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SouthBayDem

(31,961 posts)
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 01:38 PM Jul 2022

Boston Celtics great Bill Russell, 11-time NBA champion, dies at 88

Source: ESPN

Bill Russell, the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics' dynasty that won eight straight titles and 11 overall during his career, died Sunday. The Hall of Famer was 88.

Russell died "peacefully" with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, a statement posted on social media said. Arrangements for his memorial service will be announced soon, the statement said.

"But for all the winning, Bill's understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippi's first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans' assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom ... Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change," the statement read.

"Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you'll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill's uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6."

Read more: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34323568/boston-celtics-great-bill-russell-11-nba-champion-dies-88

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Boston Celtics great Bill Russell, 11-time NBA champion, dies at 88 (Original Post) SouthBayDem Jul 2022 OP
Any lists of the G.O.A.T.s for basketball tht does not have Bill Russel on it is no good. Botany Jul 2022 #1
He was a good as it gets. patphil Jul 2022 #4
yup Botany Jul 2022 #5
He was a great man G2theD Jul 2022 #2
Bill Russell, the all time, all sport GOAT. RIP #6! As a Boston area kid, it was a thrill KPN Jul 2022 #3
Not only an amazing athlete an amazing leader. bottomofthehill Jul 2022 #6
A good article about his outstanding life, from today's Boston Globe TheRickles Jul 2022 #7
Always had to listen when he talked. RIP twodogsbarking Jul 2022 #8
R.I.P. Bill Russell. gademocrat7 Jul 2022 #9
Godspeed Bill. You were the best at everything you did. Tommymac Jul 2022 #10
Great basketball player. Great sense of humor. BMW2020RT Jul 2022 #11
May Bill Russell Rest in Peace and May His Memory be a Blessing. iluvtennis Jul 2022 #12
I've been a fan of Bill and the Celtics BHDem53 Jul 2022 #13
Inspirational MaryMagdaline Jul 2022 #14
And a great San Francisco Don. jalan48 Jul 2022 #15
Great basketball player. sinkingfeeling Jul 2022 #16
I grew up watching him and the Celtics.... turbinetree Jul 2022 #17
Damn! He was my Dad's favorite - both as a player and as a commentator Rhiannon12866 Jul 2022 #18
Broke my heart many times as a kid exboyfil Aug 2022 #19
What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? His daughter writes: mahatmakanejeeves Aug 2022 #20
This Lakers fan raises her glass in tribute IngridsLittleAngel Aug 2022 #21

Botany

(70,291 posts)
1. Any lists of the G.O.A.T.s for basketball tht does not have Bill Russel on it is no good.
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 01:52 PM
Jul 2022

You can have your LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe, Bird, and now Curry but was the man.

KPN

(15,587 posts)
3. Bill Russell, the all time, all sport GOAT. RIP #6! As a Boston area kid, it was a thrill
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 02:05 PM
Jul 2022

watching you play and lead the Celtics to all those wins those many years. You will be missed sir.

bottomofthehill

(8,261 posts)
6. Not only an amazing athlete an amazing leader.
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 03:01 PM
Jul 2022

He knew how to make his teams better. A life well lived, a good man. Peace to you Bill Russell

iluvtennis

(19,757 posts)
12. May Bill Russell Rest in Peace and May His Memory be a Blessing.
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 05:46 PM
Jul 2022

Basketball LEGEND and a G.O.A.T, activist, and humanitarian.

BHDem53

(1,059 posts)
13. I've been a fan of Bill and the Celtics
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 06:08 PM
Jul 2022

since watching them on our little black and white television in the mid Sixties. He's still my all time favorite player. His battles with Wilt were epic. Thank you and rest in peace, Mr. Russell.

MaryMagdaline

(6,849 posts)
14. Inspirational
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 06:26 PM
Jul 2022

I remember watching an interview of Bill Russell when I was about 10. He said that he always threw up before games. This made me feel a lot better about pre-game and pre-test anxiety. I no longer felt that anxiety was a sign of being a loser - that winners could feel just as anxious.

Years later I learned that Bill Russell and his daughter both suffered from sarcoidosis, a disease that took down my husband. I know how hard it was for him to breath every day of his life.

Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
18. Damn! He was my Dad's favorite - both as a player and as a commentator
Sun Jul 31, 2022, 11:05 PM
Jul 2022

I still remember my Dad laughing over his colorful comments! Truly one of a kind and arguably the greatest!



exboyfil

(17,857 posts)
19. Broke my heart many times as a kid
Mon Aug 1, 2022, 12:16 AM
Aug 2022

Lakers fan here. Bill Russell was simply a winner with so much grace. RIP and thanks for the memories.

mahatmakanejeeves

(56,890 posts)
20. What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? His daughter writes:
Mon Aug 1, 2022, 03:48 PM
Aug 2022
Donny Ferguson Retweeted

What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? His daughter writes:



 

IngridsLittleAngel

(1,962 posts)
21. This Lakers fan raises her glass in tribute
Wed Aug 3, 2022, 02:30 AM
Aug 2022

Last edited Wed Aug 3, 2022, 10:31 AM - Edit history (1)

That was the take of both myself and my dad when the heartbreaking news broke. Both of us are lifelong Lakers fans. Nothing makes us grind our teeth like green and white...

And yet, both of us have always had pure admiration and respect and love for Bill Russell.

Whether it was his tenacity, his will to win, his doing whatever it took to make his team better... There was only one Bill Russell, and holy hell, was he special on the court. When you can dominate a game without scoring a single point... There are few in history that could do so. "Any knucklehead can score...." I heard that once. But when you take over the game without scoring? Now that's amazing.

Even more impressive was his life, his heart, his soul, what he did off the court. A constant voice for justice and human rights. So many people thought it was just "black rights"... But I'll never forget him a number of years ago, being asked "Would a gay player have been welcome on your Celtics?" As he said, as he said Red Auerbach would've said... "Can he play? Then yes, he belongs here."

He inspired me on the court... He inspired me 10,000 times more off the court. I know I am not alone there.

He truly was a big man at 6'10"... Even bigger was his heart and spirit.

When fans of your rival team salute you, you know you're special.

Rest in power, Russ... And know you were loved, even by us Lakers fans. Thank you for being you.

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