Chris Wilcox: One Part Chuck Norris' Beard, One Part Gentle Giant

I don't think it's even possible to sleep on Chris Wilcox, Jeff. He won't let you. This guy is a freak. I don't think you're going to be able to sleep through an alley-oop dunk on the break with 17,000 fans in TD Garden on their feet.

I remember when the Celtics officially introduced Jason Terry, Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, and Wilcox at that press conference in July. Green and Terry were decked out in suit and tie. Bass looked slick in a blue blazer and white shirt. Wilcox--man, I love this dude--looked like a bouncer at a night club. He just carries himself like a guy that you don't want to mess with, but when you hear him talk, he's really this mild-mannered guy who seems humbled by the chance to come back and finish what he started last season:

Chris Wilcox Interview (via bostonceltics)

While younger players tweet about dunks and Instagram their wardrobe, Chris Wilcox's Twitter and Facebook feeds is all about the many charities that he's involved with like the AMA's Heart Walk and the Lupus Foundation Of America and raising awareness about undetected heart conditions. In the cynical world of professional sports, there are few players that you root for on a real personal level. You want them to succeed on the court, but their success off the court is what really makes them special. Wilcox is one of those guys.

I'll echo Jeff's analysis from earlier: what distinguishes Wilcox from the rest of the big men in the bullpen is his ability to get up and down the court. Doc mentioned last week that the team is going to try and score more in transition and there isn't a forward or center on the roster, including Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett, who is better equipped to run with Rondo than Wilcox. These numbers date back to 2002 when he was drafted by the Clippers, but people forget how much of a physical specimen Chris was when he came out of Maryland; he had sprint numbers faster than most guards at the combine and benched in the Top 5. We're ten years removed from his rookie year, but he's still the 6'10 gazelle that can rebound on one end and finish on the other.

It's Saturday, so let's have a little fun on CelticsBlog. I'm sure everybody is familiar with the popular internet meme Chuck Norris Facts like "Chuck Norris doesn't turn the light on, he turns the dark off" or "sharks have Chuck Norris Week." Maybe it's the beard that reminds me of him, but I feel like Chris Wilcox is ripe for the meme treatment. In the comments section, leave your best Chris Wilcox fact. I'll start:

LeBron James' hairline isn't receding. It's running away from Chris Wilcox.