Hunt envisions the image on the stamp to be the photograph of Chamberlain holding the handwritten "100" sign - what some at the luncheon at the First District Plaza called the most famous sign in sports history.
Hunt said 2013 would be just fine, too, noting that Wilt's number was 13.
More than 55,000 people have signed a petition, Hunt said. NBA commissioner David Stern and former Lakers coach Pat Riley have written letters. Hunt is hoping President Obama, a pickup-game player and fan of the game, will lend his support.
About 25 images a year are selected for commemorative U.S. postage stamps. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the postmaster general. The selection process averages five years.
Ray Betts, a Postal Service spokesman, said Wilt is "under consideration." He said the criterion was: "Did you make a distinguishable contribution to this country, with a lasting effect?"
He stressed that honorees need not be perfect, noting that the Elvis Presley stamp remains the most popular in history.
Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, and other athletes have been honored with stamps, but a basketball player has never appeared.
The luncheon was a festival of love, hosted by basketball luminaries Billy Cunningham and John Chaney, who spoke of the millions of dollars Chamberlain had donated to charities and needy causes, and of the work supported still by the Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Fund.
Chaney, the former Temple University basketball coach, began his time at the podium by saying, "I've got to get this off my chest. Wilt owes me money!"
Guests erupted in laughter.
One mother, Cathy White, wept as she read a letter written by her daughter, Essence, an engineering student at Smith College, thanking the Chamberlain Memorial Fund for her scholarship.
So many spoke so fondly of Chamberlain. Perhaps the funniest story came from Tom Hoover, a dear friend who played in the NBA for the Knicks and Lakers.
Hoover recounted the time Chamberlain wanted to fight Muhammad Ali and sent Hoover to a gym in New York to scout the champ. Ali saw Hoover and began shouting playfully, "Spies, spies!" The champ stopped his practice, came over to Hoover, and, lightning quick, let fire a dozen jabs, all stopping just short of his face.
Hoover reported back to Chamberlain.
"Hey big fella," he said, "you can have this fight. We can make some money. But he's going beat your ."
Hoover said Chamberlain tried to argue with him, and Hoover replied:
"You know how you've been playing basketball all your life? Well, he's been boxing all of his."
Hoover ended, "Wilt helped everybody. He respected you if you respected yourself."
No comments:
Post a Comment