Hulk Hogan: Fall of An Icon

Recently, the biggest stars of the 80's Generation have taken huge falls from their respective pedestals. Bill Cosby has been revealed as a Serial Rapist as his image has been tarnished and destroyed. Cosby's image of everybody's favorite TV Dad has now been ruined.

Now, the ultimate wrestling Icon from the 80's has become involved in controversy. Hulk Hogan, the biggest wrestling star of not just the 80's but in history itself has been exposed as a racist. In the world 0f 2015, 80's legends are imploding before our very eyes.

What was once wholesome about the 80's is now falling apart. The last thing I need to find out is that the guy from "Reading Rainbow" is a pedophile.

As a wrestling fan, this has been the worst pain that I have felt other than when a wrestler dies. As I read the story, I felt like I seriously wanted to cry. Tears never came out, but I cried internally. This has been very humiliating and serves as a black eye on the world of wrestling because the man who personifies wrestling went on a racial tirade using the N-word multiple times. I am currently writing this with a heavy heart.


As a result, WWE has cut ties with Hulk Hogan completely. Every trace of him has been removed from their website. He was even removed from the Hall of Fame.

It has been said that Hogan's comments caused WWE to lose $50 million in stock. Talk about getting burned financially.

I was born in 1989 during the height of Hulk Hogan's career. By the time I became a fan as a child, Hulkamania was fading as the likes of Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were taking over. When I finally got to witness Hogan for myself, he was making a splash in WCW.

However, I got the chance to keep up with his WWF Career by reading PWI Magazine (Pro Wrestling Illustrated). I was able to make up for some of the time that I had lost. That magazine, along with archive footage helped me appreciate the Megastar that he really was.

The Wrestling Universe was built on Hulk Hogan's shoulders. He was the first wrestler to legitimize the sport in the eyes of the Mainstream Audience. The first 9 WrestleManias have his name written all over them because he was front and center. Hogan was the first wrestler to ever host Saturday Night Live along with Mr. T. They made their appearance the night before WrestleMania I.

The Hulkster is the only wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in 1985. Since then, nobody else has ever done that. During the 80's, Hogan was one of the most recognizable celebrities with the likes of Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and others.

This man was the foundation of Vince McMahon's vision for what he wanted Wrestling to become as they came together to form an Empire. The Machine became Unstoppable as other promotions fell under the pressure to compete with Vince McMahon and his MVP Hulk Hogan.

Hogan has created many memories for fans who were children during his glory days. Who can forget how The Hulkster found his inner strength to pick up the 500+ pound Andre The Giant and slam him in front of 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome at WrestleMania III? The Irresistible Force conquered the Immovable Object. It was a crowning moment for Hogan, Andre, and the wrestling world itself.

His clash with a former friend "Macho Man" Randy Savage at WrestleMania V was amazing. The battle between The Hulkster and The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI has been a match that has been talked about for years from one generation to the next.

The Hulkster took America on his back to defeat the Evil Iraqi Tyrant Sgt. Slaughter at WrestleMania VII.

The foundation of WrestleMania was built on Hulk Hogan. As Paul Heyman said, Vince McMahon took his blood and built Titan Towers.

Hulk Hogan has to be the most Influential Star in Wrestling History. Besides Vince McMahon himself, Hogan has to be the most important name. When you look at a Mt. Rushmore of Wrestling, the Top Three names for me would be Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock.

PWI ranked Hogan #1 in their list of the Top 500 Wrestlers in History. He was "Mr. PWI". This is how important this man is to the sport of professional wrestling.

Even people that don't know a wristlock from a wristwatch know who Hulk Hogan is. His mustache and Red & Yellow bandana are instantly recognizable. This is why this racial controversy is so devastating.

Roughly 60% of Wrestling history involves Hulk Hogan in some capacity. Many of Hogan's fans throughout the years have been black. Look at the black entertainers, from rappers to athletes. Many of them grew up as fans of Hulk Hogan.

This news about Hogan dropping the N-Bomb serves as a knife to the chest of the wrestling community. WWE is giving Hulk Hogan the Chris Benoit treatment, where they rewrite history to pretend that he never existed.

Hot 97 Radio Host and Wrestling Fan Peter Rosenberg ripped his Hulk Hogan poster from the wall in a video on Periscope.

The Anger is at an all-time high. If it was Michael PS Hayes or some other Hillbilly I would not have taken a second thought. Since this is Hulk Hogan, it automatically generates headlines.

I agree with WWE cutting ties with him to save face because his actions have been disgraceful. However, it is IMPOSSIBLE to erase him from history. Hulk Hogan covers too much history to wipe him from existence. Revising history to get rid of Hogan is an insult to not only the fans but to the history of the business.

For the past 10 years, Hulk Hogan's personal life has gone into a downward spiral. From his Sex Tape to his divorce it seems that Hogan really "Doesn't Know Best".

The Audio that Hogan is in trouble for is not so much the one where he casually throws the N Word out when hanging out with Birdman and Lil Wayne. He is under fire for the disturbing audio where he is angry at his daughter Brooke for dating a black guy.

The things that he says in the transcript are too disgusting for me to even repost.

In the wake of this scandal, a video has surfaced the Internet with a segment where Vince McMahon calls John Cena the "N Word" in front of Booker T. I would later find out that it was a tongue in cheek joke that everybody was in on, including Booker T. So that could not even compare to the gross hatred that Hogan had in his phone call.

Vince has been known to push that Race Button not to claim himself as a racist, but to trigger the audience. McMahon has always been about making headlines no matter what the topic is.

Granted, WWE is notorious for Racial Stereotypes throughout their history so that disqualifies them for having a moral high horse. However, they have moved into the family friendly arena like never before so they have to do everything they can to save face.

I would also like to share a personal story about this scandal. Before this happened, I was going to buy a Hulk Hogan "11x14" Printed Painting from WWE Shop. It was fantastic, as it encapsulated his career with the different logos (WrestleMania, Hulkamania, WWE, WCW, NWO). I had my mind on buying this portrait. Sadly, WWE announced that they would remove all Hulk Hogan merchandise. So, that painting was removed with everything else.

Here is the painting that I was going to buy. Amazing isn't it?

I had plans on drawing some cool Hogan pictures myself involving his WrestleMania Career. Now, those plans have been shot down.

Unfortunately, Hulk Hogan is not the only beloved wrestling star to use racial slurs. Kamala tells everyone the story about Andre The Giant calling him racist names during their time together in the Mid-South Territory. Kamala says that he pulled out a gun in Andre's face. From that point on, Andre The Giant left him alone.

There has also been a story from Theodore Long in a Shoot Interview about Ric Flair calling him a racist name.

The big difference between them and Hulk Hogan is that they were never recorded.

Well, at least we know that Bret Hart is not racist. Have you seen the woman he is married to? Same with Cody Rhodes "Stardust".

I am not one of those black wrestling fans holding a black power fist screaming for black champions left and right. I care about talent regardless of the color of the skin. However, the topic of race will be handled with more awareness considering who made these remarks.

This is not some nameless jabroni in Alabama or Tennsessee that hates black people as they proudly wave their confederate flag. This is HULK FREAKIN' HOGAN!! A global figure that creates attention no matter what he does.

However, there have been many celebrities and fans coming to Hogan's side including black celebrities. Names like Shaq, George Foreman and Dennis Rodman have come to Hogan's defense regardless of the things that he has said.

I believe that this issue will also cause people to examine what they say behind closed doors when it comes to people of other ethnic backgrounds. Even if it is a simple senseless joke, this will cause people to check themselves.

Once again, I am in no way shape, or form justifying Hulk Hogan's comments. However, if we are honest we know of someone in our family or inner circle who has those feelings towards people of other races. They are just not recorded. Those same people do not have the same status as Hulk Hogan.

The best thing for Hulk Hogan to do at this point is to lay low for a while and just do a legitimate apology tour to show how sincere he is. It is going to take some time for The Hulkster to repair his image.

The best thing that I or anyone else can do is simply look at someone like Hulk Hogan in a different light.

This should also be a reminder not to place people on the pedestal. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

As fans, we grew up wanting to paint this imaginary, kayfabe world where these problems don't exist. At the end of the day, they are flawed humans like the rest of us.

Showstopping Champions: Shawn Michaels

Today, I would like to pay tribute as I highlight the journey of one of the most honored champions in wrestling history. This man was a Headliner, Showstopper, well you know the rest. In the words of the Undertaker, this man was an Icon amongst men.

His path to success is very similar to that of his arch nemesis Bret "The Hitman" Hart. He is one of the most accomplished gladiators of the squared circle. That man is none other than "The Heartbreak Kid" himself, Mr. Shawn Michaels. Much like Bret, Shawn was one of my favorites growing up because of the excitement and flair that he brought to the ring. Bret was technique, Shawn had technique with flash and athleticism. Shawn was also part of Vince McMahon's vision to move from the Giant, Barbaric style of wrestling to a more fluid and faster pace of wrestling. Michaels has become synonymous with big matches as he has earned the moniker of "Mr. WrestleMania". He was a highlight waiting to happen. Shawn has been a lightning rod in the ring because of how he has been able to spark value in whatever match or storyline that he was involved in. Those that did not like Shawn's personality still had to respect how exceptional he was when he stepped through those ropes.

Shawn Michaels was not built like the traditional Vince McMahon prototype for a wrestler. He did not have the size of Hogan, Warrior, etc. Whatever Shawn lacked in size, he more than made up for in resilience and his ring skills.

Ladies and Gentleman, here is the Journey of an Icon:

Origins:

Born on July 22, 1965, Shawn Michaels grew up as a fan of professional wrestling in San Antonio, Texas. He was inspired by watching greats like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, The Von Erichs and others. Shawn would wrestle in high school while also playing football. By the time he was 19, Shawn entered the world of wrestling as he made his start in World Class Championship Wrestling. He naturally started as a jobber (enhancement talent) for the top names of that time. Not long after that, he would join the American Wrestling Association (AWA) to team with his future tag team partner Marty Jannetty. From that point on, the rest was history.


Rockers Era (1986-91):

The Rockers were heavily inspired by The Rock & Roll Express and the Midnight Express with their high-flying and tag team chemistry. They were the heartbeat of the AWA during its twilight years. Their primary feud was with the team of "Playboy" Buddy Rose and Doug Sommers. During their time in the AWA, Shawn and Marty would win the AWA Tag Team Titles. Their success would open up doors for the move to Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1988.

Initially, the Rockers had wrestled in the WWF in 1987. However, they were fired because of their reputation out of the ring. By the following year, Vince was willing to give them another chance to prove themselves. They took the chance and ran with it. The Rockers made their WWF debut in July 1988, as they brought an element of aerial action that had not been seen before.

The Rockers were involved in the main event of Survivor Series 1989 during the 4-on-4 elimination match as they teamed with Ultimate Warrior and Jim Neidhart. Warrior's team won the match.

From the outset, it seemed that Shawn had something special during his time in the tag division. The chemistry that he and Marty had was amazing for the world to see.

The Rockers wrestled a variety of teams from The Hart Foundation, The Brainbusters to the Twin Towers. In spite of their popularity, the Rockers could never capture the Tag Team Titles. The closest that they came to winning the gold was in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match with The Hart Foundation on the Main Event. The decision was reversed after the top rope came apart.

The Rockers continued their run until the end of 1991. Everyone knows about the most famous segment of the Barber Shop in January 1992. The Rockers had been going through some turmoil at this point, and Marty Jannetty wanted to make peace with Shawn.

HBK came to the Barber Shop wearing a black leather jacket, black sweatpants, and black boots. He carried himself like a heel, so you can see that the seeds were being planted for his upcoming Heartbreak Kid Character.

Even the look on Shawn's face says it all. Shawn superkicks Marty and threw him through a glass window on the set of Brutus Beefcake's talk show. HBK would rise to the top and have a remarkable singles career while Jannetty would flounder as the afterthought of the Rockers.

For years, it has become a running joke to call a sidekick "Marty Jannetty" because of how Marty fell into Shawn's shadow.

Intercontinental Title Era (1992-95):

Just as Vince McMahon was moving Bret Hart away from the Tag Team Division to become the face of the WWF, Shawn Michaels was also part of the plans to change the face of the promotion. It is no surprise that Shawn was separated from Jannetty after Bret was separated from Anvil. They would both be catalysts for a New Era/Generation of Wrestling, along with The Undertaker.

In January 1992, Shawn Michaels was paired with Sensational Sherri Martel. Sherri had been the valet for "Macho Man" Randy Savage and "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase respectively before managing Shawn.

Having Sherri at his side accelerated Shawn's growth as a singles star, because he was becoming famous by association.

Shawn was making a strong impact in the mid-card, with signs of main event potential written on him. He would battle veterans from Tito Santana, Rick Martel, Roddy Piper as well as Randy Savage. HBK would start his feud with Bret Hart for the second most prestigious prize in wrestling, the Intercontinental Championship.

FIRST EVER WWF LADDER MATCH.....
July 21, 1992
WWF Intercontinental Title Ladder: Bret Hart (c) defeats Shawn Michaels (13:46)
WWF House Show @ Civic Center in Portland, Maine, USA
In total, The Hitman defeated Shawn Michaels a total of 44 times during this particular run of matches.
The most notable match during that time was the first ever Ladder Match that took place on July 21, 1992. Bret emerged as the winner, as he continued to have Shawn's number. They would not see the last of each other.

By the end of the year, Shawn would start to transition away from Sherri. She would side with Marty Jannetty after Shawn pulled her in front of Marty to get hit with the mirror.

The Chapter with Sensation Sherri was closing, as Shawn was looking forward to another Chapter in his career to become Intercontinental Champion.

October 27, 1992
WWF Intercontinental Title Match: Shawn Michaels defeats Davey Boy Smith
Saturday Night's Main Event

Just two months after Summerslam, Shawn Michaels dethroned The British Bulldog after Davey defeated Bret Hart in the match of his career to become IC Champion. The win over the Bulldog would launch one of the most storied tenures as IC Champion in WWE History.

Champion vs Champion:

Following his victory for the IC Title, HBK would become the next contender for Bret Hart's WWF Championship. This would prove to become the biggest threat to Bret's title by that point, because Papa Shango and Berzerker don't exactly scream "World Champion". Bret and Shawn wrestled each other multiple times during the year, but the stakes were higher this time around.

Survivor Series 1992 was set as a Champion vs Champion Match. There was only one catch: Shawn did not have to defend his title, but Bret did. The Hitman would win with The Sharpshooter. Even though Bret was poised to win, Shawn posed as a strong enough challenger to give The Hitman a run for his money.



Following his match with Bret, Shawn would transition into his feud with former tag partner Marty Jannetty. Michaels defeated Jannetty at the 1993 Royal Rumble to retain his title. Shawn would also feud with other contenders such as Tatanka. HBK would hold the title for seven months until he lost in a surprise match to Marty Jannetty on Monday Night Raw (5/17/93). It was the first Match of the Year Award of Shawn Michaels career. During this time, Shawn would enlist Diesel as his bodyguard.

HBK would win the title back from Marty in June 1993. However, Shawn would have to forfeit the title in September as a result of a suspension. During his time away, Razor Ramon wins a Battle Royal to become the new champion.

Real IC Champion:

Shawn returns with a counterfeit title as he claims that he was never defeated before leaving. This storyline culminated in the First Ladder Match in WrestleMania History at WM X. This match is what helped Shawn become the "Showstopper" because this match stole the show.

 Michaels displayed his early flashes of WrestleMania brilliance in this match with the incredible feats that he made using the ladder. It was very innovative considering the time period. Razor would become the winner of the match, but Shawn would create waves following this match.

Dudes with Attitude:

Even though Shawn was still in the IC Title picture, he would team with Diesel to capture two out of a future five WWF World Tag Team Titles. Ironically, he won his first tag titles without Jannetty. Shawn and Diesel defeated the Headshrinkers to become champions. You could tell they had a chemistry because of their connection with the Kliq.

By late 1994, Shawn Michaels was moving away from the Intercontinental Title picture as he would start his feud with Diesel by giving him Sweet Chin Music at Survivor Series.


Main Event:

1995 would create a new Chapter in the Career of Shawn Michaels. HBK drew number 1 for the 1995 Royal Rumble. Michaels would become the first man to win the Rumble after becoming the first entrant. Shawn and The British Bulldog started as the first two wrestlers and ended as the final two. HBK maintained his balance so that only one foot would touch the ground. When Shawn got back in the ring, he attacked the Bulldog during the celebration and threw him over the top rope to win the Rumble.

Shawn Michaels would headline his first WrestleMania with Diesel at WM XI. Shawn lost the match but made Kevin Nash look better than he could ever look in a match with anyone else.

Following the loss to Diesel, HBK would have one last run as IC Champion. The highlight of Shawn's last run was his Ladder Match with Razor at Summerslam 1995. This time, HBK won.

Shawn would forfeit the belt following a fight at a bar in Syracuse. The Heartbreak Kid would return just in time for the 1996 Royal Rumble where he would win by eliminating Diesel with Sweet Chin Music.

Boyhood Dream (1996):

1996 became another flagship year for Shawn Michaels. In the Main Event of WrestleMania XII, The Heartbreak Kid would wage war in a 60-minute Ironman Match with Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. After a grueling test of endurance, HBK won his first WWF Heavyweight Championship. As Vince McMahon said "The Boyhood Dream has come true for Shawn Michaels".



Shawn's dream had been realized of becoming WWF Champion.

Most Notable Matches:

Iron Man Match
March 31, 1996
Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart to become WWF Champion

Good Friends, Better Enemies
Shawn Michaels defeated Diesel

Mind Games
Shawn Michaels defeated Mankind

Summerslam
Shawn Michaels defeated Vader


While Shawn Michaels delivered great matches in his first run as Champion, business was suffering as RAW started to lose the Monday Night War to WCW during the rise of the NWO. Shawn did his best to keep things afloat as he was the draw that they needed to stay as competitive as possible.

Bret Hart took time off. Stone Cold was just being built. There were no box office names like Hogan or Savage around at the time because they were in WCW. Undertaker was not built to be the face of the company, but rather as the backbone. Shawn was all that they had.

The first title run of HBK lasted for eight months from WM XII to Survivor Series where he lost the title to Sid Vicious. Some could say that Shawn's boyhood dream turned into a nightmare. This is one reason why there are many people who criticize his legacy as WWF Champion. That and the idea that he "lost his smile".

D-Generation X (1997-98):

HBK would display more color in his character as the founder of DX during his last WWF Title run. Shawn has always had charisma, but he was at his best as a heel whenever he was champion. During this timespan, Shawn would become the first ever Grand Slam Champion in WWF/E History. 1997 was another banner year for HBK, as he started the year winning the WWF Title and he would end the year as Champion.

The seeds were planted for DX as Shawn and Triple H feuded with the Hart Foundation. At the In Your House PPV in Manchester, HBK gained even more heat when he defeated Britain's biggest star Davey Boy Smith to become European Champion. (Shawn would later give the title to Triple H, making a mockery of that belt)

The Renegade attitude of Shawn Michaels and DX would grow even more during his feud with The Undertaker, which took place at the same time as his feud with Bret. Shawn and Taker made history with the first ever Hell In A Cell Match at Badd Blood in October 1997. The win made Shawn the number 1 contender for Bret Hart's WWF Championship.

The Montreal Controversy added even more fuel to the DX fire, as it enhanced Shawn's image as a villain.

HBK would continue his business with Undertaker going into the Royal Rumble, where he retained the WWF Title in a Casket match after interference from Kane.

Unfortunately, Shawn would injure his back during the match. However, he still marched into WrestleMania XIV to drop the title to Stone Cold Steve Austin.


Return:

After a 4-year hiatus, Shawn would return in a rejuvenated form. During his time away from the ring, Shawn became a Born-Again Christian as everyone knows. He would also start a family. Once HBK returned, his perspective was much sharper than ever before.

At Survivor Series 2002, Shawn Michaels would win the first Elimination Chamber to become World Heavyweight Champion.

Even though he did not win many titles during his second run (2002-2010), Shawn Michaels was a Champion who did not need a belt to validate him. He elevated the champions that he faced from John Cena to Randy Orton to Chris Jericho.

There have been many great and defining champions, but there is only one champion that could be a showstopper. That man is Shawn Michaels. HBK, I would like to wish you a Happy Birthday as you make 50 look fantastic.

Portrait by: Rob Schamberger (Twitter: @RobSchamberger)

Clash of the Titans II: Michael Jordan vs Wilt Chamberlain

Michael Jordan's production for a Guard is staggering. (30+ ppg, 10 scoring titles, 6 Finals MVP's, 5 NBA MVP's, 6 seasons of 50% shooting or higher) Jordan was and still is the gold standard for perimeter players. His numbers are comparable to that of Big Men, which is why the best comparisons for him would be against them. Therefore, in this presentation, I will compare him to the Iconic Wilt Chamberlain. Both Michael and Wilt Chamberlain have had tremendous runs in their prime. The peak value for both of them is off the charts. The NBA record books have their names written all over them. In terms of scoring, no one else is even within striking distance. (except at least Kareem) Both Michael and Wilt have won an unprecedented 7 consecutive scoring titles. I wanted to do this comparison just for personal interest, and for really good fun. I also hope to bridge some kind of gap between two of the greatest eras ever. (60's/70's-80's/90's) As long as both men are among the Top 3, I am satisfied. Now, let the battle begin:

                                                          Michael Jordan:

                                                                         vs.


                                                             Wilt Chamberlain:

Awards:

Rookie of the Year:
Michael Jordan: Yes
Wilt Chamberlain: Yes

All-Star Selections:
Michael Jordan: 14
Wilt Chamberlain: 13

All-NBA 1st Teams:
Michael Jordan: 10
Wilt Chamberlain: 7

MVP Awards:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 4

All-Defensive 1st Teams:
Michael Jordan: 9
Wilt Chamberlain: 2

*Keep in mind that All-Defensive Teams were not awarded until later in Wilt's career. I pointed this out in the West vs. Kobe comparison. Steals and Blocks were not recorded at all during Chamberlain's career. If so, who knows what kind of havoc he would have wreaked in Blocks? He already did major damage in Scoring and Rebounding. Therefore, Defensive Player of the Year is a moot point. Bill Russell was recognized as the Best Defender in that Era.

However, I must point out that Michael Jordan became the first player in NBA History to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in one season, as he did it twice. ('87 & '88) That is right! A SHOOTING GUARD with 100 BLOCKS in one season! Michael's shot blocking was very underrated. Hakeem Olajuwon and Scottie Pippen would be the next two players to achieve this feat.

Regular Season:

Seasons over 50 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 0
Wilt Chamberlain: 1

Seasons over 40 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 0
Wilt Chamberlain: 2

Seasons with 32 points per game or higher:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 7

Seasons over 30 points per game:
Michael Jordan: 8
Wilt Chamberlain: 7

Consecutive Scoring Titles:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 7

Career High Scoring Average (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 37.1 (1987)
Wilt Chamberlain: 50.4 (1962)

Career High Total Points (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 3,041 (1987)
Wilt Chamberlain: 4,029 (1962)

Career Averages (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 30.12 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49.7% FG (50%)
Wilt Chamberlain: 30.07 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, 54% FG

Michael ranks 1st All-Time in Career Points Per Game. Wilt ranks 2nd. In the 1986-87 season, Michael Jordan became the first player in NBA history since Wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 or more points in a season.


Career Player Efficiency Rating:
Michael Jordan: 27.91
Wilt Chamberlain: 26.13

Career Offensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 149.9
Wilt Chamberlain: 153.3

Career Defensive Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 64.1
Wilt Chamberlain: 93.9

Career Win Shares (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: 214.0
Wilt Chamberlain: 247.3

Career Win Shares Per 48 Minutes (Regular Season):
Michael Jordan: .250
Wilt Chamberlain: .248

Seasons leading the league in PER:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 8


I can't go much into detail with Rebounding, because of the different positions. (MJ-SG, Wilt-Center) However, while Wilt is 1st All-Time in Rebounding no matter the position, Michael Jordan is 3rd all-time in Rebounding for a guard. (Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson) With his large hands, Jordan was able to grab boards with no problem as a perimeter player.

Obviously Wilt is going to shoot a higher field goal percentage because he was a Center who shot the most. Meanwhile, Michael was the Shooting Guard who shot the most. However, it must be said that Wilt shot 54% while Michael shot roughly 50% (51.5% as a Chicago Bull). Jordan's shooting percentage was that of a Big Man! As a Guard, he attacked the basket and scored like one.

Both have their fair share of haters. The one criticism that Michael and Wilt both share is that they "shot too much". Well, if they are shooting that percentage, wouldn't you WANT them to have the ball? This is merely even more of a testament to Michael's IQ and Excellent Shot Selection.


Now, let's take a look at the various records that both men hold in NBA history:

Michael Jordan Records:
Career Regular Season Scoring Average: MJ (30.12)
Career Playoff Scoring Average: MJ (33.45)
Highest Scoring Average in Playoffs: MJ (43.7)
Highest Scoring Average in NBA Finals series: MJ (41.0)
Highest Career Scoring Average in NBA Finals: MJ (33.6)
Career Total Points in Playoffs: MJ (5,987)
Most Seasons leading league in Scoring: MJ (10)
Most Seasons leading in Total Points: MJ (11)
Most 50 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (8)
Most 40 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (38)
Most 30 Point Games in Playoffs: MJ (109)
Most 30 Point Games: MJ (563)
Most Consecutive 50 Point games in Playoffs: MJ (2)
Most Consecutive 45 Point games in Playoffs: MJ (3)
Most Consecutive 40 Point games in Finals: MJ (4)
Most Consecutive 30 point games in Finals: MJ (9)
Most Consecutive 20 point games in Playoffs: MJ (60)
Most Consecutive 20 point games in Finals: MJ (35)
Most Consecutive games in double-figure scoring: MJ (866)
Highest scoring playoff game: MJ (63)
Most points in one-half of NBA Finals: MJ (35)
Oldest to score 50: MJ (51- age 38)
Oldest to score 40: MJ (43- age 40)


Wilt Chamberlain Records:
Most Points in Regular Season: Wilt (4,029)
Highest Scoring Average in Regular Season: Wilt (50.4)
Most Points in a Game by a Rookie: Wilt (58, 1/25/1960 & 2/21/1960)
Most Points by a Rookie: Wilt (2,707- 1959-60)
Most PPG by a Rookie: Wilt (37.6)
Most 60 point games: Wilt (32)
Most 50 point games: Wilt (118)
Most 40 point games: Wilt (271)
Most Consecutive 60 point games: Wilt (4)
Most Consecutive 50 point games: Wilt (7)
Most Consecutive 45 point games: Wilt (7)
Most Consecutive 40 point games: Wilt (14)
Most Consecutive 35 point games: Wilt (33)
Most Consecutive 30 point games: Wilt (65)
Most Consecutive 20 point games: Wilt (126)
Highest Scoring Game: Wilt (100)
Most Points in All-Star Game: Wilt (42)
Most points in 3 quarters: Wilt (69)
Most points in one half: Wilt (59)

*Consecutive Seasons Leading the League in Scoring: MJ, Wilt (tied at 7)

Out of the recognized scoring records in NBA history, Michael Jordan holds 24, Wilt Chamberlain holds 20.  (If you include Wilt's rookie records)

Bonus:
Fewest Games to Reach 20,000 points: Wilt (499)
Fewest Games to Reach 30,000 points: Wilt (941)

Career +60 point games:
Michael Jordan: 5
Wilt Chamberlain: 32

Career +50 point games:
Michael Jordan: 34
Wilt Chamberlain: 118

Career +40 point games:
Michael Jordan: 172
Wilt Chamberlain: 271

Career +30 point games:
Michael Jordan: 563
Wilt Chamberlain: 515


Scoring Titles:
Michael Jordan: 10
Wilt Chamberlain: 7

Even though Wilt had a more impressive scoring peak, Jordan maintained his level of scoring dominance for three more seasons. Michael and Wilt have the most consecutive scoring titles in NBA history. Both are neck and neck as far as scoring impact. When you look at many of Wilt's scoring records, Michael Jordan is somewhere in second place in many categories:

60 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)
50 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)
40 point games- Wilt (1), MJ (2)

Michael was even second behind Wilt in fewest games to reach 20,000 points (620), and fewest games to reach 30,000 (960).

As many of you may notice, Wilt has a strong advantage when it comes to the regular season because of his video game-like numbers. Wilt is only second place to Michael in Scoring Titles, and 30 point games. However, you may also notice that Michael has the advantage when it comes to the playoffs as well. This is where the separation really begins.

Career Averages (Playoffs):
Michael Jordan: 33.45 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.7 apg, 48.7% FG
Wilt Chamberlain: 22.5 ppg, 24.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 46.5% FG

NBA Playoff runs over 30 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 12
Wilt Chamberlain: 4

Playoff runs over 32 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 8
Wilt Chamberlain: 4

Playoff runs over 34 ppg:
Michael Jordan: 7
Wilt Chamberlain: 3

Michael's level of play increased during the postseason, while Wilt's level of play dropped. Not only did Wilt's scoring take a blow, but his field goal percentage did as well. The only thing that went up for Wilt in the playoffs was his rebounding. Michael was the ultimate postseason player. Wilt's drop is a big part of the reason why people say that he was a "choker". Not all of that is true, because for a while Wilt did not have the right supporting cast against a team like the Celtics. Yes, Chamberlain blew his fair share of games, but don't put ALL of the blame on him. He was largely a one-man army. Wilt later had to change his game by dialing back his scoring for his teams to win championships. This is what helped cause his drop in points. Jordan was able to keep his scoring title while leading his teams to championships. I will say this in Wilt's defense. Jordan and Chamberlain led what are considered by many as three of the Greatest Championship teams of All-Time:

Michael Jordan:
1995-96 Chicago Bulls (72-10) (MVP- MJ)

Wilt Chamberlain:
1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (68-13) (MVP- Wilt)
1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (69-13, 33 game winning streak)

Michael won MVP in '96, while Wilt won it in '67. The 1997 Bulls also won 69 games. The Big separation between the '72 Lakers and '97 Bulls is that the Lakers had the winning streak (33), which made that team even more memorable.

With that said, Wilt Chamberlain was NOT the performer that Michael Jordan was in the Playoffs, especially the NBA Finals:

Finals MVP's:
Michael Jordan: 6 in 6 tries
Wilt Chamberlain: 2 in 6 tries

(The Finals MVP was not awarded in 1967. If it was, Chamberlain would have won it.)

Conclusion:

This is merely a discussion of peak value versus consistency. Taking everything into consideration, Michael was slightly a more consistent scorer than Wilt in the long run. Michael also brought more to the table as a team leader. You can't go wrong with either one. This comparison is always very fun, and is also a testament to how iron clad Wilt's legacy will always be. Both of these men are on my personal Mt. Rushmore of Basketball, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. This is to show how the LeBron's, Kobe's and Durant's of the world CANNOT even come within a 40 foot pole of players like MJ and Wilt.

Winner: Michael Jordan

Case Closed!

Michael Jordan: Flying High at 50 (pt. 2)

                                                                     



                                       Here are detailed videos of each stage of Michael's career:

                         

                                                      Michael in North Carolina (pt. 1)

                                                               Michael at UNC (pt. 2)

Here is Michael in his True Prime:

Michael's Rise (1984-88):

Jordan from his first four years

Michael's Quest ('88-'91)

MJ in his quest for a title

                                                                           

MJ's first three-peat reign: ('91-'93):

MJ at his apex

                                                       

                                                      Here is a look at Veteran Michael:
                                                                 

                                                        The Rebirth of His Airness ('95):

                                                                     

                                                     MJ in his second three-peat ('96-'98):
                                                                    The King back at the throne

                                                                           
                                                                   
                                                                             

                                                                Jordan's last stand:

                                                 The Master teaches the New School (2001-'03)
                                                                       

                                                                       


                                                Michael was the Ultimate Playoff Performer:

                                                Michael Jordan: Playoff/Finals King (1984-98):
                                                                       

                                                                       


                                                                       

Wilt's 100: 50 Years Later

Last Friday marked exactly 50 Years since Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game, as a member of what was then the (Philadelphia) Warriors. Wilt achieved this milestone against the Knicks in a 169-147 Warriors win. I just wanted to clarify that, because I have heard so many foolish stories about his team losing that night, which was never the case. That night, the Big Dipper went 36-63 from the field, and a career best 28-32 from the free throw line. That is not a typo! Chamberlain was like Larry Bird that night from the line. Normally, Wilt was awful when shooting foul shots! He was not only the Shaquille O'Neal of his time because of his size and dominance, but also because of his foul shooting! That night was not the case. Big Wilt ate the Knicks for dinner that night, setting the bar for single game points so high, that no one can ever reach it, no matter how watered down today's rules are. (unless your Michael Jordan! lol.) Even though there have been others who have tried to challenge that record (Kobe) who have fallen short. Kobe still says that the record could be broken, even after he scored 81 points on a bottom feeder Raptors squad in '06. Kobe, if you could break it, you could have done it that night! Too late, old man. Unfortunately, this mythical and iconic game, both in sports and pop culture, was never televised! A fan had taken photos of the game and they were published by both the team as well as the NBA. The game was broadcasted by way of the radio. This was also the only game that never finished, because of this monstrous milestone. However, there is also the case against Wilt, because even though that was very impressive stat wise, he was an enormous ballhog that killed his team. The Warriors finished the season 49-31 and eventually fell to the Celtics in 7 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Anyway, Chamberlain was on a complete rampage that season, averaging 50.4 points per game, with 25.7 rebounds per game and 4,029 total points, becoming the only player in history to accomplish these feats. The MVP race that season was insane, with Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson as the top 5 candidates. Each man had a very strong case that year along with Wilt. (Russell's superhuman 19 ppg, 24 rpg, 5 apg on a 60 win team, Oscar's triple double, Elgin's 38 ppg, 19 rpg, 5 apg) This race would go down as one of the top 10 MVP races of all-time, along with '63, '64, the Magic, Bird & MJ battles in '87 & '88 and the '93 race with MJ, Barkley and Hakeem. Personally, I think that it is a joke when people say that Wilt would not dominate in today's era. Wilt could dominate like never before, because the Center position today is horrible! Chamberlain was BEFORE his time in the '60s, at 7'1 1/6", rougly 260 lbs. at his peak, and in excellent condition. Wilt did all of this WITHOUT the training, weights, and medical advantages that today's athletes have. These players at his position have all of this going for them, and they are STILL out of shape and sloppy. Dwight Howard is a man among boy's and Chamberlain would eat him for dinner, Tyson Chandler for lunch and Andrew Bynum for breakfast. Wilt would throw these guys around like rag dolls. If Tyson Chandler is a defensive enforcer while averaging 1.1 bpg, you have seriously got to be kidding me! That is horrible! Olajuwon averaged 4.6 bpg in his prime! (More on this later). The centers of today could barely average 10 ppg, and as Wilt said, couldn't even make Overbrook high school. In my terms, these guys couldn't even make Eleanor Roosevelt or Charles Flowers High School with the way they play. The average big man today is at least 6'10". Wilt played against Hall of Fame players in that range, whether above or an inch below. (Bill Russell- 6'10", Kareem- 7'2", Walt Bellamy- 6'11", Nate Thurmond- 6'11", Willis Reed- 6'9", Bob Lanier-6'11") As I just mentioned, ALL are in the Hall of Fame! The game is not as physical as before, because the rules have reduced everything to the perimeter, which gives Wilt even greater room to go beyond what he did in his time. Imagine how Shaq dominated. Wilt would do that to an even greater level, because he was stronger, faster, quicker and more versatile than Shaq ever was. I find that disrespectful when people admire Shaq's recent dominance and dismiss Wilt's when talking about today's game. Vlade Divac, Shawn Bradley, and Rik Smits were never exactly HOF worthy themselves. So before you say that Wilt would be stopped in today's era, in the words of The Rock, you better know your role and shut your mouth!