PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Some may question the details, but 75-year-old Joe Morris of Northeast Philadelphia insists the story is true.
“I’ve been telling the story for over 50 years now,” he says.
At age 19, Morris had a chance encounter with one of the most iconic athletes in the history of Philadelphia sports — actually, make that all of professional sports — and it happened during one of the most memorable NBA seasons the Herculean Sixer ever experienced.
The location: the old Convention Hall — also known at the time as the Civic Center — which is no longer around. Today, it is part of a renowned hospital campus in University City.
The athlete: Wilt Chamberlain.
“I walked up and said, ‘Excuse me, Mr. Chamberlain,’” Morris recalled.
Morris was manager for the Community College of Philadelphia’s basketball team at a time when, he says, the 76ers struggled with attendance and ran doubleheaders with college teams to get college fans to buy discounted tickets.
Not only did the special work, according to Morris, but it presented him with this rare and unexpected moment, face to face (or at least, in this case, face to belt buckle) with the late, great, 7-foot 1-inch Chamberlain.
“He said, ‘You better get in there, kid. Coach is looking for the shot chart.’”
As Morris remembers it, the encounter happened during the legendary 1966-67 Sixers championship season — one of only two NBA championships won by the 76ers during their time in Philadelphia. Chamberlain was 30 years old, averaging 24.1 points and 24.2 rebounds per game. Prior to that season, he had been seeking an elusive NBA title, usually won by Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics.
This Sixers team, though, was considered one of the greatest of all time — with a regular season record of 68-13 and an 11-4 record in the postseason. They eliminated Boston in the Eastern Division Finals in five games and then beat the San Francisco Warriors — formally the Philadelphia Warriors — in six games in the NBA Finals.
Morris, the fifth of seven children, with four older brothers, said his siblings were disappointed he didn’t get Chamberlain’s autograph. (In 1967, we didn’t have selfies, we had autographs.)
That is just one of many memories Morris has from decades of being a fan. He has certainly seen and heard his fair share of Philadelphia sports. “It's a loyalty I think you're born with,” he said.
In addition to the Chamberlain encounter, he remembers following the 1960 NFL Championship Game that took place at Franklin Field between the Eagles and Packers. “I think we cheered so much we got hoarse,” he said.
Morris remembers that season listening on the radio to one of the legendary plays of Eagles history — linebacker and center Chuck Bednarik knocking out the Giants’ Frank Gifford. This reporter told Morris that he resembles the late, great Bednarik. His response?
“Well, maybe people will think I have a Penn degree,” he joked.
Morris certainly has a sense of humor. One might deduce it was developed in the time spent with his brothers, who he says made it a necessity to root for Philadelphia teams, even though their father, who was from New York, rooted for the rivals.
And why did Morris go along with it, even in tough times — such as the 1961 Phillies' infamous 23-game losing streak? He says the reason was simple.
“Fear that my older brothers would beat hell out of me.”
One of those older siblings is Dave Morris, who Joe still communicates with during Philadelphia sports games. Instead, this time, there isn’t really an old time radio. They’re watching it on TV and using modern technology to communicate.
“Even though we're [in our] 70s and late 70s, we're hip and use cellphones because our children gave them to us,” said Joe.
And while Dave joked Joe is a fair weather fan, Joe said, “Sometimes you're disappointed, but you're always optimistic next year will be the year.”
That’s why Joe Morris is our Philadelphia Sports Fan of the Week. “I’m proud to be a Philadelphia guy,” he declared.
And with quite a collection of memories to share.