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[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q[/URL]
1:08 mark
[I]"My vertical was I could get my eyes above the rim. When I jumped up straight I could get my eyes above the rim & I could touch the top of the backboard."[/I]
That's cool and all, but no, he couldn't.
My Guestimate - 34"
[QUOTE=PHILA][URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q[/URL]
1:08 mark
[I]"My vertical was I could get my eyes above the rim. When I jumped up straight I could get my eyes above the rim & I could touch the top of the backboard."[/I][/QUOTE]
:applause: good post, Abe, as usual:cheers:
Of course, just as in the case of Chamberlain, since we don't have video footage of him with his eyes above the rim, or touching the top of the backboard (in which other players have said that both Russell and Wilt could do that), the pundits will not accept it. And, once again, both he and Wilt were high jumpers, as well as multi-track stars.
Russell actually was a world-class high-jumper (ranked 7th in the world in 1956.) However, Wilt probably had an edge in actual height reached, since he was about 4-5 inches taller, and had a 92" wingspan. Russell obviously had better technique in the highjump, though.
Hopefully the NBA will release more vintage games, and perhaps we will get a better idea of just how accomplished these two great athletes were.
Regarding the 13 ft. level (the top of the backboard), Vince Carter's high was reportedly 12' 6" (as was Shaq's BTW.) I believe David Thompson and MJ were around that level, as well. I have not seen what Howard's has been, but he dunked on an 11' 6" rim (Chamberlain reportedly routinely dunked on a 12 ft rim.)
So we're supposed to believe, Russell could touch higher than Shaq, who at his pre draft measurements recorded a higher vertical than Wade's, Kobe's and Hardaway's...
So, Shaq, who's had a higher vertical than all the wingmen he's played with, somehow couldn't touch higher than Russell. Though because Russell said it, we should believe it?
[QUOTE=plowking]So we're supposed to believe, Russell could touch higher than Shaq, who at his pre draft measurements recorded a higher vertical than Wade's, Kobe's and Hardaway's...
So, Shaq, who's had a higher vertical than all the wingmen he's played with, somehow couldn't touch higher than Russell. Though because Russell said it, we should believe it?[/QUOTE]
How many high-jump titles did Shaq win in college, and where was he ranked in the world?
[QUOTE=jlauber]How many high-jump titles did Shaq win in college, and where was he ranked in the world?[/QUOTE]
Let's have a look.
The high jump average has increased by over a foot since Shaq's day and Russell's...
So there goes that theory...
[QUOTE=plowking]Let's have a look.
The high jump average has increased by over a foot since Shaq's day and Russell's...
So there goes that theory...[/QUOTE]
Russell and Wilt were long jumpers too. Since 1968 how much longer is the long jump record? 2" ...yes 2 ".
AND, give Wilt and Russell all the benefits of modern rechnology, training (technique), equipment (shoes and surface), nutrition, and medicine...and how much higher would they have jumped?
[QUOTE=jlauber]Russell and Wilt were long jumpers too. Since 1968 how much longer is the long jump record? 2" ...yes 2 ".
[B]AND, give Wilt and Russell all the benefits of modern rechnology, training (technique), equipment (shoes and surface), nutrition, and medicine...and how much higher would they have jumped[/B]?[/QUOTE]
We're not talking about that though.
From this thread, its saying Bill Russell in his day could reach higher than Shaq in his day. That's just false.
There are numerous reports of Wilt dunking on a 12 ft rim...that was, not coincidently, set up by his coach during his tenure at Kansas. AND, the NCAA and NBA banned the dunking of FT's because Chamberlain was reportedly capable of accomplishing that feat with a start just inside the top half of the FT circle.
[QUOTE=plowking]We're not talking about that though.
From this thread, its saying Bill Russell in his day could reach higher than Shaq in his day. That's just false.[/QUOTE]
Of course you KNOW that to be a FACT....
Incidently, Wilt's college coach stated that had Chamberlain dedicated himself to the high-jump, that he would have probably cleared 7-0. Is that difficult to believe? Take a look at the footage that is available...Chamberlain's techinque was AWFUL. While most high-jumpers were getting a runnung start, Wilt would take 2-3 steps. Wilt was involved in WAY too many track events to excel and any one of them. He was a sprinter of the KU 4x100 team, he was a 440, 880, shot-putter, long jumper, triple jumper, and a champion high jumper. Some believed that he would have been an Olympic Decathalete. All of this while being the most dominant basketball player that college had ever seen.
[QUOTE=jlauber]Of course you KNOW that to be a FACT....[/QUOTE]
I do.
Shaq is 7'1, Russell was 6'9. Let's say, for the sake of this argument, that since Shaq's highest touch was 9'5, Russell's would according be 9'1. Shaq with a 36 inch vertical jump could reach 12'5...
So what you want me to believe is, Russell could essentially jump 48 inches?
So... that would put him with a higher vertical than, MJ, Vince Carter, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Nate Robinson.
Am I missing something, or am I the only one that doesn't see the insane explosiveness as I did with the other players mentioned?
[QUOTE=plowking]I do.
Shaq is 7'1, Russell was 6'9. Let's say, for the sake of this argument, that since Shaq's highest touch was 9'5, Russell's would according be 9'1. Shaq with a 36 inch vertical jump could reach 12'5...
So what you want me to believe is, Russell could essentially jump 48 inches?
So... that would put him with a higher vertical than, MJ, Vince Carter, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Nate Robinson.
Am I missing something, or am I the only one that doesn't see the insane explosiveness as I did with the other players mentioned?[/QUOTE]
NONE of those guys mentioned were high jump champs in college were they (or world ranked)? And PLEASE...Nate Robinson and Spud Webb outjumping Russell??? LOL!
[URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=340UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wAAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,4611332&dq"]Toldeo Blade - Nov 28, 1956[/URL]
[I]'It seems Wilt has an unorthodox method of shooting free throws. The big guy takes aim at the basket from several feet behind the line. Then he takes about three giant steps, leaves his feet before reaching the line, and stuffs the ball through the hoop.
Under the old rule, it was perfectly legal as Wilt never touched the floor before letting go of the ball. In addition his percentage was fantastic.
"Why, he would have had a free throw percentage of 100," said [Tex] Winter. "He never missed."
Incidentally the rules committee did not mention Chamberlain by name as a reason for the change. The rule change was made, according to the committee, "[B]to prevent freak activity[/B]."[/I]'
[URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mjQaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ByYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7154,1845932&dq"]Mar 24, 1956[/URL]
[I]'The proposed new rule hits at such towering performers as San Francisco's Bill Russell and Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain of Kansas.'
[/I]
[QUOTE=PHILA][URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=340UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wAAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,4611332&dq"]Toldeo Blade - Nov 28, 1956[/URL]
[I]'It seems Wilt has an unorthodox method of shooting free throws. The big guy takes aim at the basket from several feet behind the line. Then he takes about three giant steps, leaves his feet before reaching the line, and stuffs the ball through the hoop.
Under the old rule, it was perfectly legal as Wilt never touched the floor before letting go of the ball. In addition his percentage was fantastic.
"Why, he would have had a free throw percentage of 100," said [Tex] Winter. "He never missed."
Incidentally the rules committee did not mention Chamberlain by name as a reason for the change. The rule change was made, according to the committee, "[B]to prevent freak activity[/B]."[/I]'
[URL="http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mjQaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ByYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7154,1845932&dq"]Mar 24, 1956[/URL]
[I]'The proposed new rule hits at such towering performers as San Francisco's Bill Russell and Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain of Kansas.'
[/I][/QUOTE]
:applause:
[QUOTE=jlauber]NONE of those guys mentioned were high jump champs in college were they (or world ranked)? And PLEASE...Nate Robinson and Spud Webb outjumping Russell??? LOL![/QUOTE]
I never said anything about reach for them, I said how high they could jump. You want me to believe Russell can get higher off the ground than Spud and Nate.
You don't even know what you're arguing for.
EDIT: Once again, it has nothing to do with what they were in high school, or college. Who cares if they did high jump or not, the high jump average has increased drastically.
It's like comparing the amount of money the richest people in the 1800's had compared to now.
[QUOTE=plowking]I never said anything about reach for them, I said how high they could jump. You want me to believe Russell can get higher off the ground than Spud and Nate.
You don't even know what you're arguing for.
EDIT: Once again, it has nothing to do with what they were in high school, or college. Who cares if they did high jump or not, the high jump average has increased drastically.
It's like comparing the amount of money the richest people in the 1800's had compared to now.[/QUOTE]
Fosbury pioneered the TECHNIQUE which is used now, BTW.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosbury_Flop[/url]
"The Fosbury Flop is a style used in the athletics event of high jump. It was popularized and perfected by American athlete Dick Fosbury, whose gold medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics brought it to the world's attention. Over the next few years the flop became the dominant style of the event and remains so today. Before Fosbury, most elite jumpers used the Straddle technique, Western Roll, Eastern cut-off or even Scissors-Jump to clear the bar. Given that landing surfaces had previously been sandpits or low piles of matting, high jumpers of earlier years had to land on their feet or at least land carefully to prevent injury. With the advent of deep foam matting high jumpers were able to be more adventurous in their landing styles and [B]hence experiment with styles of jumping and giving jumpers about 25% higher jumps."[/B]
The fastest NFL player EVER? Bob Hayes, an HOFer, who ran a 10.0 100meters. And I would take Deion, Bo, or Darrell Green, in theri primes, in a 40 yard sprint over Chris Johnson, as well.
Longest HR hitter? Not Barry Bonds, whose longest (and PED aided) was 490 feet. Mickey Mantle...all 5-11, 180 lbs. And he hit MANY verifiable 500+ ft HRs. In fact, he coined the term "tape measure."
We have EYE-WITNESS accounts of Wilt touching the top of the backboard. We have rules that were put in place to prevent the dunking of FTs...because of Wilt (and Russell.) We have a 12 ft rim set up during the Chamberlain era, and reports of him dunking on it.
We also KNOW that Wilt and Russell were high jump CHAMPS (and in Russell's case...ranked 7th in the WORLD.) BOTH were involved in MULTIPLE track events, as well.
Hell, Wilt was DOMINATING the NBA in BLOCKED SHOTS at age 36, with a surgically repaired knee, and at over 300 lbs. What was the man doing at age 25, at 275 lbs., and on two healthy legs?
A magnificent putback slam on Chamberlain in the Finals :applause:
(1:06 mark)
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkRxVFT5tQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkRxVFT5tQ[/URL]
A tremendous leap on a block attempt from Russell. And an even more incredible shot from Big O.
(5:34 mark)
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe3zWQqV554"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe3zWQqV554[/URL]
[IMG]http://i26.tinypic.com/ek54pc.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i30.tinypic.com/dzez4p.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i26.tinypic.com/2qxp0dz.png[/IMG]
Bill Russell comments on this psychological game with the Big O entering his zone in a pick/roll situation.
(5:50 mark)
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f_gVh9h9Q[/URL]
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain never touched the top of the backboard.
Red Auerbach was so angrey about Wilt's "goal tending", hence, the rule changes...
[url]http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19610108&id=7jIsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uMsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5584,1235523[/url]
[QUOTE=DC Zephyrs]Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain never touched the top of the backboard.[/QUOTE]
This reminds me the logic that "if the husband washes dishes but the wife doesn't see it, it never happens":roll:
[QUOTE=DC Zephyrs]Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain never touched the top of the backboard.[/QUOTE]
Sonny Hill would argue with you on that.
Incidently, Wilt never scored 100 pts in a game, or grabbed 55 rebounds in a game, or averaged 50 ppg over a season, or 40 ppg over seven seasons...combined, or had 55 of the 61 40-30 games in NBA history, or averaged 27 rpg over the course of a season, or 32 of the 62 60+ pt games in NBA history, or shot .727 from the field (or .683), or made 35 straight FGAs, or had a recorded game with 23 blocks, or had a game in which the scorekeeper lost track of his blocks at 25, or led the league in assists, or had a 20-20-20 game, or a 24-32-13-12 playoff game, or ....
When someone here posts an actual attempt by Wilt, to touch the top of the backboard, and he didn't make it...I'll go with what was widely regarded as gospel by the NBA back in the 70's...
[QUOTE]That's cool and all, but no, he couldn't.[/QUOTE]
I dont think you have one bit of evidence saying he cant...other than you not thinking he could. Is it an impossibly high jump? No. Travis Outlaw is shorter than Russell and ive seen him riiiiiiight there just short of the top of the backboard in the one attempt ive seen him make to get there.
And I think we often forget something on these things. We are talking about 1955 or so. All NBA rims/boackboards were not the same until well into the 60s. They were pretty close but there are stories of coaches having them tested all the time because they looked off. They didnt have the same accuracy they do now. And thats in the NBA. You think every middle school, high school, college, and playground backboard met current NBA regulation height? I dont.
If at some point in their lives they ran into a goal that would have them only need to go up...46 inches or so? I have no problems accepting that legit world class high jumpers could do it. I dont think so many people are just fabricating it.
Besides its a 48 inch jump for most bigmen and its not like there arent guys known to get that high. NBA.com listen Mcdyess one step vertical at 47 inches for years due to a test a lot of people are supposed to have watched. And even with every moment of his career on high quality tape ive never seen him get nearly that high. I doubt ive seen him get 40 inches in a game.
Doesnt mean he never did. Legit proven world class high jumpers getting into the upper 40s is not one bit shocking to me even if its 1955. The foot difference in the high jump isnt due to evolution asm uch as how they teach them to jump. Ive seen Russell jump forward and clear like 6'8''. You will never see anyone jumping like that these days because you just dont jump as high. Guys Bill jumped with and against beating at times reached 7 feet and up as time went.
Touching the top of the backboard is no doubt often a myth but there are some easier to believe than others. A 215-220(entering the NBA he was skinny) 6'10.5'' in shoes world class high jumper with long arms?
Ive only seen like 3 people attempt it on film. And 2 of them(Outlaw and James white) were almost there and both were shorter than Bill. Am I to believe that they got the highest in world history in the 4 total attempts I saw them make?
Of course not. And if I assume someone got higher...why wouldnt I assume someone bigger than them who was the #2 ranked high jumper in America wasnt one of them 1-2 times? Or that he never ran into a backboard 2 inches off in a gym in Alabama working out?
I dont think ill just assume hes lying because I didnt see it. World class 6-10 and 7-1 high jumpers should be on the short list of people given the benefit of the doubt if there are a gang of people saying they could reach heights that are well within the human potential to reach.
:oldlol: OK, so athletes have regressed since the 60's. Yeah....the centers have that era could jump higher than the 5'6"-5'8" dunk champs like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson.
why is this story so unbelievable? f'in joe alexander can kiss the rim and then some. Give him longer arms and the extra 6 inches for wilt, and really it's not that much of a fantasy
[QUOTE=Kblaze8855]I dont think you have one bit of evidence saying he cant...other than you not thinking he could. Is it an impossibly high jump? No. Travis Outlaw is shorter than Russell and ive seen him riiiiiiight there just short of the top of the backboard in the one attempt ive seen him make to get there.
And I think we often forget something on these things. We are talking about 1955 or so. All NBA rims/boackboards were not the same until well into the 60s. They were pretty close but there are stories of coaches having them tested all the time because they looked off. They didnt have the same accuracy they do now. And thats in the NBA. You think every middle school, high school, college, and playground backboard met current NBA regulation height? I dont.
If at some point in their lives they ran into a goal that would have them only need to go up...46 inches or so? I have no problems accepting that legit world class high jumpers could do it. I dont think so many people are just fabricating it.
Besides its a 48 inch jump for most bigmen and its not like there arent guys known to get that high. NBA.com listen Mcdyess one step vertical at 47 inches for years due to a test a lot of people are supposed to have watched. And even with every moment of his career on high quality tape ive never seen him get nearly that high. I doubt ive seen him get 40 inches in a game.
Doesnt mean he never did. Legit proven world class high jumpers getting into the upper 40s is not one bit shocking to me even if its 1955. The foot difference in the high jump isnt due to evolution asm uch as how they teach them to jump. Ive seen Russell jump forward and clear like 6'8''. You will never see anyone jumping like that these days because you just dont jump as high. Guys Bill jumped with and against beating at times reached 7 feet and up as time went.
Touching the top of the backboard is no doubt often a myth but there are some easier to believe than others. A 215-220(entering the NBA he was skinny) 6'10.5'' in shoes world class high jumper with long arms?
Ive only seen like 3 people attempt it on film. And 2 of them(Outlaw and James white) were almost there and both were shorter than Bill. Am I to believe that they got the highest in world history in the 4 total attempts I saw them make?
Of course not. And if I assume someone got higher...why wouldnt I assume someone bigger than them who was the #2 ranked high jumper in America wasnt one of them 1-2 times? Or that he never ran into a backboard 2 inches off in a gym in Alabama working out?
I dont think ill just assume hes lying because I didnt see it. World class 6-10 and 7-1 high jumpers should be on the short list of people given the benefit of the doubt if there are a gang of people saying they could reach heights that are well within the human potential to reach.[/QUOTE]
Jesus christ, the guy types one sentence and you come back with a fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]king novel. Get over yourself. You're going to take RUSSELL's word for it when he's speaking about himself? His ego is as big as anybodies, of course he's going to embellish to get his point across.
I think it's just one of those things that get's exaggerated with time. It's hard to believe something without proof but I guess you can't completely right off all of it. Some of the things said are clear bullshit tho.
Ok, well if you just look at factual data, the highest measurement EVER on official record for the NBA Pre-Draft dating back to 1989 is 12'5 by Shaquille O'Neal. So that is the standing record for the last 20 + years. (Also, keep in mind that the talent pool for the NBA has grown exponentially in this time period as players are brought in from all over the world). So in a globalized game, over the last 20 years, 12'5 is the official record.
Touching 13 feet would beat that record by about 5%. That sounds possible for one blessed individual who only comes around every 100 years
, but the problem is, TOO MANY legends claim to have hit that mark. Everyone has heard the story about David Thompson "making change" on top of the backboard, and Earl "The Goat" Manigault at Rucker Park, so including Wilt and Russell that would put 4 players at the 13 foot mark in the 1960's. So either the human race is regressing over the last 20 years, or the backboard is higher than it used to be, or the legends are just flat out liars, but it just doesn't add up. To claim that that many people hit a mark that is drastically higher than the highest mark officially recorded is a false claim in terms of statistical probabilities it is close to impossible.
Plus, if any of these guys actually COULD touch the top of the backboard, shouldn't there be some sort of concrete evidence (and I don't mean eyewitness accounts, if we went off eyewitness accounts, Bigfoot would exist, Jesus's face would be popping up on everything, etc, I'm talking about real hard evidence). Not one photograph? Video tape? I've seen video tape of Wilt since he was in high school, so video DID exist. If any of these guys could actually do it, don't you think someone at some point would have said, "hey, nobody's gonna believe this we need to get this on camera?" Just a little hard to swallow.
PlowKing destroying them.
Yeah guys, Oscar Robertson could touch the top of the backboard with his elbow. He's from the old days. He even said he could.
[QUOTE=ShaqAttack3234]:oldlol: OK, so athletes have regressed since the 60's. Yeah....the centers have that era could jump higher than the 5'6"-5'8" dunk champs like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson.[/QUOTE]
Let me ask you this...how many Shaq's have we seen in the NBA since 1993? And, how many centers today are more physically blessed than Shaq, say in 2000?
Of course the answer is, there has only been ONE Shaq. Same applies with Wilt. There has NEVER been a seven-footer so blessed with speed and leaping ability as Chamberlain. The man was a sprinter and a high jump champ (among his MANY track events) for cryingoutloud!
KBlaze had some great comments, but let me expand one of them...
Wilt played with and against MANY NBA players. He played with several NBA coaches, and against MANY. There were MANY in the media who covered him. Now, not all of them cared for Wilt. YET, find me ONE that has stepped up and said that Wilt was not capable of virtually everything he has been given credit for.
I only read those several anti-Wilt posters here, who go out of their way to disparage his accomplishments. They simply can't believe that ONE man could DOMINATE an ENTIRE league, the way that Wilt did. I have read a ridiculous comment that Wilt played on a losing team, that only won 31 games, and they essentially blamed WILT! YET, did that poster acknowledge these facts: Wilt led the NBA in scoring at 44.8 ppg. He led the league in rebounding at 24.6. He set a then record for FG% at .528 (in a league that shot .441) He also led the league in Win Shares. AND, he recorded the HIGHEST PER in NBA HISTORY. Not only that, but the rest of teammates, arguably the absolute worst cast of clowns ever assembled, shot a collective .412 from the field...which was WAY below the last place team at .427.
These anti-Chamberlain posters rip him for leading the league in assists. They rip him for "only" two titles (despite him narrowly missing FIVE more.) They slap him for his stats because of era or competition, but they never acknlowedge that it was ONLY Wilt set those records. They won't acknowledge him not only outplaying virtually EVERY opposing center, or downright DOMINATING them...a list that includes Kerr, Lovelette, Reed, Bellamy, Thurmond, Hayes, Unseld, Cowens, Lanier, Lucas, Russell AND Kareem.
They won't accept that HE shattered all kinds of records when HE played...and NO ONE has come CLOSE since.
They can't believe that a 7-1 man with a 7-8 wingspan, and who was a highjump champ, as well as a competitve long jumper, would have a 48" vertical, even though the world record is 61". Instead they find some completely false article which claimed that Wilt had a 24" vertical (which Psileas ripped to shreds BTW.)
They can't believe that a 7-1 man could bench press 500 lbs, even though there are numerous articles that credit him with MORE.
No, we are not supposed to believe all of that despite the fact that there are SO MANY amazing physical feats of his PLASTERED all over the internet...AND, virtually NO respected player, coach, or writer who actually WITNESSED Chamberlain, has ever DISPUTED them.
[QUOTE=MMKM]Plus, if any of these guys actually COULD touch the top of the backboard, shouldn't there be some sort of concrete evidence (and I don't mean eyewitness accounts, if we went off eyewitness accounts, Bigfoot would exist, Jesus's face would be popping up on everything, etc, I'm talking about real hard evidence). Not one photograph? Video tape? I've seen video tape of Wilt since he was in high school, so video DID exist. If any of these guys could actually do it, don't you think someone at some point would have said, "hey, nobody's gonna believe this we need to get this on camera?" Just a little hard to swallow.[/QUOTE]
And conversley, find me ONE in which he ATTEMPTED to touch the top of the backboard, and couldn't.
Furthermore, as I alluded to above, find me ONE respected player, coach, or member of the media, who actually WITNESSED Wilt play, that has DISPUTED that he DID touch the top of the backboard.
[QUOTE=ShaqAttack3234]:oldlol: OK, so athletes have regressed since the 60's. Yeah....the centers have that era could jump higher than the 5'6"-5'8" dunk champs like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson.[/QUOTE]
Incidently Calvin Murphy, back in the 60's was dunking at 5-8.
[url]http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest1999/writing/100-250.hartford2.html[/url]
[QUOTE]Jesus christ, the guy types one sentence and you come back with a ****ing novel. Get over yourself. You're going to take RUSSELL's word for it when he's speaking about himself? His ego is as big as anybodies, of course he's going to embellish to get his point across.[/QUOTE]
Oh yes because when its someone else saying they saw things that makes them believed. Ive seen Oscar robertson and another guy both claim the ysaw Wilt do a dunk he called the Hammer and Nails before a game as a Globetrotter. Tuck the ball under his armpit and punch it through with his other hand. 2 people said it. Neither of them Wilt. You believe it? I doubt it. because the source matters less than the story and how possible it is.
And I dont struggle to believe that 2 guys near(one above) 7 feet with long arms...one a legit world class high jumper the other an NCAA champ high jumper...can get up there. Especially not in the 50s before all backboards were regulated. I dont know if he means the backboard at Boston garden or a backboard on a playground in San Francisco. I dont have enough information. I can only go off what ive seen.
And ive SEEN Travis outlaw and James White inches from the top...both of them shorter than the people in question and neither of them the best off 2 feet. Ive seen a guy online in a red football jersey doing a vertical test(you know..jump up and smack the bars) next to a backboard get his hand right under the top. And he damn sure wasnt 7'1''. Ive seen Michael Wilson and Dwight dunk on 12+ foot goals with room to spare. Not jumping their highest. Jumping to catch a ball.
What evidence do I have that two super tall and lanky high jump champs couldnt do on backboards I didnt see when ive seen 2 people smaller than them get within an few inches of it....on goals I know were legit?
There are more issues than if they are just lying or not. There is evidence of people jumping high enough to do it. Of people at or near their height jumping the height to do it(Mcdyess....Dwight...Larry Nance..Josh Smith). Why should I believe a guy is lying about it when he was 6'10'' long armed and a world class olympic team spot offered HIGH JUMPER?
Do I believe Outlaw and James White jumped the highest anyone on earth near their size ever have? No.
Do I have evidence in the least to support that Russell couldnt get the 3-4 more inches he would need to get there? No.
Forgive me for explaining myself instead of just saying "Lol, no he cant!" based on the nothing any of you have to prove he couldnt.
I just say its possible and leave open the possibility it wasnt on a regulation backboard.
That is perfectly reasonable to me.
One more time...
the fastest NFL football EVER? Bob Hayes, who was playing in the 60's. Now, some will argue that he ran a 10.0 100 meters, and the world record is by Huissein Bolt at 9.59 (incidently, it is impossible for a 6-5 man to run a 9.59, right?) HOWEVER, I can guarantee you that had Hayes had the same surface, same type of shoes, and the same training, that he would have run much faster than a 10.0.
Has anyone duplicated Mantle's verifiable HR distances?
[url]http://www.themick.com/10homers.html[/url]
Nolan Ryan was clocked at 101 MPH with a SLOW gun in 1974, after having thrown 162 pitches. Slow gun you ask?
[url]http://www.efastball.com/baseball/stats/fastest-pitch-speed-in-major-leagues/[/url]
Speaking of long jumps...Bob Beamon hit 29' 2" in 1968. The world record TODAY stands at 29' 4".