For instance, Wilt Chamberlain benched 465 lbs at 59 years old. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he benched 500 lbs on the set of Conan the Destroyer
Aight. Here’s my favorite 2 stories about Bill Russell.
Both stories reveal how much of a humble human being he is. And one blows my mind because it dismantles what we think about the evolution of sports.
A thread:
Where is the thread? Love when you give us your take on these players. The KC Jones piece was outstanding. Had no idea.
— Bweasey (@Bweasey) December 27, 2020
For instance, Wilt Chamberlain benched 465 lbs at 59 years old. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he benched 500 lbs on the set of Conan the Destroyer
I think they’re both wrong.
Why?
Well let me tell you a story:
During this time, pros weren’t allowed in the Olympics, so the International Olympic Committee tried to say that he was ineligible since he had already signed with the Celtics, even though he hadn’t played yet
But if they would have stopped Russell from playing for the US basketball team, he would have STILL been in the Olympics.
How?
Because Bill Russell was one of the greatest high jumpers I. The world.
He didn’t have to come to practice.
At the time, high-jumpers didn’t have those big air cushions for people to land on. They actually had sand pits just like the long jump.
Johnny had previously jumped 6’5”, and had been competing against Russell since high school
He beat them.
But he kept telling the officials to raise the bar. After he got to 6’10”, everyone at the track meet stopped running and gathered around—not because he was Bill Russell, there was another reason:
So the officials said: “wait... if you’re gonna break a world record, we need to measure the height instead of using these notches.” Again, he had ALREADY WON. Plus, he had a basketball injury, so Russell said “I’m good” and went home
Withers agreed but told Russell that he didn’t perform anymore so he’d have to find someone to sing it. Russell called his old high jump rival Johnny.
You may have heard of him, though.
Some guy named Johnny Mathis
https://t.co/8ZnOUPyYKv
That something was racism.
Remember, a lot of people were mad because he had just led a majority-black starting five NCAA basketball team to a championship. He was also the first black Tournament Most Outstanding Player
But Russell went. And he was mad.
They both tied for 6’9 and a quarter inches and agreed to share the title.
But there is a story that’s not told by the official measurements.
After the official scores were recorded, Russell turns to a ref and says:
Bill just wanted to see if one of them could do the impossible.
Dumas tried it and failed three times. He didn’t even come close.
STOP LAUGHING AT CHARLIE! Did I mention that no one had ever done this IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD?
On the first two tries, he got over, but his knee hit the bar on his way down.
On the third try, he cleared the bar, barely touching it with his ankle. The bar stayed there for a minute, but rolled down.
Bill Russell was a TERRIBLE HIGH JUMPER!
Dude didn’t know how to do the Saddle Roll. He was out there tying the best high jumper in the world with NO TECHNIQUE.
He was literally HURDLING THE BAR
Dumas didn’t become a singer but he still got to hang out with Russell at the olympics. Russell didn’t invite him, though.
A few weeks later, at the Olympic trials, Charles Dumas became the first man on earth to jump seven feet.
Dumas would win the would win gold at the olympics with a jump of 6’11”
Again, I might need to remind you: I don’t care who you regard as the “best” nba player. One thing is undisputed:
He won 11 NBA championships
2 NCAA titles
And an Olympic gold medal
Why?
Because Bill Russell refused to call himself a Hall of Farmer for 45 years.
The interesting thing about this, is that he would never say why. And then last year, he just started doing it. He didn’t hold a press conference
So he started wearing his ring.
Chuck Cooper didn’t play with Russell. He only scored 6 points per game. They are not related.
So, who is Chuck Cooper?
More from michaelharriot
I know I’ve been beating this redlining and wealth gap drum for 20+ years but here is a GREAT cliffs notes version.
But don’t take @ambermruffin’s word for it. You should get references...
A thread
How homes in Black neighborhoods are undervalued by $156
Every major bank in the US has been sued for mortgage discrimination and a study that included every mortgage in America found that Banks charge higher interest rates to nonblack customers
https://t.co/sx9tWWB98s
Baltimore redlined areas in 1935 vs Baltimore Drug arrests in 2016
But don’t take @ambermruffin’s word for it. You should get references...
A thread
How did systemic racism get so dang strong? Find out a few of the like bajilliondy ways in our new segment, How Did We Get Here! pic.twitter.com/f4HfISckXh
— amber ruffin (@ambermruffin) January 30, 2021
How homes in Black neighborhoods are undervalued by $156
Every major bank in the US has been sued for mortgage discrimination and a study that included every mortgage in America found that Banks charge higher interest rates to nonblack customers
https://t.co/sx9tWWB98s
Baltimore redlined areas in 1935 vs Baltimore Drug arrests in 2016
It was a dark and stormy night...
(I’ve always wanted to tweet that) But seriously, there was a tropical storm when a group of people gathered in the woods.
If they were white, we’d call them “founding fathers” but they were slaves who were about to change the world
A thread
Voudou priestess Cecile Fatiman danced with a knife. Then she split a pig and everyone drank the pig’s blood from a wooden bowl while enslaved priest Cutty Boukman prayed:
“The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light. The god who holds up the ocean;
who makes the thunder roar. Our god who has ears to hear. You who are hidden in the clouds, who watch us from where you are. You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man’s god asks him to commit crimes. But the god within us wants to do good...
It’s He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory. It’s He who will assist us. We all should throw away the image of the white men’s god who is so pitiless. Listen to the voice for liberty that speaks in all our hearts.”
Then , the meeting adjourned & everyone went home.
A week later, on Aug. 21 1791, it began.
In one week, 1800 plantations on the Island of St. Domingue would be burned to the ground and 1,000 white enslavers would be dead.
The shit had finally hit the fan.
(I’ve always wanted to tweet that) But seriously, there was a tropical storm when a group of people gathered in the woods.
If they were white, we’d call them “founding fathers” but they were slaves who were about to change the world
A thread
Holup. I ain't learned about this in school. What was this??
— Drunk Tweets, Inc - Mask it or Casket (@DrunkTweetsInc) January 1, 2021
Voudou priestess Cecile Fatiman danced with a knife. Then she split a pig and everyone drank the pig’s blood from a wooden bowl while enslaved priest Cutty Boukman prayed:
“The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light. The god who holds up the ocean;
who makes the thunder roar. Our god who has ears to hear. You who are hidden in the clouds, who watch us from where you are. You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man’s god asks him to commit crimes. But the god within us wants to do good...
It’s He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory. It’s He who will assist us. We all should throw away the image of the white men’s god who is so pitiless. Listen to the voice for liberty that speaks in all our hearts.”
Then , the meeting adjourned & everyone went home.
A week later, on Aug. 21 1791, it began.
In one week, 1800 plantations on the Island of St. Domingue would be burned to the ground and 1,000 white enslavers would be dead.
The shit had finally hit the fan.
