The Detroit tribune., 1963-03-30
fKENIs IN M
sports
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BY WALTER B. HOVE

The Chicago Zephyrs Of the MIA have one big star
lie is No le, Walter Beamy, Clio, 230-pounder and
p6162 Rookie OF the Year. Walt worked extra hard to
hin this coveted award
For Walt it has been continuing struggle ever since
began playing basketball at Indiana University After
tatchng Walt in his first Freshman basketball game he
ored three goas scout said to Indiana coach Branch
tcCracken "You know that center of yours Walt Bel
my would do better in sdeshow than in gym.
now he's Go and growing but he's awkward timid and
bmpetey bewdered. How do you ever expect to teach
rn 10 play college basketbal?'
McCracken also had his doubts about Walt, then the
hcxpeced happened Bellamy got banged in the throat
teammates elbow and knocked unconscious. Then
e the pro he when he came to- he asked to return
action This accident assured McCracken that Walt had
necessary ability to develop into top-notch player
During the next few minutes he threw in eight
Faght baskets" said Branch land that's when knew
had it inside him.. From this point on Coach McCracken
everything but knock Bellamy unconscious. His untir
efforts paid off as Walt averaged l72 points and l52
bounds as sophomore. He hit almost "a percent OF
shots during his junior year, while averaging 22.4
ints per game.
He made most of the A-Amercan teams his Junior
ar Then his senior year he elected to every All
nerican team there This made him the NBAs NO
draft choice There were those who were still dubious
but his ability to take it and still deliver the goods TO
that Walt did deliver the goods would be to make the
bred Belamy in the NBA scoring race Chamberlain
eraged 504 points per game while Bellamy averaged
g. But in the all important fed-goa shooting percent
Bellamy was g percent higher than Wilt ne hit on
8 of his shots Walt placed third in rebounds behind
amberlain and Bill RUSSELL grabbing 10 per game
His 2495 points just five shy of the NBA record
$500 points held by Chamberlain Walt is generally felt
be the new Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA With his 220
unds Walt dominates the backboards. He hits you
he's mad at your whole family one teammate was
ard to comment after a spirited scrimmage. The fast
big man in the league and he has softand-delicate
ooting touch' says Chicago Coach Jack Mcmahon.
This slam bang basketball whiz came on the scene %
ars ago in New Bern North Carolina. Walt grew up in
industrial and fishing town with population of 16,-
b. as an only child He from the same neighbor-
od that produced the likes of Bob Manu. grdiron star
the University of Michigan and later with the Detroit
ms.
The word currently on the grapevine is that trying to
b Bellsmy is like attempting to stop water running
Pnhi They say the way to defense him is to start
he enters the stadium to play. While they trying
gure this out Belamy continues to roll on Teams
tried to halt his scoring by fouling him. but they
nd out that this didn't pay off either
He deadly from the free throw line, he hit for a
percent Dick MCGUIRE coach of our Detroit Pisons,
ned the hard way about that little manuever Walt
ed on 20 of 26 free throws against the Pisons Big
very easily top the fantastic Chamberlain and
PINE of the games most lustrous stars