How did this picture happen?
It almost didn't. But thanks to enterprising former Philadelphia Warriors/76ers public relations man, it did.
Harvey Pollack was at the game on March 2, 1962 in which Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points. Because he was the statistician, p.r. man and reporter for two wire services and the Philadelphia Inquirer, he was a busy man that night 50 years ago.After the historic game, he told Chamberlain they needed to record the event with photos. There was a solitary A.P. photographer at the event, and he wasn't on official assignment. Pollack said he told the photographer he needed something to show Chamberlain's milestone.
I went across to where the writers were and ripped a sheet off his pad, said Pollack. I told him (the photographer), 'How about if I write 100 and have Wilt hold that sheet?' He said, 'You're kidding. Would Wilt do that?' I said Wilt would do anything for me. I told Wilt what we wanted to do. He said, 'Anything you want.' He was elated.
While the game was played in a half-full arena (about 4,000 people), it still made news. It wasn't a secret. Pollack said his story ran on Page A-1 of the Inquirer.
Pollack added that even though some media today disparage Chamberlain's accomplishments, the Big Dipper was appreciated even in his day.
He was definitely not underrated, Pollack said. He sold out arenas everywhere we went. He was a big gate attraction like Miami is today.