by Royce Radcliffe

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2008

As famous for his off the court exploits as he was for his dominance on the paint, Wilt Chamberlain is a living legend. The seven foot one inch center set an amazing number of records that still stand to this day. Most people name Michael Jordon when discussing the best player in basketball history but those who don't almost always name Wilt Chamberlain...

Chamberlain is a testament to the strength of the human will when tested against true adversity. He is a historical reference for any parent of a sick child that anything can be overcome with perseverence. You see, as a child he was very weak and often ill with pneumonia. His condition was so bad that he nearly died on numerous occassions and missed years of school.

Chamberlain had no interest in basketball as a youth and thought it was in fact a game played only by the weak. At first he starred in track and field, setting many state records in middle school and high school. However, since he grew up in Philidelphia and basketball was considered a way of life down there he eventually gave in to the pressure to play competitively.

One of the reasons the pressure existed to begin with was that he was built perfectly for the sport. He was six foot eleven with an enormous reach as a freshman. Philadelphia's Overbrook High School would be the first place he displayed his freaksih talents. He dominated his peers for four straight years to such a degree that he become a legend in the state.

He went to KU and his size blew people away, supplemented perfectly by his unheard of defense and scoring ability. They started to call him "the Big Dipper" mainly in reference to his awesome shot blocking capabilities. Some competitors called him "Wilt the Stilt" a name he grew to hate. He showed them what he thought of that on the court and legend states no team that ever referred to him by that name in public ever beat him. He left college his junior year to sign with the NBA.

Despite his desire to play for the league he was prohibited for one year due to not finishing school. So instead he went to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. He singlehandedly catapulted them to enormous fame. The focus here was not on breaking records but pleasing the crowd and he loved the atmosphere. Even though he played only one true season he was the first member enshrined into the Globetrotter Hall of Fame. He loved the team so much he would often play for them during the NBA offseason.

In the NBA he would have a controversial path set before him,

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