NOTE: This is a guest article from Friend of the Program Paul Putz who has been around these parts before. Dr. Putz is a historian and serves as Assistant Director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor University. Follow him on Twitter @p_emory.
I was 11 years old in 1972. I lived in Bellevue Nebraska. My neighbor was in the air force, stationed at Offut. He was from NC and played high school ball wit Jerry West. We went to the Kings Lakers game. The program "with I think was wrong feature J West and Chamberlain " . I ended up with Wilt's , J west , P Riley, and my favorite, NATE ARCHIBALD. autograph. Of course when we moved to SD my parents put in the trash along with numerous other things. Just wondering any idea what the value might have been. Want to rub it in there face. I know a little petty but still.
Great piece, I’ve always been curious about the situation with Omaha came about. However, I did want to quibble with one thing:
Archibald is popularly described as the only player to lead the league in 'points and assists' which we know in the modern era to mean points per game and assists per game. However, another Royal/King achieved this feat despite still not getting recognition. in 1968 Oscar Robertson lead the league in both points per game and assists per game, however, he is not remembered as leading the league in 'Points and Assists' as in that time, the league used season totals to determine league leaders instead of per game stats. This is the season that Wilt Chamberlain is remembered as 'leading the league in assists' despite averaging only 8.6 per game. For posterity's sake, Lenny Wilkens came in 2nd in both total assists (Oscar was 3rd) and 2nd in assists per game this year.
This takes away nothing from Tiny's accomplishment by the way! It's worth noting that Oscar's Royals missed the playoffs with a below .500 record this year just as Tiny's Kings did.
Loved the Omaha article! You forgot to add that Archibald made the cover of Sports Illustrated in a game in Omaha, but as the picture was against my team, I'll let it go.
I was 11 years old in 1972. I lived in Bellevue Nebraska. My neighbor was in the air force, stationed at Offut. He was from NC and played high school ball wit Jerry West. We went to the Kings Lakers game. The program "with I think was wrong feature J West and Chamberlain " . I ended up with Wilt's , J west , P Riley, and my favorite, NATE ARCHIBALD. autograph. Of course when we moved to SD my parents put in the trash along with numerous other things. Just wondering any idea what the value might have been. Want to rub it in there face. I know a little petty but still.
Great piece, I’ve always been curious about the situation with Omaha came about. However, I did want to quibble with one thing:
Archibald is popularly described as the only player to lead the league in 'points and assists' which we know in the modern era to mean points per game and assists per game. However, another Royal/King achieved this feat despite still not getting recognition. in 1968 Oscar Robertson lead the league in both points per game and assists per game, however, he is not remembered as leading the league in 'Points and Assists' as in that time, the league used season totals to determine league leaders instead of per game stats. This is the season that Wilt Chamberlain is remembered as 'leading the league in assists' despite averaging only 8.6 per game. For posterity's sake, Lenny Wilkens came in 2nd in both total assists (Oscar was 3rd) and 2nd in assists per game this year.
This takes away nothing from Tiny's accomplishment by the way! It's worth noting that Oscar's Royals missed the playoffs with a below .500 record this year just as Tiny's Kings did.
Loved the Omaha article! You forgot to add that Archibald made the cover of Sports Illustrated in a game in Omaha, but as the picture was against my team, I'll let it go.