I still have the bio written by the late great Dick Schaap "The Perfect Jump". A great read if you can find it. Had a tough life growing up in Brooklyn in the tumultuous 50's-60's. Apparently he had to climb over the local public high school fence (Wingate?) at night to work out on the cinders..
Back in the 80's I ran into him on the IRT "2" train to Flatbush Ave. Quiet, unassuming, gracious. He was surprised I recognized him. His contemporary, '68 Olympics competitor, and friend Ralph Boston went on to a pretty good career as a CBS track commentator. Loved those Saturday afternoon CBS Sports AAU meets with Jack Whitaker-
Some adjectives:
Ruthian
Beamonesque
Kafkaesque
Trumpian
Obamacare