Bill Russell is the Man!

[n2doc]

A tweeted photo of Bill Russell kneeling while wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom surfaced Monday in an apparent gesture of solidarity to the sports world's reaction to President Donald Trump's recent comments regarding NFL players.

A solemn-faced Russell, bearing his trademark white goatee and crew cut, is shown bent to the floor in what appears to be the beige-carpeted room of a home, balanced on his right arm with his other arm resting on his thigh, looking intently into the camera in a light-blue T-shirt and khaki slacks.

"Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice," the photo's caption reads, followed by the hashtags #takeaknee #medaloffreedom #NFL #BillRussell #MSNBC.

Dangling from his neck is the Presidential Medal of Freedom he was awarded by President Barack Obama in 2011. The Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor.

more
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20821673/bill-russell-takes-knee-presidential-medal-freedom-twitter-photo

[panader0]

1. Years ago, when he was still playing, my mom met him on a flight.

They played bridge--she said he was a very good player, and a very
gentle man.

[grantcart]

10. He is a brilliant man

[spanone]

2. Thanks Bill! K&R...

[HelenWheels]

7. Jackie Robinson did not support Mohammed Ali

He made a statement Ali was ungrateful for his success. He did not support Ali's stance against fighting in the Vietnam war/

[BumRushDaShow]

18. "Robinson was the man who broke the color barrier. One of the hugest steps forward in sports."

That was just for baseball... And mainly because it had been considered "the national pastime" (obviously not anymore) as in "Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet".

Before him you had Jack Johnson, Jesse Owens, and even Paul Robeson.

There's an excellent editorial/article that was published yesterday that sortof sums it up -

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2017/9/25/16356568/jackie-robinson-integration-civil-rights-movement-jesse-owens-sean-doolittle-bruce-maxwell-racism

[MrPurple]

20. Jackie Robinson was of his era, I don't personally fault him for that

He moved the ball forward and took an emotional beating for it. I don't fault him that a part of him was influenced by the society he lived in and he didn't stand with Ali at the time. The Nation of Islam had some unsavory aspects to it (they killed Malcolm X), but Ali's stance was also courageous. Life is complex.

[malaise]

4. Beautiful

Thank you Bill Russell

[longship]

5. What a beautiful man!

He rolled 18 on charisma.



R&

[mountain grammy]

6. much love to Bill Russell

[Scurrilous]

8. K&R

[iluvtennis]

9. Love it and love the fact it is with the presidential medal of honor on his neck!

[Gothmog]

11. Yeah for Bill Russel

[raven mad]

12. DU needs an "I LOVE THIS" button!

Isn't he an amazing man?

[Jakes Progress]

13. Yet another man that trump

couldn't hope to even clean his shoes.

Our president is a tiny, tiny person. Russell is a giant.

[BHDem53]

14. Still fighting just

as he did during his playing days. He was my favorite player as a kid. His battles with Chamberlain are classic.

[elleng]

16. Always HAS been the MAN!

[Johnyawl]

17. Bill Russell has always been the man!

I had season tickets to the Sonics when he was the coach here. If you haven't read his books, treat yourself, he's extraordinarily smart and witty.

[MrPurple]

19. 11 championship rings in 13 years and two of them are clearly on his middle fingers

[bluescribbler]

21. Bill was THE MAN when he was playing for USF, and has been THE MAN ever since

I had the privilege of watching him play when I was a young sprout, and I cannot recall a more inspiring player. The only man who comes close to Bill's accomplishments would be his teammate, Sam Jones, who only won TEN championship rings.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. K&R! Bill Russell is awesome!

I used to watch basketball with my Dad and Bill Russell was his favorite player...

[coeur_de_lion]

23. The Cheeto is not defeating this country. Not. At. All.

The NFL totally kicked his ass this week.

I am a football fan for the first time in my life.

[Zen Democrat]

24. Bill Russell has always been the man.

[oasis]

25. One of the greatest Americans of our time. nt

[Lotusflower70]

26. That's fantastic

I absolutely love it.

[MyNameGoesHere]

27. Great man.

I just wish he would have figured he would have looked much better in a purple, gold and white uniform.