Dwight Howard Signed the Backboard

With a 38-inch vertical and a seven-foot-eight wingspan, Dwight Howard can do some pretty amazing things. You've seen those pictures of him kissing the rim, right? That's not the half of it. From the Orlando Sentinel:

There is a spot on the very top of a backboard at the RDV Sportplex -- almost 3 feet above the rim -- where Dwight Howard signed his autograph during a single jump. Although the penmanship is shaky, the feat speaks volumes.

The rest of the article talks about Howard's status as one of the league's premier rebounders -- not just this year, but dating back to the days of Chamberlain and Russell. He's leading the league with 12.7 boards per game this year and was just two-tenths of a rebound shy of tying Kevin Garnett for the rebounding title last year.

The real beauty, of course, is that rebounding is just part of his game, as his offensive skills are improving every day. Here he is taking Ben Wallace, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, behind the woodshed in the first game of the year: