Rest peacefully to the great Bill Russell. All he’s done for the game and the world can not be quantified or justified in an article, but just look at the love trending on social media today. The lord of the rings and a social justice champion. A true gentleman with grace as contagious as that unmistakable laugh.
Bill Russell passed away this weekend at the grand age of 88. He left behind a legacy like no other. Playing for the storied Boston Celtics during the entirety of his 13 year career. And that was lucky for the Irish, as he won 11 rings to become the greatest winner in the history of team sports. Think about it, he won it all in all but two of his seasons in the league.
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird.
You can’t talk about the greatest of the GOAT’s without talking about Bill. Carved in Mount Rushmore.
And what’s more, he made civil rights history and became the first black coach in the NBA. A player/coach too. The first black coach to win a championship. Some are saying today that his number 6 should be retired across the whole of the NBA, like a Jackie Robinson 42 in the MLB. We couldn’t agree more. He was a leader, not just on the court, but off it, in a time when he had his back against the ropes.
He was booed in Boston. But they were just green with envy. This was a man who brought almost as many rings as Red. Close to the cigar. The Celtics don’t become the storied franchise they are today without their outstanding opening, classic chapter.
The Marhershala Ali Oscar winning movie ‘Green Book’ retells a heartbreaking story when the Celtics won the championship behind Russell…yet he wasn’t allowed to dine with them after.
This reminds us of all too many stories like this we wish we could forget, but should never. Like Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel not being invited to the premiere of ‘Gone With The Wind’. A movie she’d later make history with by becoming the first African-American to win an Oscar.
We actually lost two groundbreaking, game changers today when it comes to blitzing barriers. Rest in peace to ‘Star Trek’ star Nichelle Nichols. Who showed us she was out of this world and ahead of her time when it came to equality.
Fans used to throw things at Bill Russell on the court. But number six carried all that with him and used it as fuel. Putting that passion in his game to defy all the odds and those opposed.
Today, tells a different story. I was fortunate enough to see the man himself in the flesh as he and his legendary Celtics team were honoured at halftime in Boston, about a half decade or so ago. As camera phones went up like lighters at a roaring concert, I couldn’t tell if it was my hands that were shaking, or the whole foundation of the Garden.
He faced giants of the game and blocked them all. He did and could do everything too. Yet, he knew Sam Jones was the best shooter. Bob Cousy, the greatest passer. So he passed on all of that to focus on his area of expertise. Rebounding and those signature swats.
His classic cackle akin to a Dikembe Mutombo finger-wag. Legendary like pointing to each of Deke, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Alonzo Mourning at the first NBA award show and whispering that he would “kick (their) ass!” Or flipping the bird at Charles Barkley.
Recently, he entered the Hall of Fame as a coach. A place he already stood as a player. One of the 75 best players in National Basketball Association history was also a Olympic and NCAA champion.
If that wasn’t enough, he assisted the beginning of the National Basketball Players Association. Pioneering for a better way for the league’s employees and talent. The ones that sell seats, but were often sold short.
Five times a most valuable player. Second only behind Kareem. Tied with who else but God himself, Michael Jordan.
He never won a Finals MVP though. Why? Because it hadn’t been invented back then. Now the award is named after him and made in his likeness.
That’s legacy.
But how about legend?
He was in the crowd for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s world changing and life affirming, “I have a dream” speech. He stood with King too as a vital part of the civil rights movement. Marching in Mississippi and standing with Muhammed Ali’s refusal to fight in Vietnam at the Cleveland Summit with Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, amongst others.
This and countless other reasons are why Barack Obama honoured him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Because what he did on and off the court freed so many more.
And now he can rest, for what he gave the world never will.
