A Night in Hershey, PA

Have you ever felt like you could do no wrong? You know, those days you wake up in the morning, the sun is shining, you just have all the natural energy in the world and for one day, everything goes your way? In the sporting world, this feeling is widely referred to as “in the zone.” Collegiate and professional athletes far and wide, past and present have been asked to describe that feeling. How do you get to that point? How does it feel? How long can you sustain it? So let’s just list some of the moments we would describe as being “in the zone.”

Gale Sayers scores 6 TDs in a single football game for the Chicago Bears.

Bill Walton hits 21 of 22 shots in the NCAA title game for UCLA.

Rick Wise hit 2 homeruns and pitched a no-hitter in the same game for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Michael Jordan hits 6-three pointers and 35 points in the 1^st half of an NBA Finals game for the Chicago Bulls.

Shawn Green hits 4 homeruns and goes 6 for 6 at the plate with 6 runs scored for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

All of these feats plus many more could easily be described as being in the zone. However, as dominant as they seem, they all fall short to a night in Hershey, PA. In fact, this Friday, March 2^nd, will mark the 50^th anniversary of the greatest single game feat in sports history. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA game. Let me type that again, 100 points… by one player… in one game… a regulation game… against an NBA team (the New York Knicks). You couldn’t write that in a movie or book. In fact, it’s hardly fathomable to write out the game stats, or accumulate them in a video game: 36 of 63 field goals made, 28 of 32 free throws made. A perfect all around number, 100. We have all heard the reasons why it is great or why it is a little overrated. So let’s list some of the pros and cons from that historic night.

Cons:

Who did they really play? Yes, they played the Knicks but no one was as big as Chamberlain and the NBA in its early stages had hardly been integrated at that point.

What exactly is Hersheypark Arena? That arena was not the normal site for Philadelphia Warrior home games. The gym was “a god-forsaken place” as one teammate had put it. The rims were said to be very forgiving allowing for shots to rattle in a lot easier.

Who else took shots that night? As early as halftime, many teammates were quoted as saying they wanted him to get to 100. 

The rules were a little different. The key was not widened to its today measurements until 1964, two season after Chamberlain scored 100, allowing him to stand around the basket without any 3 second violations.

Pros:

Wilt was bigger but not by much. The “Big Dipper” at that point of his career stood at 7’0” and about 260 lbs. The Knicks starting center that night, Darrall Imhoff stood 6’10” and 220 lbs. We have all seen Shaquille O’Neal match up against guys nowhere near his size and weight.

Other guys did score. In fact, the other four starters for the Warriors all scored in double figures. Three of those starters made at least seven shots that night.

He was due to score 100 eventually. In Wilt’s three games before the 100, he scored 60 points in all of them. Darrall Imhoff matched up against The Stilt a few days later and received a standing ovation for holding him to a mere 58 points. In that 1961-62 season, Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points per game.

100 is still 100. I hear Lakers fans and even the sports media say that Kobe Bryant’s 81 point game (2^nd highest) is just as amazing as and more difficult than Wilt’s 100. My response? Go to a bar and run up $100 bar tab and give the bartender $81. It’s not the same. Plus, Kobe had the benefit of the 3-point line. Not to mention, Kobe and others of this era’s players get the advantages of state of the art equipment and arenas, along with 1^st class air travel (not on trains) and modern medicine.

Any way you slice it, no NBA player is going to break this record. I highly doubt anyone gets past Kobe’s 81. And when you match it up against the other single game feats in the other sports list above and the others not listed that may come to mind, those feats, while certainly astonishing, can be equaled or bettered. I can see Adrian Peterson or Arian Foster going wild for a 6 TD game. Shawn Green set a record for those 6 runs scored but fourteen others have hit 4 homeruns in a game. Even other feats like the called shot homerun by the Babe or Gretzky’s 5 goals in a game to give him 50 in 39 games. Tough to do but those will be reached before Wilt’s 100. It is the perfect number and the perfect statistic for one of the most dominant athletes in all of sports. Wilt Chamberlain could do it all and pretty much did it all in his career. He scored at will. He is the all-time leading rebounder in NBA history. He was on 2 NBA championship teams. He even led the league in assists for a season. You can make a case that Wilt was the greatest NBA player in history. There’s one thing for sure, WCAU radio announcer Bill Campbell’s call will live on. “The most amazing scoring feat of all time! 100 points for Wilt Chamberlain!” For one night, he was the greatest ever.

Whatever Happened to that Guy?

Stop me if you heard any of these: Linsanity, the Knicks are Lindestructable, the most Linteresting man in the world. Yes, Jeremy Lin is the talk of the Big Apple and is the hot topic of American sports today. Let’s get it out of the way. Sure, he is getting the publicity partly because he is of Asian descent. He is also getting publicity because he graduated from Harvard, one of only four Harvard graduates to play in the NBA. But let’s be real here, he is getting lots of love because he is winning and because he is putting up numbers. Something different than what we got from that guy in Denver, right football fans? The question is, is Jeremy Lin here to stay? The list below contains athletes that captured the hearts of the sporting world for a moment, a stretch, an entire year, or at least some length of time. Most of this list is not a Hall of Fame list, just some names that makes you ask, “Whatever happened to that guy?”

Michael Chang – He arrived on the scene in 1989, winning the French Open, defeating Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg along the way. Michael Chang still stakes claim as the youngest male to win a tennis major. Known for his on-court speed and fighting spirit, Chang is considered by many observers to have been one of the best counterpunchers of all time. He also introduced the jumping two-handed backhand. He remained in the top 10 of the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s, peaking at world no. 2.

Randall Cunningham – He was Michael Vick before there was Michael Vick, well, at least without the dog fighting. Randall Cunningham was arguably the most exciting player of his generation. Because of the lack of the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line, he had to be. This was a main reason that Cunningham kept getting hurt. A 4-time All-Pro selection at quarterback, Randall Cunningham’s finest season may have been 1998 when he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 15-1 record. Cunningham also holds the 4^th longest punt in NFL history, a 91-yarder vs. the Giants.

Darryl Dawkins – He had the rump roaster, the bun toaster, and many others. That was Chocolate Thunder, Darryl Dawkins, naming his dunks like only he could. He also played in the NBA Finals three times as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. On the flip side, Dawkins set an NBA record for fouls in a season (386 in 1983-84), and he never quite lived up to the expectations that had been heaped upon him when he was drafted out of high school.

David Eckstein – Two of the greatest nicknames ever: Mini Me and Just Enough. But those two nicknames perfectly described David Eckstein, the 2006 World Series MVP as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Eckstein was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 19th round of the 1997 amateur draft, and was selected off waivers by the then Anaheim Angels. During the Angels 2002 championship year, he led the major leagues with three grand slams, including grand slams in back-to-back games against the Toronto Blue Jays, one of which was a walk-off.

Mike Eruzione – A championship winning shot. A World Series winning homerun. How about a game winning goal in the Olympics? That’s what Mike Eruzione did. Now throw that with the fact that the goal came in the medal round vs the legendary Soviets near the height of the Cold War. Eruzione, the captain of the gold medal US hockey team, retired from competition after the Olympics, despite contract offers from the New York Rangers, stating that he'd reached the pinnacle of achievement already.

Doug Flutie – If you want to compare Tim Tebow to someone, this is the guy (sorry Doug). Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League. He first rose to prominence during his career at Boston College, where he received the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1984. His Hail Mary touchdown pass in a game against Miami is considered among the greatest moments in college football and American sports history. Plus, is he the last quarterback to wear a jersey number higher than 19?

Dwight Gooden – He was supposed to be a sure fire Hall of Famer. He was going to go down as one of the greatest of all time. Dwight Gooden was on top, until he hit bottom. While Gooden would be an effective pitcher for several more seasons, he never topped 1985, which would prove to be the only 20-win season of Gooden's 16-year career. Many reasons have been offered for his decline such as early overuse and/or cocaine addiction. However brief, Gooden's period of dominance was memorable. In a span of 50 starts from August 1984 to May 1986, Gooden posted a record of 37-5 with a 1.40 ERA and had 412 strikeouts to just 90 walks.

Tommy Morrison – Most remember him as Tommy “the Machine” Gunn in Rocky V. Most remember him as a direct descendant of John Wayne. Tommy “the Duke” Morrison's professional boxing career effectively ended when he tested positive for HIV in 1996. Beginning in 2006, Morrison attempted a comeback, stating that he did not have HIV and, later, that “HIV was a myth.” After his forced retirement in 1996, Morrison has been charged with multiple assault, weapon, intoxication, and drug offenses. He was sentenced to jail on several occasions, and served part of one sentence in 2000–2001.

Hideo Nomo – In Los Angeles, there was Fernandomania, but who remembers Nomomania? His successful debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 is often credited with paving the road for the subsequent "wave" of Japanese players entering Major League Baseball. Hideo Nomo pitched over the span of 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with 8 different teams, before retiring in 2008. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1995. He twice led the league in strikeouts and also threw two no-hitters, remarkably one of them in Coors Field.

William Perry – Another of the top nicknames: the Refrigerator. William Perry was as big as one. But his larger than life personality is what made him endearing to the fans in Chicago. Perry, who wore number 72 as a Chicago Bear, became famous for his prowess as a defensive lineman. However, during his rookie season, Perry rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for one. Perry even had the opportunity to run the ball during Super Bowl XX, as a nod to his popularity and contributions to the team's success, and even scored a touchdown. Perry went on to play for ten years in the NFL. His Super Bowl ring size is the largest of any professional football player in the history of the event. His ring size is 25.

Spud Webb – A 5”7’ slam dunk winner? Webb was drafted in the 4th round of the ’85 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. His first six seasons were played with the Atlanta Hawks, when he won the Slam dunk contest, but he had his best years statistically with the Sacramento Kings, where he played as a starter from 1992-1995. He then played for two more teams before retiring from professional basketball in 1998. Since Webb made his NBA debut, only two players have been shorter than he was: Earl Boykins and Mugsy Bogues.

Doug Williams – “Doug, how long have you been a black quarterback?” “Doug, how does it feel to be named Super Bowl MVP?” One question was asked before the Big Game, the other, afterward. Facing legendary Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, Williams engineered his Washington Redskins to a 42-10 rout. Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards, with four touchdown passes. The Super Bowl was clearly the high point of Williams' NFL career. He suffered from injuries the following season, and was eventually outshined by Mark Rypien, who would go on to win a Super MVP of his own. Williams and Rypien were so supportive of each other that T-shirts were sold with the caption "United We Stand", depicting the two quarterbacks as cartoon characters with Williams saying "I'm for Mark" and Rypien saying "I'm for Doug."

Jason Williams, aka white chocolate – We’re not talking about the Jason Williams who dated Oprah Winfrey and was charged with murder. We mean the guy who was once high school teammates with Randy Moss and once reminded us of “Pistol Pete” Maravich. Following a drug suspension by the University of Florida, Williams decided to make himself eligible for the NBA Draft in 1998. He was the seventh overall selection in the draft by the Sacramento Kings. The Kings, with a roster that included newcomers Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, turned into a playoff contender. That year, Williams' number 55 jersey was among the top five seller of NBA jerseys.

He’s No Longer Peyton’s Younger Brother

Think about some of the athletes who are compared to their famous relatives. Baseball has Ken Griffey Sr. & Jr., also Bobby and Barry Bonds. Hockey has Bobby and Brett Hull. And although football has Howie and Jake Long, almost everyone points to the Manning family. Archie Manning, while playing for losing teams, was an NFL quarterback for thirteen seasons and made two Pro Bowls. His son Eli Manning has surpassed him in almost every category, statistics wise and overall winning. No question that the aforementioned names in each sport were all compared to their famous fathers at one time or another. The main difference for Eli is that he has also been compared to another Manning, older brother Peyton. And what makes that tougher, aside from the fact that Peyton has many, many passing records and will go down as arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, none of the younger names before had to be compared to someone that was playing at the same time. Eli Manning has been in his father’s shadow, although Archie has been retired for almost 30 years. But Eli has also been in Peyton’s much bigger shadow, in his entire NFL career and throughout his entire life. However, Eli has started to etch his name in NFL folklore.

                 

          Let’s face it, Eli Manning came into the NFL in 2004 and immediately was behind the eight ball. Not only was his brother the reigning MVP, which he won again in Eli’s rookie season, but the college draft was as unkind for any #1 overall pick, perhaps ever. The San Diego Chargers had the first pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Before draft day in April, Eli, along with Archie, had decided he was never going to play for the Chargers. He didn’t like the organization and was ready to hold out until he was dealt to another team. That team became the New York Giants, who in return, sent fellow quarterback Phillip Rivers and two draft picks to the San Diego Chargers.

Who was this snot nosed younger Manning who was calling shots and refusing to play for certain organizations? You should just feel fortunate to be given an opportunity in the NFL. You’re not Peyton Manning. You’re not the funny commercial guy we all love. That’s what Eli faced right away. In his rookie season, he also faced the obstacle of playing second string behind one-time Super Bowl MVP and two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner. Naturally Eli played sparingly in year one. But the Giants decided to waive Warner and give the franchise keys to Eli in year two. The rich history and tradition of the New York Giants now belonged to Eli Manning.

No matter what Eli did, it wasn’t as good as Peyton. The Giants would win eleven games in Eli’s first full season as a starter. That same year, Peyton’s Colts won fourteen. It would seem fitting and appropriate that Peyton win a Super Bowl first. After all, he was the older brother and had been in the league longer. Then something happened the year following the Colts Super Bowl win. Eli’s Giants snuck into the playoffs and upset the undefeated New England Patriots. Eli even had a couple of signature plays in that Super Bowl, including the game-winning pass to Plaxico Burress with seconds remaining in the game. Of course, everyone remembers the escape from a sack and his heave to David Tyree who must have had bubble gum on the top of his helmet. Since Eli’s Super Bowl MVP performance, he has put up solid numbers and has now entered the conversation of elite quarterbacks. For some reason, not everyone wants to put him in that class. Do you think part of the problem is his name? Listen, I’m glad he doesn’t go by his given name Elisha, but Eli is not much better. He doesn’t have the cool nickname like the Mad Bomber or Big Ben. He doesn’t have the typical quarterback name like Joe (Namath, Montana, Theismann, etc). He doesn’t have the typical one syllable first name and two syllable last name (Len Dawson, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Jim Kelly, Tom Brady, I could go on). In fact, I could make the argument that while Jake Locker could only have been a quarterback; a name like Eli Manning belongs in a bank.

However, should Eli win this Sunday’s Super Bowl, that bank account gets a lot bigger. Should he win again, only Tom Brady would have more Super Bowl victories as an active quarterback… and Eli will have beaten him twice. Should Eli win again, he absolutely enters the topic of top 5 quarterbacks today. Perhaps most important about Sunday, should Eli win, he would pass his brother in Super Bowl victories. Who would have thought that was remotely possible even six years ago? Now all he is missing is the cool name. How about Electric Eli? Young Gun? Heck we could even start calling Peyton Manning “Eli’s older brother.” I’m sure the name Eli wants most is “Eli Manning, two-time Super Bowl MVP.”