Russell v. Chamberlin

["Trond Jacobsen" <tjacobsen@wpl-law.com>]

Heard on NPR this morning the Harlem Globetrotters are retiring Wilt's #13 in an upcoming ceremony in Philadelphia.  I knew that Wilt came into the NBA in 1959, but I had not known he first played briefly with the Globetrotters.

This knowledge only further deepens my respect for Russell in relation to Wilt.

As he relates in Second Wind, Russell refused to play for the Globetrotters coming out of USF because of the role played by their owner Abe Saperstein in trying to keep blacks out of the NBA.  Saperstein believed he deserved have exclusive access to that pool of talent for his circus show because of "all he'd done for them."  Saperstein was a selfish bigot who disgraced basketball.  His circus act is also just a straight insult to real basketball and real basketball fans.  Saperstein induction into HOF is one reason Russell has given for declining to attend his own induction.

Bill Rusell.  11-time Champion.  Team player.  Man of principle.
Wilt Chamberlin.  2-time champion.  Selfish player.  Opportunist. 

Trond Jacobsen

P.S.  Wilt WAS a great individual player.  May he rest in peace