Kareem’s NBA Farewell Tour Brought No Tears to Wilt’s Eyes

On March 18, the Philadelphia 76ers will retire Wilt Chamberlain’s No. 13 in a ceremony at the Spectrum.

In a recent interview with Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stan Hochman, Chamberlain covered a number of topics, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s exit from basketball.

Said Wilt: “I never wanted to get involved in anything like what Kareem did, that last farewell trip around the NBA. A real farce.

“I remember thinking, ‘What is all this bull . . . ?’ It was different than Dr. J’s (farewell tour). Dr. J was well loved.

“It’s just not a really professional thing to do, accepting all those gifts. Rolls-Royce? Motorcycle? That’s blasphemy.”

Add Wilt: He continued: “It is stupid to give Kareem a Rolls-Royce, which is what the Lakers did. Why not give a scholarship at UCLA in Kareem’s name?

“I know, people are going to grumble, ‘There goes Wilt, popping off.’ But everybody knows it’s right.”

Trivia time: Name the last team with a losing road record that won the NBA championship.

Redefining the term: Lee Owens of Laurel, Md., recently was among the finalists in a nut company’s annual “Nuttiest Sports Nut Contest.”

Owens’ official entry carried this description:

” . . . a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers until the day he dies, and then some. In his last will and testament, Lee has requested that his funeral be a celebration of his loyalty to the Steelers. His coffin is to be black and gold, draped with the famed ‘Terrible Towel.’ The pallbearers will be dressed as referees, with yellow penalty flags in lieu of flowers. And finally, the mood will be set by fight songs being played in the background.”

Deion knows junk: Deion Sanders of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons recently announced that he has parted with Steve Zucker, his Chicago football agent, and Zucker’s assistant, Nancy Mitchell.

In an interview with Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Sanders reasoned: “They were pulling too much ‘bojunk’ on me, so I fired them.”

Schultz added that Sanders said he was not referring to Bo Jackson.

Keep your night job: Rocker Joan Jett (nee Joan Larkin) recently took part in the Baltimore Orioles’ fantasy camp.

Wearing No. 9, Jett, 5 feet 5 1/2 inches and 115 pounds--not counting the silver chains around her neck--pitched two innings, giving up two hits and two runs, striking out one and walking one.

She told Ron Blum of Associated Press: “It was real ecstasy. I was really nervous to do it. Once you get out there, you’re in every play. . . .

“You get so nervous when you’re on the mound. You have to calm yourself down. Now I know why pitchers talk to themselves out there.”

Add Jett: She has been an Oriole fan since her father took her to Memorial Stadium for her first game.

Said Jett: “Jim Palmer was pitching against the A’s and threw a no-hitter.”

She added: “I follow (the Orioles) religiously. I can’t wait an hour after the game. I’m on a Sportsphone every 10 minutes.”

Trivia answer: The Washington Bullets, in 1977-78.

Quotebook: Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech football coach, on the Yellow Jackets acquiring offensive tackle Yancy Sims of Manchester High in Manchester, Ga.: “I like the fact that he’s the president of his student body. I also like the fact that he’s 6-7, 294.”