Wilt's Chat

This is the transcript from Wilt's online interview from MSNBC

Host Pamm_MSNBC says:
Our guest is Wilt Chamberlain, NBA legend and author of "Who's Running The Asylum". Wilt's book is only available by calling 800-280-1776. A portion of the book proceeds will benefit Chamberlain's favorite charities.

Host @Wilt_Chamberlain has joined the conversation.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Hello!

M3 says:
Hi Wilt

kovler says:
what up wilt

jonn says:
hello wilt

^LapTop^ says:
Hi Wilt !

Ron says:
hows it going wilt?

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
one says:
Oh, well in that case my question would be...."witch collage where you drafted from?"

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I was drafted from high school back in 1955.  I went to U of Kansas, but they made a special ruling and I was the first drafted out of high school, Overbrook high school in Philadelphia.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
Rastaman says:
What's his book about??

NooRotic says:
I've got nuthing but RESPECT for you WILT....

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
My book is about how the inside of sports has gone completely crazy and what we can do about straightening things out.  About illuminating the problems inside of sports today and what we  can do about it.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
Rastaman says:
And How did he feel when he scored the 100 points...

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Well, I am known mainly for scoring 100 points.  I felt, at that particular time, very tired.  But it was not an individual record as most think, it was my team, they went above and beyond to get me the ball and stop the NY Knicks from doing all sorts of outlandish things to stop me from scoring.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
M3 says:
Question for Wilt...watched you bench press about 465 lbs like it was a match stick at the Stanford gym when you were working out there for some reason...how much can you still push up?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Well, probably I can push up a little more than that right now, because I was bench pressing some great weights.  I was a shot-putter and lifting weights was a great joy to me. I liked to show off, I don't do that anymore, but I could probably bench press more than 465 pounds now.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
James says:
What are Mr. Chamberlain's charities?

M3 says:
Amazing

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I have a great many charities I'm involved with, so I don't want to name them all.  We have the Sunny Hill League out of Philadelphia, Operation Smile to build faces on kids born with face defects.  I  work personally with them and will only be involved with charities I know and am involved with.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
M3 says:
Question...how do you rate Elgin Baylor vs. Jordan?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I would think that that's a good match.  I think people should talk about that match more.  Both have very incredible body control, movements and how they score points.  I think Elgin is stronger and a better rebounder, in showmanship in today's market you have to go with Jordan, but I have to go with Elgin.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Jordan is easier to market because basketball has now become a game of entertainment as the style of the Harlem Globetrotters.  He's a great player in the technical sense, but is also a great showman.  Elgin could do some things that I don't think Michael Jordan could do.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
M3 says:
Question...who is the best you ever saw/played against or with?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I'm fortunate, because I played with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and they'd be in the list with Oscar Robinson.  The one who was most dominant and helpful for his team would be Bill Russell, who I played against far too many times.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
JohnnyB says:
What was his salary his rookie year???

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Well , my salary was reported to be around $65,000 and sometimes lower than $35,000 because they didn't find it important to illuminate salaries.  Players were making much less at that time, I was making, with endorsements and such about $100,000.  I was often hit over the head for making that money, people thought it was outrageous when the

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
President wasn't even making that much at that point in time.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
JohnnyB says:
Does he think todays players are overpaid.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I think that the players of today are making incredible amounts of money and for many years I thought you could not overpay an athlete.  But today when you're playing like $20 million a player it's too much.  There's only one player I think could command that type and that's Michael Jordan and he could command 10% of every player's
salary because

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
he's made it possible for others to get those.  It's more important how long they sign for, because if they sign for many years, they may lock up a place another athlete won't get.  In my day there was a limit, today they secure themselves with 5 or 10 year contracts and we as fans are stuck with them whether they're good, bad or indifferent.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
Ark says:
What do you think about Allen Iverson breaking your record

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I did not know about Allen breaking my record ‘til a few minutes ago as I entered the MSNBC studios and I understand that a guy from UT had a comment about it.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
He said "What's so important about him scoring when they lost so many other games"  I think in this case it's bringing the wrong attention, not because he broke my record, but because they're not emphasizing what else was done.  That seems to happen a great deal in sports today, whether it's Green who wants to break the record for
consecutive games played which is somewhat ficticious because he sometimes only plays a few minutes or shows up to just get his name on the sheet as playing.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
anne says:
why is the book available in that method, only?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
My book is being sold by the 800 number because we're trying to give a great deal of proceeds to charity and it's easier than going through other areas where they take too much money.  I've been through this before and this is a better way to get the money into the charities hands.  The price is $19.95.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
NooRotic says:
Wilt: Keeping in mind the way money is made nowadays, Who deserves the salary they make

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
As I've said before, it's almost about who doesn't deserve, the list is about an arm long.  Whatever Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley make they deserve.  Journeymen make almost those amounts, and what are they going to pay others who come along who deserve the amounts?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
The Milwaukee team has a player making a fraction of what Glen Robinson makes, and he's a better player, so you can bet he'll be asking for more at contract time.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
Ron says:
Wilt, what do you think about individuals like Tiger Woods?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I think that Tiger Woods is a phenomenon.  I think he himself speaks in volumes of what he's doing and what he's doing speaks even higher.  I think he recognizes the history of how he got there which is even more important.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I've been disappointed for years in the great ones, Nicklaus and Palmer who won, and never spoke up about the injustice done by the Masters.  To see a minority finally win is good, but we need to focus on why it wasn't done before and what we need to do.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
mahalo says:
are you still playing volleyball in the islands?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Yes, I am still a volleyball player.  Volleyball helped keep me healthy in the later stages of my basketball career.  I mainly played in Southern California and I helped develop an interest in the game which is becoming popular here.  I used to have a team that played against any that would challenge us.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I helped start the IVA, the International Volleyball Association, which helped people from all over play in a game with men and women together.  I'm very happy to see it become an Olympic sport.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
jonn says:
JONN> WILT, DO YOU THINK THAT COLLEGES ARE USING STUDENT ATHLETES TO MAKE MONEY FOR THEM?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I don't think the colleges are using them per se, I think by the naturalness of how sports ad mushroomed in the world, they're now making money off some players.  It needs to be looked at in a way that stipends be given to college athletes so they can survive and maybe stay in college longer and do the things they really want to do.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
When you have the final four making millions, I think some of that money should go to all the athletes who are making that program possible.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
manny says:
Wilt, in your opinion, which is the best team in league history?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
In the history of the NBA for one year, 1967 76'rs were the best team, they had a complete team, Luke Jackson, who was the epitome of what a power forward should be

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
then Chet Walker, considered by many the greatest one on one of his era, in the guard position, Hal Greer, a very outstanding shooting guard.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Larry Costello, another outstanding shooting guard ,tremendous on defense, he was replaced halfway through by Wally Jones, a tremendous defense player who gave us life and spark as a team.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Then coming off the bench Hall of Famer, Billy Cunningham, and myself as center probably playing my best basketball, and the coach Alex Hanam. That combination proved to be the best of its time and I believe of any time.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
horsewithcoolhightops says:
QUESTION:  Is WILT a nickname?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
Wilt is a nickname and short for Wilton, and became a part of something people would say, because in high school I was called Wilt the Stilt.

Host Chris_MSNBC2 says:
bigred says:
Wilt, what are you doing now with your life?

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I work for a great many things that bring smiles to people I hope.  I'm also involved with Classic Sports Network which brings history of sports to many and clippings from many eras.

Host Wilt_Chamberlain says:
I'm happy that the world has come to a point that we can chat in this manner and hope to do it again soon with a little more detail.  Thank you and goodbye!

Host Wilt_Chamberlain has left the conversation.