Slam Dunk (1969)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 19:46:06 -0400, bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:

>21 December 1969, Los Angeles Times, WEST magazine, pg. 19, col. 3:
>
>For the first time, West's three sons, David, 8, Michael, 7, and Mark,
>6, are beginning to show an interest in sports. But they prefer
>Chamberlain to their father because he can slam dunk a basketball "and
>Dad can't." Their appreciation for a man who can shoot better than just
>about anyone, dribble superbly, pass effectively and play great defense
>may come later.

Sorry to do this to you, Barry, but here's one from Feb. '69:

-----
1969 _Chicago Tribune_ 10 Feb C1/1 With West missing his 14th game of the
year and the 109th of his oft-injured career, Wilt slam-dunked and used
his fall-away shot to hit for 17 in each of the first two periods and 22
in the crucial third quarter when Los Angeles outscored the Suns, 39 to
18.
-----

And here's an interesting variant, "slam-bang dunk":

-----
1969 _Los Angeles Times_ 29 May C3/1 The NCAA outlawed the stuff or
slam-bang dunk following Alcindor's sophomore season.
-----


--Ben Zimmer


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jesse Sheidlower <jester at PANIX.COM>
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Sent: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 07:24:04 -0400
>Subject: Re: Slam Dunk (1969)
>
>
>On Sat, Apr 30, 2005 at 03:50:32AM -0400, bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
>>
>> ProQuest has this only in abstract form, but it appears that
>> "slam dunk" is mentioned in the Los Angeles Times (as
>> expected) on December 21, 1969, beating the evil Ben Zimmer
>> by seven days. I can check it in the NYPL later today if
>> anyone wishes.
>
>Well, if you're offering....
>
>JTS
>OED