Page 4 TTTE W&L LAW NEWS Exclusive Interview: Wilt Chamberlain The Sports sta([ of the W &L Law under the influence of peyote when News, acting on behalf of the Law he declared that this grandiose venture School basketball team, presented would have to be recorded for pos­ Wilt Chamberlain with a challenge to terity. One who could believe that v play one game for the world's champ· there would be anything to record ionship this pas.t Sunday at Cole Field was given a skeptical welcome. J lou~e. College Park, Maryland. But then the light was seen at the Of secondary import was the fact end of the tunnel (apologies to LBJ) that two month~ of frantic and often and press pa-;scs appeared. Armed with these papers and a bogus letter from the Laker"s publicity director, the entire sports starr sallied forth to Cole Field Uousc in ·a manner which Sports Feature filled the mind's eye with visions of the Kcy~tonc Cops. The arrival at Cole was marred by the renewed incompetence of Law li futile efforts culminated in a pre­ News staffers. While Rich Grimes st game and post-game interview with and John Gee sought out their con­ St Wilt Chamberlain. At stake was tact for the floor passes and to a journalistic supremacy on the W&L ascertain pre-game interview policy, Cl Wimbrow ami Twardy remained at ''( campus. That Wilt would deign to lower the players' entrance where all the T himself to the indignities of the action was taking place. Jim Mc­ tl staff's knowledgeable queries seem­ Millan and Jim Price arrived but Wilt Chamberlain il received only cursory nods from the 0 ed incredible to the most optimistic Law News ~h•fl"er John Gee shoots the breeze with Laker's star Wilt Chamberlain la~t Sunday. After lalkiu~ with of minds. Shunting aside the dubious W&L journalists. Then the team bus Gee, l'ete Wimbrow, and Rick Grimes, Chamberlain Jed the Lakers to victorv over the Baltimore Bullets. jl reactions of brothers at bar, Sports pulled to t.he gale, lirom which - Photo by Twardy t Editor Wimbrow secured three tickets emerged a brooding, black giant. to the game over the Christmas break. Wimbrow nervously shouted to With egotistical bravado rivaling that fleck faced Keith Jackson snapped Wimhrow and Laker ( oach Bill o The tickets were stark reminders to Twardy to get •a picture of Wilt and of Howard Cosell, Gee brazenly in­ "It has nothing to do with Bill." Sharman discussed playoff strateg1 a the stafT that great expectations this was done. Euphoria! quired as to whether Bill Russell lhe Law News journalists were and the stale of relations between i1 lurked in the collective mind of the Grimes and Gee returned with the was the cause of the rift between then forced to sit through one hell Wilt and Kareem. lhen it was intu h h1w school. news that pre-game interviews were ABC and Wilt. Big Bill glared at Gee of an exhibition of fast-break basket­ the locl,er room for a final hanJ s1 in a manner which under normal cir­ ball by the Lakers, who prevailed shake with Wilt. cl The next obstacle to overcome was permitted up until 45 minutes before cumstances would have sent him over the Baltimore Bullets 125- 1 I 5. The starr then returned to le;. h to gain admittance to the hallowed game time. Sports Editor Wimbrow scampering to the nickel scats. But Immediately upon conclusion of the ington, rccuunting the day\ event• tl area of the Laker's locker room, and his assistant Gee walked to the ego had outgrown fear and Gee in­ game they returned to the winners' and savoring the jllurnalistic cour where surely legend loomed larger locker room door, paused while Gee trepidly waited for reply. At last, locker room where Spor•ts Editn• of the year. w than life. What chance would three prayed for divine guidance and en­ n law students have of entering this tered the Inner Sanctum. Just inside p sacred Valhalla? Following a tumultu­ the door, seated on a bench at the ous staff meeting, letters were dr.afted left, was the target of the quest, the monstrous hulk of man that is b' to Will and the Lakers, pleading for Text of Chamberlain-Law News Interview "I an audience with the game's most Wilt Chamberlain. Gee\ legs turned to mush and his mout·h felt as if he Law New~: Why do centers in the N BA allow the ball What type of coach would you h.:'! imposing figure. For the next two Wilt: I'd I had just consumed ten peanut butter to come into the low post without contest? rather play than coach. But if were cpachin 0 weeks spirits ebbed as Sports Editor T sandwiches. Wilt ignored them com­ Wilt: A center who did contest the pass would draw I would analy1c the type of club th <Jt I have an Wimbrow kept a vigil on the Law defensive fouls. The ideal way to play defense in the coach accordingly. I would like to cut down on some a News mail box which surpassed pletely and spoke only to demand low post is for the offensive center to be unaware of of the unnecessary regimentation. For example on ,11 President Nixon's prior scrutiny over that morning's paper from Gail Goodrich. finally, Wimbrow recov­ where the defensive man is. Once an offensive center veteran team like ours you can give the players Communists. is aware of the tactic he can sucker the other center little mmc leeway. tl As time passed without reply, the ered and timidly said, "Pardon me, Mr. Chamberlain, may we ask you into foub. Finally, the defensive center cannot afford Law News: Do you still weight-train? lias it .ad vcr-,cll It stan· was thrown into panic. The to gam blc because if he loses the result is an easy affected your play? · h epistles of supplication had gone un­ a few questions'?" The response seem­ ed to come from the depths of a layup. Wilt: I still work out during the summer but lift onl answered. The only solution seemed Law News: What is your opinion of the reserve clause? spasmodically during the sea>on. I lift during the sc<; .. to be to contribute to the coffers of volcano and demanded, "Who are you?" Wimbrow identified both him­ Wilt: Horseshit! son when I feel the need fo r improved muscle tone t!' M a Bell and seek immediate results. Law News: When did you learn the finger roll? It has not adversely aiTectetl my game. When I firs tl that became of this tactic was self and Gee, who had not yet All Wilt: I started using it 7-8 years ago because my knees started lifting it was taboo for basketball player>. No~ y information concerning Wilt's "prior found his tongue, and Wilt replied were extremely painful and were sapping my strength all athletes do it. I have been weight training sine 11 commiHmenls" on the day in ques­ "Sure, man." By this time Gee re­ covered and the interview with Wilt and preventing me from going strong to the hoop. 1953. h tion, news that the expense account The finger roll compensates for lack of body strength. Law News: Why arc you never interviewed during o tl had been exceeded, and that the was on. ll's a method of getting t-he ball close to the basket after the game? r Dean was going to audit the paper's Following the interview the staff when the body can't make it. Wilt: ABC sports and I do not sec eye to eye. 111 books. returned to the gym to prepare for Law New~: Why don't you use your •hook shot, which Law New~: Do you tiJink the ABA will ever rea~:h pa1il1 p Into the midst of this stygian the game. But then Gee got carried is more than adequate? with the N BA? a. gloom came Law News photographer away. He spotted Bill Russell nemesis Wilt: L'm not comfortable taking the hook. I learned the Wilt: Never. Three or flJur years ago the All:\ had th, p· Jeff Twardy, who must have been of the interviewee for so many years. hook as a kid but became the victim of the trend to chance but they blew it by letting good players ge at jump shooting. The jump shot was .a more potent away and failing to sign others. weapon and 1 can jump, so I went to that. Lew News: Do the ofiicials still let the other centers ir tr Law News: Do you intend to negotiate Bill Walton's the league shove you as much as they used to? jt contract? Wilt: Yes. they still do it. But now I handle it a lo 11 Wilt: Anybody would like to! 1-lc'll probably be the better. Karccm has the same problem. In f,acl th1 '' greatest center in basketball, but there is no basis in officials kt me pu-,h Karcem a lot more than othc fact to the Sporting News story to that effect. ecntcrs in the league. Nevertheless, I don't apprecial1 Law New~: Have you ever played against him? the shoving. Wilt: No. Law News: Will llap ll<tl·ist o n be back fo1· the pi<IY Law News: What do you want to accomplish in the n.:st offs'! Can you give him any tip.., from your speed) of your career? recovery.