Loyal fans still love basketball great Wilt Chamberlain, who returned Saturday to Kansas University to see his jersey retired.
The man himself could barely get a word in edgewise.
When Wilt Chamberlain walked out on court during halftime at Saturday’s Kansas University basketball game, the crowd responded with a thunderous standing ovation that lasted nearly a minute. The applause barely subsided when he talked about coming back to Allen Fieldhouse.
“I’ve learned in life,” he said, “that you have to take the bitter with the sweet, and how sweet this is. I’m a Jayhawk and I’m proud to be a part of the tradition here.”
Among those cheering the loudest at Saturday’s contest between Kansas University and Kansas State University was front-row fan Klissa Rueschhoff, holding a big “Welcome Wilt” sign.
“I’ve loved basketball since the mid-’50s,” Rueschhoff said. “I’ve tried to pay attention to the great players. Certainly Wilt was one of the great players. I’m thrilled that he would come back.”
Anthony Hapgood was so into Wilt that he showed up at the game wearing a muscle shirt with “Wilt’s” printed across the front.
Ask him if he’s a Chamberlain fan and the answer is clear.
“Absolutely.”
Hapgood bought the shirt at one of Chamberlain’s restaurants in Boca Raton, Fla., and got to meet the Big Dipper, as Chamberlain was called during his KU playing days, before the game.
“I said ‘Thanks for coming back,'” Hapgood said. “And he said to me, ‘Nice T-shirt.'”
Hapgood, too young to see Wilt play in his Jayhawk days, had only seen him on television, until now.
“Wilt was probably one of the forefathers of the strong KU basketball tradition,” Hapgood said. “Seeing him in person, he’s such a large person.”
Among the youngest Chamberlain fans at Saturday’s game, attended by a sellout crowd of 16,300 people, was Sam Buhler, 10. He knows who Chamberlain is but obviously had never seen him play.
“I’ve heard stories about him,” Sam said.
Like father, like son. Sam’s father, Mark Buhler, has heard stories of the college days but saw him play as a professional.
“He was bigger than life,” Mark Buhler said. “He is absolutely huge — his voice, his demeanor, his size, his hands.”
Buhler’s favorite memories were the contests between Chamberlain and another basketball great, Bill Russell.
“I remember when he used to play against Bill Russell, those were always such great battles,” he said. “I think he could play in the NBA now.”
True, Chamberlain still cuts an impressive figure, but he’s turned in his days of double-figure scoring for putting on the charm. He spent some quality time with fans after the game, signing autographs.
In Saturday’s contest, KU beat KSU 69-62, matching the school record for 55 consecutive home victories.
