Pro Basketball’s Hidden Fear,” Sport, Feb. 1966.

  “I’m only being realistic”: Ibid.

  Back in April: Lukas, Common Ground, 130.

  “The [Celtics team] offers”: Boston Herald, Sept. 12, 1965.

  When Auerbach thought about it: New York Post, April 18, 1966.

  Auerbach thought Frank Ramsey: Boston Herald, Jan. 18, 1966.

  his anxiety had caused: Cousy, Killer Instinct, 36.

  Tommy Heinsohn, despite his reputation: Auth. int. of Tom Heinsohn.

  Russell was an obvious possibility: Boston Herald, Jan. 18, 1966.

  “How would you like”: Bill Russell int. in New York Post, April 19, 1966.

  After the operation: Auth. int. of Elgin Baylor; also “The Elgin Baylor Miracle,” Sport, Nov. 1967.

  “The old pro”: Los Angeles Times, Feb. 3, 1966.

  Sam Jones thought Billy Cunningham: “Billy Cunningham and the Good Times,” Sport, July 1966.

  “Maybe if we press the kid”: Auerbach, Winning, 349.

  In Schayes’s mind: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  it seemed to Joe McGinniss: “Billy Cunningham and the Good Times,” Sport, July 1966.

  Russell still wouldn’t commit: New York Post, April 19, 1966.

  he liked the idea: “Where the Negro Goes from Here in Sports,” Sport, Sept. 1966.

  “Being something of a nut”: Boston Herald, April 19, 1966.

  “Once he had contended”: New York Post, April 18, 1966.

  “I wasn’t offered the job”: New York Post, April 19, 1966.

  This is the day: New York Post, April 29, 1966.

  “You hear me good?”: Auerbach, Winning, 359.

  That was a lot of money: New York Post, April 29, 1966.

  Milton Gross—whose motto was: Auth. int. of Michael Gross.

  When Auerbach and Gross: New York Post, April 29, 1966.

  CHAPTER 20

  “Great year”: Philadelphia Daily News, April 13, 1966.

  “devouring them like aspirin tablets”: Cited in Chamberlain, Wilt, 175.

  “Wilt thought I was”: Auth. int. of Dolph Schayes.

  Hannum considered Schayes: “I’ve Barely Begun to Fight,” Sports Illustrated, Nov. 18, 1968.

  “Listen, he’s gone”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 319.

  “I wasn’t missing”: Lynch, Season, 62.

  “I don’t even know”: “The Startling Change in Wilt Chamberlain,” Sport, March 1967.

  “You know, I can pass”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 321.

  Before an exhibition game: Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Oct. 12, 1966.

  “like the Phantom of the Opera”: “Bill Russell’s Most Trying Season,” Sport, April 1967.

  “white thinking”: “Where the Negro Goes from Here in Sports,” Sport, Sept. 1966.

  he’d decided Boston: Russell remarks in press conference, The Seattle Times, June 6, 1973.

  Once, when he returned: “The Unknown Side of Bill Russell,” Sport, March 1966.

  It was therefore essential: Auerbach, Management, 138.

  at the breakup dinner: “Bill Russell’s Most Trying Season,” Sport, April 1967.

  In September: Russell, Russell Rules, 76.

  “I thought you were in”: “Bill Russell’s Most Trying Season,” Sport, April 1967.

  “There’s no big deal”: Philadelphia Daily News, Oct. 29, 1966.

>   “We just got beat”: Philadelphia Daily News, Oct. 31, 1966.

  Hannum wrote a series: “The Startling Change in Wilt Chamberlain,” Sport, March 1967.

  “milk it”: “The Waiting Made It Sweeter,” Sports Illustrated, May 8, 1967.

  “What’s up here?”: Philadelphia Daily News, Feb. 25, 1967.

  “If there had been”: “The Startling Change in Wilt Chamberlain,” Sport, March 1967.

  “They might be”: Lynch, Season, 80.

  “This was the best”: Libby, Goliath, 143.

  “Don’t be afraid”: Ibid., 142.

  the 76ers became a gang: Chamberlain, Wilt, 176.

  Chamberlain held a Halloween party: Lynch, Season, 68.

  Tiny Tots: Boston Herald, April 3, 1967.

  “Realistically, Red”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 3, 1967.

  “For eight years, the Celtics”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 4, 1967.

  “The Celtics do not deserve”: The Boston Globe, April 4, 1967.

  “The Celtics are dead”: Boston Herald, April 4, 1967.

  Wally Jones had been afflicted: Auth. int. of Al Domenico.

  the Great Intimidator: Boston Herald, April 3, 1967.

  Captain Marvel: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1967.

  taken to wearing buttons: “Wally Wonder for Mayor,” Sport, Sept. 1967.

  It was obviously phony: Boston Herald, April 6, 1967.

  “They haven’t won anything yet”: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 7, 1967.

  “But he’s had a good teacher”: Boston Herald, April 8, 1967.

  Lorber examined him: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 1967.

  Alex Hannum’s wife: Boston Herald, April 10, 1967.

  “We were guessing”: Auth. int. of Al Domenico.

  We ain’t dead!: Boston Herald, April 10, 1967.

  Cunningham told Wally Jones: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 12, 1967.

  Cunningham, watching: Lynch, Season, 140.

  Chamberlain remained relatively subdued: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 13, 1967.

  The fact was: “The Fight to Remodel Wilt Chamberlain,” Sport, Feb. 1964.

  “Great,” Russell said: “The Waiting Made It Sweeter,” Sports Illustrated, May 8, 1967.

  CHAPTER 21

  a secret meeting: “I Am Not Worried About Ali,” Sports Illustrated, June 19, 1967.

  “You know where I stand”: Lukas, Common Ground, 134.

  “Dr. Martin Luther King”: Ibid., 135.

  When Russell’s grandfather: Russell, Second Wind, 51.

  “Nothing, I’m happy”: “The Ring Leader,” Sports Illustrated, May 10, 1999.

  Havlicek, for one, got pretty tired: Fitzgerald, Championship, 180.

  Sam Jones had been telling: Springfield [Mass.] Daily News, May 11, 1967.

  He told the players: “Sportsman of the Year,” Sports Illustrated, Dec. 23, 1968.

  “I know nothing about it”: Auth. int. of Seymour Goldberg.

  “Where is everybody?”: Libby, Goliath, 152.

  Chamberlain felt that if he could lead: Chamberlain, Who’s Running, 108.

  “Did you see this?”: “Win One for the Dipper,” Sport, March 1974.

  “I think there are more important things”: Lynch, Season, 211.

  At nine o’clock: Boston Herald-Traveler, April 7, 1968.

  That night and the following day: Boston Herald-Traveler, April 6, 1968.

  The way Russell saw it: Bill Russell int. in The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1968.

  Bailey Howell, who was white: Walker, Long Time, 198.

  Russell himself was in no mood: The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 7, 1968.

  King’s death had made Walker feel: Walker, Long Time, 201.

  “The Celtics have seen”: The Boston Globe, April 15, 1968.

  “When the Celtics fell”: Boston Herald-Traveler, April 21, 1968.

  “We’ve come so far”: “Sportsman of the Year,” Sports Illustrated, Dec. 23, 1968.

  “Don, you don’t want”: Havlicek, Hondo, 104.

  Celtics Rule Again: Boston Herald-Traveler, April 20, 1968.

  Hannum blamed himself: Alex Hannum int. in Philadelphia Daily News, May 1, 1979.

  “more surprising than an American”: Boston Herald-Traveler, April 21, 1968.

  CHAPTER 22

  “You’re free to go make”: Auth. int. of Seymour Goldberg.

  Cooke was in his hotel room: “Wilt, West, and Baylor,” Sport, March 1969.

  “Never call it an arena”: Los Angeles Times, Dec. 30, 1968.

  He had at that point: Havill, Last Mogul, 142.

  “I have never been able”: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 30, 1968.

  They all felt the pressure: Harris, Fabulous, 105.

  Five other teams were interested: Auth. int. of Seymour Goldberg.

  “Wilt, I’m going to get you”: Auth. int. of Seymour Goldberg.

  “Chamberlain obviously was intimidated”: Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1968.

  “The Celtics have been a team”: Ibid.

  “It is as if the Niblets people”: “The Beard Moves into a New and Ticklish Pad,” Sports Illustrated, Oct. 14, 1968.

  Over the long run: Auth. int. of Seymour Goldberg.

  “It’s for plenty of bucks”: New York Post, July 9, 1968.

  “The payroll is a little scary”: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 26, 1968.

  “The only thing Wilt can’t do”: Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1968.

  “You swallow some blood”: “Pro Basketball Almanac,” Sport, 1968.

  when he saw a copy: Pluto, Tall Tales, 353.

  “Butch earns his technicals”: “Wilt, West, and Baylor,” Sport, March 1969.

  “All I care about”: West, Mr. Clutch, 178.

  he had no hesitation: “On Top—But in Trouble,” Sports Illustrated, Jan. 27, 1969.

  “When do we get”: West, Mr. Clutch, 184.

  West thought Chamberlain was incredibly talented: West, Mr. Clutch, 123.

  “I don’t know if you can”: The Boston Globe, July 23, 1968.

  “We just broke up”: Pluto, Tall Tales, 354.

  the fluid game: “Hedonist Prophet of the Spartan Game,” Sports Illustrated, Sept. 23, 1968.

  “the officiating is ridiculous”: Ibid.

  “He can pass well”: Ibid.

  Van Breda Kolff felt that Chamberlain: Pluto, Tall Tales, 354.

  van Breda Kolff closed the workouts: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 26, 1968.

  “The Lakers better shore up”: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 24, 1968.

  “I told him I needed”: Los Angeles Times, Nov. 19, 1968.

  players such as Mel Counts: Mel Counts int. in The Boston Globe, March 22, 1981.

  West thought the Lakers: West, Mr. Clutch, 191.

  Baylor and Chamberlain quickly developed: “On Top—But in Trouble,” Sports Illustrated, Jan. 27, 1969.

  Baylor would tell: Libby, Goliath, 189.

  “If Jerry comes out”: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 26, 1968.

  “I know what’s best”: “Wilt, West, and Baylor,” Sport, March 1969.

  “I would think”: Libby, Goliath, 183.

  “They say when he wandered”: “Wilt, West, and Baylor,” Sport, March 1969.

  Jerry West found the whole: Jerry West int. in New York Post, May 11, 1968.

  A big part of the problem: Bill van Breda Kolff int. in Los Angeles Times, Dec. 17, 1968.