Wilt didn’t intend to score 100

The 50th anniversary of one of the most remarkable feats in sports history is just around the corner.

On the night of March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain did what no NBA player had done before, or since, scoring 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pa.

But was Wilt embarrassed about embarrassing the Knicks that night he scored 100? Two of his former teammates think he was.

Al Attles and Tom Meschery said Chamberlain asked Philadelphia Warriors coach Frank McGuire to pull him from the 169-147 blowout. But McGuire ignored Chamberlain, who took 63 shots, made 36 of them and was 28 of 32 from the foul line.

"He wanted to take himself out," Meschery said, "but McGuire wasn't paying any attention to him."

Attles said he had a hint Chamberlain was headed for a big night.

"In those days, we didn't stay overnight," Attles said. "Wilt drove down to Hershey from New York, and he was killing time with a shooting game at a penny arcade. He said to me that he was on fire."

He stayed hot throughout the game. According to Attles and Meschery, Chamberlain bummed a ride back to the Big Apple with two members of the Knicks -- Johnny Green and Willie Naulls -- and celebrated his performance by sleeping in the back seat of the car.

In 1962, the rules were a lot looser when it came to fraternizing with the enemy. Today, Wilt would have been all over YouTube and Twitter for hanging with the Knicks. David Stern probably would have fined him for good measure. Or dealt him to New Orleans.

■ PROTECTING POSEY -- Ah, spring training. The crack of the bat. The popping of leather as ball hits glove. The snubbing of kids seeking autographs for fear they'll be sold on eBay. The breaking of bones.

In Arizona, the San Francisco Giants are determined to see the last one doesn't happen again to Buster Posey, their star catcher. Manager Bruce Bochy told Posey he no longer wants him blocking home plate in order to tag out hard-charging runners after Posey's season was cut short after 45 games following a May collision with the Marlins' Scott Cousins.

Posey suffered a broken leg and torn ligaments in his ankle from the season-ending play. But he's a catcher, and he wasn't crazy about the edict. He actually considered making a full-time switch to first base. But for now, he'll remain behind the plate, and perhaps he can make the swipe tag an art form.

■ BOBBY V'S BUS -- When Bobby Valentine took over as manager of the Boston Red Sox, most followers knew change was coming in the loose clubhouse. That has extended to spring training, where Valentine has banned players from driving their cars to Grapefruit League road games. Instead, everyone will ride the bus together to and from the ballpark.

"I think guys drove to the ballpark when we played away" in previous springs, Valentine said Monday. "We're not going to do that anymore."

Valentine also has considered banning alcohol in the clubhouse. No word on whether he'll ban fried chicken.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL