Wilt Chamberlain

Wilton Norman Chamberlain (August 21, 1936 – October 12, 1999) was a former NBA basketball player. Known as Wilt the Stilt (a nickname he hated) or The Big Dipper, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most dominant basketball players of all timehttp://wiltfan.tripod.com/ for the incredible statistical achievements he attained throughout his playing career.

Personal life

His battles with center Bill Russell were legendary; they were fierce competitors on the court, yet were close personal friends off the hardwood. Wilt also earned accolades for other sports, including track and field (in which he ran the 100-yard dash in 10.9 seconds in high school), volleyball (he founded and starred in a pro league) and auto racing, among others. He flirted with boxing, and was offered a pro football contract by Kansas City Chiefs in 1966. He also was an actor, celebrity and businessman after his playing career concluded. In 1984, he co-starred (along with future Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger) in Conan the Destroyer. He also could bench press 500 pounds.

Related Topics:
Center - Bill Russell - Track and field - Volleyball - Auto racing - Boxing - Football - Kansas City Chiefs - 1966 - 1984 - Governor of California - Arnold Schwarzenegger - Conan the Destroyer

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He authored four books before his death on October 12, 1999, including an autobiography, A View from Above, in which he controversially claimed to have had sex with almost 20,000 women — this would have averaged 1.2 women per day from age 15 until his death. Many people doubted his specific number, though few questioned the fact of wild sexual behavior. He drew heavy criticism from many public figures, who accused him of fulfilling stereotypes about African Americans, and of behaving irresponsibly (especially given the AIDS crisis, which was well underway by the 1980s, when many of the conquests were made). Chamberlain defended himself, saying "I was just doing what was natural — chasing good-looking ladies, whoever they were and wherever they were available". He also noted that he never tried to sleep with a woman who was married.

Related Topics:
October 12 - 1999 - Autobiography - A View from Above - Sex - Stereotype - African American - AIDS - 1980s - Married

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Chamberlain always wore a rubber band around his wrist, due to a superstition, and was fond of saying that "Nobody roots for Goliath." He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in his sleep in his Los Angeles, California home.

Related Topics:
Rubber band - Wrist - Superstition - Goliath - Heart attack - Los Angeles, California

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