The Daily Dose/March 2, 2021
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
OH, JESUS H: In today’s On This Date segment, we note the 59th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, still the most points ever scored in an NBA game. There are some – generally people who have no lives – who like to posit this is a record that will never be broken.
Thanks For Clarifying That: We disagree. Not only do we think someone will eventually score 100 points in an NBA game, but we’re moderately surprised Wilt’s mark still stands because there have been an awful lot of scorers in the NBA over the years and an awful lot of no defense played.
Dry, Technical Matter: In fact, except for records set back when a sport was played differently – like someone pitching 680 innings in a season – we feel there are a lot of records that can be broken. This doesn’t mean they will be, but it means they could be, on the theory that if someone did something once, it can be done again.
More Dry, Technical Matter: For our money, there are only three records that will stand forever and ever: Chamberlain’s 55 rebounds in a game, Johnny Vander Meer’s two consecutive no-hitters and the Isner/Mahut 70-68 fifth set at Wimbledon. Every other record is in play.
Broad, Historical Context: Chamberlain’s 100-point game was played in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Playing games in small, non-NBA towns was a common NBA ploy of the era, and it was the Warriors third game in Hershey and their 14th and final neutral site game of the season. Reports tend to indicate Chamberlain had spent the previous night getting laid in New York and at 6 am took a train to Philadelphia and almost missed the team bus to Hershey.
The Bottom Line: It will take a unique set of circumstances for someone nowadays to score 101 points in a game, but it can be done. Someone gets hot against a team playing out the string, perhaps, or perhaps a player on a rested team against a team that is ending a long road trip, but with the way teams are heaving 3-point shots nowadays, don’t bet against it. We’re sorry, but Wilt’s 100-point effort does not belong on the unbreakable record list.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow washes his hotel uniform. Today’s Diary.
For the first time in a while, ol’ Sparrow had a fresh-from-the-washer uniform…I took the shirt I’d been wearing for a bit longer than good hygeine might have dictated, and the uniform vest, home to be washed, where a clean uniform shirt had been sitting, along with some other things, on a kitchen chair, for a couple of months now.
Now, the uniform shirt is worn over a clean t-shirt every night, and I’m certainly not breaking a sweat at the hotel, but the collar was pretty gross – even by my (low) standards, and it certainly earned its cleaning.
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1877 – A commission appointed for the purpose declares Republican Rutherford B Hayes the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J Tilden. Tilden had won the popular vote by one percentage point but bickering in Congress had prevented either candidate from winning the Electoral College. Congress set up the commission of 15 men, with Democrats ultimately agreeing to Hayes’ election if Reconstruction was abandoned and federal troops withdrawn from the South.
In 1962 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors establishes a new NBA record for most points in a game in a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Chamberlain had 72 points from the field and 28 from the free-throw line to finish with 100 points to break the record of 78 points he had established the previous December 8. Chamberlain became the second player to hold the NBA single-game scoring record twice, joining Elgin Baylor.
In 1967 – The Monkees are at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the fourth of 18 consecutive weeks with More of the Monkees. The album went to #1 in several other countries, including Norway and Great Britain and was Billboard’s biggest album of the year. More of the Monkees had replaced The Monkees at #1, giving the group 31 consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. The album produced two chart singles, including the #1 hit I’m a Believer.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Personally, I do not think the human mind has any limits but those we impose ourselves. Louis L’Amour
The Education of a Wandering Man
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NBA record for most 3-point shots attempted with none made is 22, by the Denver Nuggets on December 21, 2012.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many players not named Wilt Chamberlain have scored at least 70 points in an NBA game? – Answer next time!
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