Bill Russell died today.

[The Frankish Reich]

Bill Russell was just a few years before my sports crazy kid time. I knew him mostly as a broadcaster, and I loved him in that role. Later I learned about him as a civil rights activist who was a true leader on and off the court. Giants truly walked the earth in those days. I didn't realize how great they were.

 

This tribute from Kareem is worth a read: https://kareem.substack.com/p/the-bill-russell-i-knew-for-60-years?fbclid=IwAR0wXLqq-P3-JmUg1pOmfkK0h7Z_pk4A808oFK5hfBiXQyYDgjS3D618qtE

 

Really. Even if you don't like Kareem. He's a very good writer, and a man (and basketball player) I think I misunderstood for a long time. A complicated, intelligent, three-dimensional man. Just like Russell. Just a quick glimpse of the article:

 

I first met Bill Russell in 1961, when I was a 14-year-old freshman at Power Memorial High School. I had just arrived at the school gym for team practice only to find the Boston Celtics practicing instead. I was surprised to see a professional team in our gym, especially the NBA champions for the last three seasons in a row. As I found out later, because our gym was only twelve blocks from Madison Square Garden and near to several hotels, we were convenient for teams to practice.

As I wandered into the gym, I saw, sitting casually on the bleacher bench reading The New York Times, Bill Russell. The Secretary of Defense himself. My personal hero.

I also saw my coach, Jack Donahue, chatting with the Celtics coach, Red Auerbach. Being naturally shy and unnaturally polite, I decided to head downstairs to the locker room and wait patiently until they were done. Maybe I could find a copy of the Times to read too.

“Lew, c’mere,” Coach Donahue called to me.

I gulped. Me?

I shuffled over to Coach Donahue, who introduced me to Coach Auerbach. Coach Auerbach gestured at Bill Russell. “Hey, Bill, c’mere. I want you to meet this kid.”

Bill Russell dipped down his newspaper and looked me over with a frown. Then he snorted. “I’m not getting up just to meet some kid.”

I shrank to about six inches tall. I just wanted to run straight home.

Auerbach chuckled. “Don’t let him get to you, kid. Sometimes he can be a real sourpuss.” He grabbed my wrist and walked me over to Russell.

“Bill, be nice. This is the kid who just might be the next you.”

Bill looked at me again, this time taking a little longer. I was already 7’, two inches taller than him.

I stuck out my hand. “How do you do, Mr. Russell. Pleasure to meet you.”

He didn’t smile, but his demeanor had softened, just a little. He shook my hand. “Yeah, yeah, kid.”

That’s how I met my childhood hero.

 

[BillsFan4]

It’s crazy to read about some of the stuff he went through. But it never changed him. Never made him bitter/angry. 

 

There’s a link to the full story of you click on the tweet.

[Rico]

On 8/3/2022 at 10:55 AM, BillsFan4 said:

It’s crazy to read about some of the stuff he went through. But it never changed him. Never made him bitter/angry. 

 

There’s a link to the full story of you click on the tweet.

Yet another reason to hate Boston.

[Buffalo716]

On 8/3/2022 at 10:55 AM, BillsFan4 said:

It’s crazy to read about some of the stuff he went through. But it never changed him. Never made him bitter/angry. 

 

There’s a link to the full story of you click on the tweet.

Even Lou Alcindor said he was not approachable when he was 16-17

Edited August 6, 2022 by Buffalo716

[Big Turk]

Could you imagine this happening today?

 

The only reason he was a Celtic and not a Rochester Royal is because Celtics' Coach Red Auerbach got the owner of the Celtics to promise the Rochester owner they would have a week long Ice Capades show in Rochester, since he also owned the Ice Capades, if he didn't take Russell, as the Celtics owned the 2nd pick.

 

Crazy how there was such little profit apparently in sporting leagues back then that seemed like a good deal.

 

At least all the shows sold out tho.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/31/bill-russell-winner-nba-history/

Edited August 11, 2022 by Big Turk