Imagine slam-dunking the basket, the winning score, while thousands of fans have their eyes on you. You are Wilt Chamberlain, basketball legend of the 1960's.
Wilt Chamberlain was born on the 21'st August, 1936, in Philadalphia, and was named Wilten Norman Chamberlain (nicknamed Wilt). His high school was in Overbrook, and later he went to the University of Kansas, but he never really needed to graduate, because he already had enough talent to do something else, something that would make him rich, AND famous.
Wilt Chamberlain might have actually died a few times, including being attacked by pneumonia at only around 8 YEARS OLD! But, he managed to get through all that eventually. Wilt's father went by the name of William Chamberlain, and got the job of custodian, but his mother, Olivia chamberlain was a domestic worker. Olivia and William gave birth to five children, Wilt, of course, his two brothers, Oliver and Wilbur, and his sisters, Barbara and Selena.
When Wilt joined the American NBA, he started off in the Philadalphia Warriors, and played for them from 1959-1964. Then he joined the 76'ers, and played with them for four years. Then Chamberlain accompanied the LA (Los Angeles) Lakers and stayed 1968-73, 6 years, and then played with 1 or 2 more teams. Along the way, Wilt Chamberlain acquired many awards. He obtained Rookie of the Year from 1959-60, and was awarded MVP (Most Valuable Player) 1959-60, 1965-66, 1966-67 and 1967-68. And guess what? He got in the hall of fame in 1979!
During the Philadalphia Warriors' game against the New York Knicks, Wilt Chamberlain was a superstar! At that moment, on the 2'nd March, 1962, he scored at every opportunity, destroying the other team. And then, he came out with 100 POINTS under his belt, a new world record, he was the first man in the world to go triple digits, the big one-zero-zero. He was a hit, at that moment the biggest hit in the entire world. At that moment, his very name became legendary!
Unfortunately, Wilt Chamberlain died in 1999, due to heart failure. It was a very sad event for his family, who all lived to be older than him. Chamberlain lived to be 63 years, 2 months, one week and 5 days.
Even though he is dead, he still lives in the heart of many young basketball players, and he is still a major inspiration in the world, for anyone who wants to believe.
Great closing paragraph Josh. It is good to have hero and aspire to be like them. I wonder what habits of mind Wilt diplayed. 63 is really very young to die, and of heart failure... seems unfair when he had, I assume, been so young, fit and healthy.
ReplyDeleteWell written and very interesting!
Thanks Josh!
MsMcD