Hershey’s Rims Were a Drain for Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA-record 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pa., is still regarded as one the most awesome accomplishments in sports.

In an interview with Kerry Eggers of the Portland Oregonian, former Knick Darrall Imhoff and Philadelphia’s Al Attles, Wilt’s teammate on that historic night, put their spin on the feat.

Imhoff, who later played for the Lakers, said that the Hershey rims were “sewers,” adding, “They were known to suck up everything that was thrown up there. I mean, everybody was making shots.”

Attles, who was eight for eight from the field that night, backed up Imhoff’s account, saying, “They really were sewers. All you had to do was toss it up there.”

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Trivia time: Three Knick players combined for 103 points in that game. Name them.

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Jet lag: After NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue blocked New England Coach Bill Parcells from switching to the New York Jets without permission of the Patriots, Jay Leno commented, “The Jets can’t win. Even their coaches get intercepted.”

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Better than Mike? Detlef Schrempf of the Seattle SuperSonics is regarded as an accomplished player. His coach, George Karl, sees him as much more.

“Det is the greatest professional I’ve witnessed day to day on the court,” he said.

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Power players: Luc Robitaille of the New York Rangers on playing against the Pittsburgh Penguin line of Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr: “You see those guys coming and it’s so scary, you have a tendency to watch.”

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Flawed observation: Greg Hansen in the Arizona Daily Star: “Prediction: All other nine coaches in the Pac-10 are praying that UCLA keeps interim Coach Steve Lavin on a permanent basis.

“Imagine how good the Bruins could be if they hired a proven, name coach and gave him access to the fertile L.A. recruiting area.”

Greg, if you haven’t noticed, the Bruins are tied for the Pac-10 lead under Lavin.

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Looking back: On this day in 1970, Pete Maravich scored 67 points, 47 in the second half, but his Louisiana State team still lost to Alabama, 106-104.

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Trivia answer: Richie Guerin, 39 points; Cleveland Buckner, 33, and Willie Naulls, 31.

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And finally: Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley has six NBA championship rings from his Laker days--four as head coach, one as an assistant coach and one as a player. However, he wears only one--from the 1985 victory over the Boston Celtics.

It has significance because it was the Lakers’ first victory over the Celtics in a championship series.

Asked by Amy Shipley of the Miami Herald if he wears it to impress his players, Riley replied, “I just wear it for me.”