Goliath (Wilt Chamberlain Documentary)

ZeppelinPage · Post #1 » by **ZeppelinPage** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 10:49 am

I figured that some on this board might be interested in this so I wanted to make a thread letting everyone know there is a new Wilt Chamberlain documentary out. It's quite a fascinating look at his life and gives more insight into the complexity of him as a person.

It's available on Paramount+ with Showtime and has interviews with family members, friends, teammates, and coaches. Guys like Jerry West, Pat Riley, Tom Meschery, and Billy Cunningham, among many others, are featured and talk about Wilt. Ben Taylor is also quite prominent and has an interesting and slightly altered perspective on Wilt.

Anyways, I definitely recommend this three-part documentary as it really focuses on Wilt as a human being more than anything.

https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/goliath/

70sFan · Post #2 » by **70sFan** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 12:54 pm

I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

rk2023 · Post #3 » by **rk2023** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:03 pm

ZeppelinPage wrote:I figured that some on this board might be interested in this so I wanted to make a thread letting everyone know there is a new Wilt Chamberlain documentary out. It's quite a fascinating look at his life and gives more insight into the complexity of him as a person.

It's available on Paramount+ with Showtime and has interviews with family members, friends, teammates, and coaches. Guys like Jerry West, Pat Riley, Tom Meschery, and Billy Cunningham, among many others, are featured and talk about Wilt. Ben Taylor is also quite prominent and has an interesting and slightly altered perspective on Wilt.

Anyways, I definitely recommend this three-part documentary as it really focuses on Wilt as a human being more than anything.

https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/goliath/

I'm a huge fan to hear that in particular. My favorite part of documentaries is getting to see the humanistic side of world-class athletes. Bill Walton's 30:30 ('The Luckiest Guy in The World') - released just last month, as a recent example - did precisely just that.

ZeppelinPage · Post #4 » by **ZeppelinPage** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 7:50 pm

70sFan wrote:I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

That's awesome, they were smart to reach out to you!

It covers the majority of his career and provides insight into how people of the time were thinking, as well as Wilt's own views. It also integrates retrospections on Wilt's life and thoughts and looks at him from today's viewpoint.

You get a sense of how he thought and how others thought about him as both a player and a human.

New footage seemed few and far between, small parts might have previously been unreleased but there was nothing substantial. Although the quality of the footage definitely seemed improved and like they had restored it properly. The only major thing I had never seen before wasn't even of Wilt, but was an impressive Frank Ramsey behind-the-back pass I had never seen before.

70sFan · Post #5 » by **70sFan** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 8:23 pm

ZeppelinPage wrote:
70sFan wrote:I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

That's awesome, they were smart to reach out to you!

It covers the majority of his career and provides insight into how people of the time were thinking, as well as Wilt's own views. It also integrates retrospections on Wilt's life and thoughts and looks at him from today's viewpoint.

You get a sense of how he thought and how others thought about him as both a player and a human.

New footage seemed few and far between, small parts might have previously been unreleased but there was nothing substantial. Although the quality of the footage definitely seemed improved and like they had restored it properly. The only major thing I had never seen before wasn't even of Wilt, but was an impressive Frank Ramsey behind-the-back pass I had never seen before.

Thank you, I will definitely watch it when I come back home.

prolific passer · Post #6 » by **prolific passer** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 10:23 pm

Watched it and it was pretty good. So we have Russell documentary and a Wilt one. Need one for Mr. Pettit imo.

Post #7 » by **Doctor MJ** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 10:57 pm

70sFan wrote:I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

I believe that there is new footage and we're going to see some of it in the TB video that will be put out soon.

The Documentary itself has some footage, but it's more about Wilt the Man rather than Wilt the Basketball Player.

prolific passer · Post #8 » by **prolific passer** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 12:33 am

Doctor MJ wrote:
70sFan wrote:I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

I believe that there is new footage and we're going to see some of it in the TB video that will be put out soon.

The Documentary itself has some footage, but it's more about Wilt the Man rather than Wilt the Basketball Player.

I think they skipped over his last season though.

70sFan · Post #9 » by **70sFan** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 3:48 am

Doctor MJ wrote:
70sFan wrote:I actually helped a little bit in the production of this documentary by providing sources for the footage. I haven't seen it yet, so I hope the results are great.

How much of the final product is focused on Wilt's basketball career? Did we get any new footage unavailable before?

I believe that there is new footage and we're going to see some of it in the TB video that will be put out soon.

The Documentary itself has some footage, but it's more about Wilt the Man rather than Wilt the Basketball Player.

Well, I also worked with Ben to help him witb the video so I can't wait to see that one as well

70sFan · Post #10 » by **70sFan** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 8:56 pm

It turns out that I can't watch this doc because I live outside the US... It really sucks.

70sFan · Post #11 » by **70sFan** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 12:51 pm

I have found a way to watch the documentary (huge thanks to SNPA), I recommend anyone watching the series.

prolific passer · Post #12 » by **prolific passer** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:56 pm

70sFan wrote:I have found a way to watch the documentary (huge thanks to SNPA), I recommend anyone watching the series.

I think it was cool to hear how and Paul Arizin became close through Arizin's granddaughter.

SNPA · Post #13 » by **SNPA** » Tue Jul 18, 2023 12:36 am

70sFan wrote:I have found a way to watch the documentary (huge thanks to SNPA), I recommend anyone watching the series.

Was there any new footage or info in it for you?

70sFan · Post #14 » by **70sFan** » Tue Jul 18, 2023 6:01 am

SNPA wrote:
70sFan wrote:I have found a way to watch the documentary (huge thanks to SNPA), I recommend anyone watching the series.

Was there any new footage or info in it for you?

I don't think there is much new footage in that doc, but a lot of off-court facts were new to me (his very early life, Arizin's granddaughter situation etc.). I think this documentary can help you understand Wilt better as a person, rather than just a basketball player (but it could be helpful in understanding his basketball career as well).

migya · Post #15 » by **migya** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 12:34 pm

Here is a video that covers alot of Chamberlain's career achievements.

Watch on YouTube

Truly amazing what this man did and moreso that he shot and made so many jump shots, due mostly because he was called for offensive fouls by making little contact bumping the defender. Seriously, he made many jumpers which is incredible since in most recent eras he'd have been able to bump alot more and score alot easier.

To me he is the real greatest ever.

kendogg · Post #16 » by **kendogg** » Tue Jul 25, 2023 4:00 pm

Wilt did not have the best basketball career, probably not even the best peak (he's high up there but certainly not definitive #1), but he had the most unbelievable highlights of any player and I think the highest potential ceiling of any player, including Shaq. But unlike Shaq, Wilt's downfall was not conditioning but that his era of basketball wasn't prepared rules wise for and had absolutely no idea how to coach a behemoth like him (well, maybe Red). Mikan dominated the earliest years of the NBA, but not like Wilt, who was by far the best athlete in the league. Some said when Wilt was drafted that he would absolutely destroy the game. And he would have, if not for Bill Russell and Red Auerbach. Though Wilt still holds 72 records in the record books so I guess he figured out some things on his own.

A series of unfortunate circumstances led him to fall short a lot in the playoffs. Mostly out of Wilt's control. The Celtics were too deep and too well coached, and Russ did well enough against Wilt that he couldn't beat them alone. Wilt's career trajectory could have been very different if he had the legendary coach from the start and not Russell.