Wow, so many youngsters.
Chuck Norris was the white, American version of Bruce lee. Though in enter the dragon I think it was had a lot of hype because if was gonna be chuck Norris vs bruce lee. He was also on Walker Texas Ranger, a very popular show from what I hear.
But since it's bruce lee's movie and chuck had huge respect for him he lost. In reality he would have lost too. But when we as Americans learned his inferiority to bruce this whole, "him doing the impossible" trend started.
But also remember this is the 70's-80 where in America whites felt they had to be better at everything than other races.