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Basket ball legend Bill Russell has passed at age 88

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Shamrock92, Jul 31, 2022.

  1. Jul 31, 2022 at 2:00 PM
    #1
    Shamrock92

    Shamrock92 [OP] New Member

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

    Arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

    11 rings in an era when players didn’t “chase rings” and buddy up to try and win the championship. Bill Russell just went out there and played to win. The best player on a dynasty - he was also an incredible example of how an athlete should be off the court.

    He stood up for things he believed in during a turbulent time in US History. Standing with Kareem and Jim Brown alongside Muhammad Ali when he refused to be drafted. He led protest - but he led them respectfully and without the need to make himself bigger than the cause or making himself out to be some sort of martyr.

    The guy had a personality that was not always understood. He wasn’t brash like Ali, he wasn’t an all around people pleaser like Namath and he wasn’t one for the night life like Chamberlin. No - he was a basketball player first and foremost - in an era where basketball was not what it is today. No million dollar contracts, no flashy endorsement deals, no live broadcast of the games many times. Just fans reading how the C’s kept in winning and seeing a stat line led by Russell.

    He stayed around the game his entire life - seeking to maintain a positive influence on future generations and doing what he loved. Sometimes his demeanor was mistaken as being mean - but talk to those who called him friend and you got a different viewpoint. He seemed to maintain a sense about him to keep people at a distance - but once you were in - you saw a different man.

    RIP Bill - you will be missed and your contributions remembered.
     
  2. Jul 31, 2022 at 2:57 PM
    #2
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    We were very sad in our house when we learned of his passing. Bill Russell is one of my son’s favourite basketball role-models. Fine player and, by all accounts, a good human.
     
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  3. Aug 1, 2022 at 5:06 AM
    #3
    Shamrock92

    Shamrock92 [OP] New Member

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    Listening to the news this morning - Bill Russell played in 21 “winner take all” games between college/Olympics and the NBA - his record in those games - 21 and 0 !!

    Let that sink in for a minute - granted he was hard and shoulders above most anyone he faced in college and certainly the Olympics at the time. But NBA competition was certainly there and not as if the Celtics were alone in having more than 1 great on their team during the era.

    For all the talk of f MJ and his “will to win” - Russell was at least an equal there. Compare to some of the modern day stars and their record in these games. Guys chasing rings - but losing a 1/3 would be considered a “great” record and a clutch performer. He was the ultimate team player - in an era where he easily could have just taken over and posted even more eye popping stats. He elevated the guys surrounding him.
     
    WILLINH likes this.
  4. Aug 1, 2022 at 5:21 AM
    #4
    justfortun

    justfortun New Member

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    Heard this story on the drive in to work today.

    “When we first moved to the projects, my mother was getting everything together. I was sitting on the steps. And these 5 guys ran by. And one of them slapped me as they went by. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. I went and told my mother. And she said ‘What!’. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. And so she says ‘are these the guys?’. I say ‘yes ma’am’. I didn’t know what she was going to do. I thought she was going to take care of it. But the way she took care of it was; ‘okay, you’re going to fight every 1 of them. All 5 of them, 1 at a time’. Thanks, mom. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. We go back to our place and I’m crying. She says ‘don’t cry. You did what you’re supposed to do. Doesn’t matter whether you won or lost. What matters is you stood up for yourself. And that’s what you must always do. Stand up for yourself’. That day changed my whole attitude about… she says ‘I don’t want you to ever pick a fight, but always finish the fight you’re in’. And so that’s the kind of stuff I got from my mother.”

    -Bill Russell
     
  5. Aug 1, 2022 at 5:42 AM
    #5
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Definitely a NBA icon in every sense of the word. RIP
     
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  6. Aug 1, 2022 at 7:28 AM
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    mustangr2

    mustangr2 New Member

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  7. Aug 1, 2022 at 7:51 AM
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    Jim LE 1301

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