50 Years Since Wilt Scored 100

For 50 years, one mighty number has stood as the Mount Everest of sport’s records and milestones.
Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points.

It was a game played in front of no TV cameras. Sports writers were few, and so were the fans. Only 4,124 (at $2.50 a ticket) attended the game, in fact, between the Warriors and the New York Knicks as the final stretch of the 1961-62 season dwindled down. The number of people who claimed they were there to witness history, however, could have stretched the East Coast.

All because of 100 points.

“The 100-point game was a hyperbolic announcement of the rise of the black athlete in basketball,’’ said author Gary Pomerantz, who wrote the complete narrative of that game in the 2005 book, “WILT, 1962:

The Night of 100 Points and the Dawn of a New Era.

Chamberlain played all 48 minutes in Philadelphia’s 169-147 win over the Knicks. He shot 36 of 63 from the floor and an un-Wilt like 28 of 32 from the free-throw line. Chamberlain, a woeful 51.1 percent career shooter from the line, attempted his free throws underhand against the Knicks.

“I personally don’t think it will ever happen again,’’ said Chamberlain’s Warriors’ teammate, Al Attles. “I don’t know if a team will allow it to happen now.’’

Kobe Bryant came close, well sort of.  Bryant scored 81 on Jan. 22, 2006. Michael Jordan never topped 69. David Robinson once tipped in 71.

It's something I don't think we'll ever see again.  I guess few actually saw it the first time.

Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points.

ESPN's Spin Control on Offensive Jeremy Lin Headline

ESPN offered up an apology for an insensitive Jeremy Lin headline this morning.

Last night, ESPN.com’s mobile web site posted an offensive headline referencing Jeremy Lin at 2:30 am ET. The headline was removed at 3:05 am ET. We are conducting a complete review of our cross-platform editorial procedures and are determining appropriate disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again. We regret and apologize for this mistake.

Following a Knick loss last night this was posted on ESPN's mobile site.

For a network that blankets the NBA and a story that is as big as Jeremy Lin's, this can't be good.

NBA Thursday Play of the Night: Heat

The Heat play the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. New York lost the previous two meetings.  A big snowstorm has crippled New York, but he game is expected to be played.

The Heat are only giving 4 and the Knicks are a much improved team.

I say you have to go with the Heat here.

The Heat are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a road favorite, while the New York Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home underdog of 0.5-4.5 points.  I actually like the Heat in a blowout, they usually play well in situations like this.

I can feel the Heat!