OT: - Legend Bill Russell Dead at 88 | The Boneyard

OT: Legend Bill Russell Dead at 88

AmeriConn

AmeriConn

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Not many NBA games on TV back then but on an occasional Sunday I loved watching
Russell and the Celtics take on Philly with Wilt. Russell maybe 6'10" and slender...Wilt maybe 7'2" and NOT slender.

Kareem's sky hook was great...Bill's soft lefty hook wasn't bad at all.
 
Blakeon18 said:
Not many NBA games on TV back then but on an occasional Sunday I loved watching
Russell and the Celtics take on Philly with Wilt. Russell maybe 6'10" and slender...Wilt maybe 7'2" and NOT slender.

Kareem's sky hook was great...Bill's soft lefty hook wasn't bad at all.
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My first NBA game was Celts vs 76ers at old Boston Garden. Unfortunately, you had to sit sideways to see the court from those seats.
 
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I can still remember watching, or more often listening, to a game and knowing that when the last two minutes were coming, and Bill was still in the game (he used his fouls), that he would always do something to help win the game. He never was a high scorer, but when it was needed he just found a way to make something happen. I remember too, teammates would say before a game: "Hey we're OK Bill's in the toilet thowing up... He's ready!" Legend. The greatest winner ever! RIP Mr. Russell.
 
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Growing up in the 60's, Bill Russell and the Celtics were like gods to me. Bill was an inspiration and the ultimate winner. He eschewed scoring points for defense, rebounding, and team ball - and like he said "My teams won with my style of play and philosophy". And boy, did they ever: 11 titles in 13 years. In the fall of 1962 he and the rest of the Celtics came to our high school and played a pre season game - that was a thrill. I so wish we had decent cameras back then...! In 1972 he did an interview with Don Gillis of Channel 5 where he shared some life advice. What he said that day resonated with me, and Bill's observance about life turned out to be the final piece of inspiration that I needed going forward. I followed my heart and moved across country to pursue my dreams- and did it ever work out. I have thought about that moment many times since, and have always thanked Bill Russell quietly to myself so many times. Thank you Bill for everything, for your heart, desire, fierce winning style and for your life advice....and I'm sure I'm not the only one in your debt.
 
Scud49 said:
Growing up in the 60's, Bill Russell and the Celtics were like gods to me. Bill was an inspiration and the ultimate winner. He eschewed scoring points for defense, rebounding, and team ball - and like he said "My teams won with my style of play and philosophy". And boy, did they ever: 11 titles in 13 years. In the fall of 1962 he and the rest of the Celtics came to our high school and played a pre season game - that was a thrill. I so wish we had decent cameras back then...! In 1972 he did an interview with Don Gillis of Channel 5 where he shared some life advice. What he said that day resonated with me, and Bill's observance about life turned out to be the final piece of inspiration that I needed going forward. I followed my heart and moved across country to pursue my dreams- and did it ever work out. I have thought about that moment many times since, and have always thanked Bill Russell quietly to myself so many times. Thank you Bill for everything, for your heart, desire, fierce winning style and for your life advice....and I'm sure I'm not the only one in your debt.
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Thank you for sharing Scud!
 
I always remember watching a TV game he was coaching the Celts and UConn great but never an NBA factor, Celt end of bencher Toby Kimball was in near the end of a rout. He was fouled and clanked both with Russell laughing in the background.
 
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As a kid, loved watching Wilt vs. Bill. Classic games, in black and white! A great read is the Last Pass….highlights the Cousy and Russell Celtics. One of Cousy’s big regrets is that he didn’t do more to help Russell deal with life in Boston. Had to wear low, black Cons because that’s what he wore!
 
AmeriConn said:
These 2 legends will soon meet up again.

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Two legends together again. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Russell. I was standing right behind him in line at Johnny Mathis concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas about 20 years ago. He was very nice and cordial.

I just said hello and that I was a fan and left it at that. I didn't try and talk the poor man to death (I don't get star struck when I see/meet celebrities). He was with a group of other people that I'm sure he would have rather conversed with. RIP Bill Russell. I hope I see 88.
 
JJTB said:
As a kid, loved watching Wilt vs. Bill. Classic games, in black and white! A great read is the Last Pass….highlights the Cousy and Russell Celtics. One of Cousy’s big regrets is that he didn’t do more to help Russell deal with life in Boston. Had to wear low, black Cons because that’s what he wore!
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Yeah.....................back when there were only 8 NBA teams. There are 30 now.
 
JJTB said:
As a kid, loved watching Wilt vs. Bill. Classic games, in black and white! A great read is the Last Pass….highlights the Cousy and Russell Celtics. One of Cousy’s big regrets is that he didn’t do more to help Russell deal with life in Boston. Had to wear low, black Cons because that’s what he wore!
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Wilt, when asked who were the players that he hated to play against most, he said Bill Russell and Nate Thurmond (Golden State Warriors). :cool:
 
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Carnac said:
Two legends together again. I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Russell. I was standing right behind him in line at Johnny Mathis concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas about 20 years ago. He was very nice and cordial.

I just said hello and that I was a fan and left it at that. I didn't try and talk the poor man to death (I don't get star struck when I see/meet celebrities). He was with a group of other people that I'm sure he would have rather conversed with. RIP Bill Russell. I hope I see 88.
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Had the pleasure of playing behind his foursome at a golf tournament. He and Sam Jones, and I think John Bagley… and don’t remember the 4th. Awesome memory.
 
cohenzone said:
I always remember watching a TV game he was coaching the Celts and UConn great but never an NBA factor, Celt end of bencher Toby Kimball was in near the end of a rout. He was fouled and clanked both with Russell laughing in the background.
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Yup, that sounds right, 'Russ' loved to laugh, and he had a memorable one!

As for Kimball, he averaged about 10 rebounds per game for his first few seasons, but a knee injury kept him from ever becoming an impact pro player.

By the way, cohenzone, Toby shot just 57 percent from the foul line for his career, but Russell was even worse at 56 percent. Perhaps Bill was laughing from the memory of his own many clanks?

RIP, Bill. You were a great player and, by all accounts I know of, a great guy.
 
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Russell’s incredible career average of 22.45 rebounds per game is second only to Chamberlain’s 22.89. When you consider that Wilt had 5” and 55 lbs on Russell you can make a case that Russell was the greatest rebounder in the history of basketball.
 
oldude said:
Russell’s incredible career average of 22.45 rebounds per game is second only to Chamberlain’s 22.89. When you consider that Wilt had 5” and 55 lbs on Russell you can make a case that Russell was the greatest rebounder in the history of basketball.
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I don't think there is any question about it. He also invented and then perfected the art of starting a fast break with a block to a teammate.
 
!0 and 0 in Game 7s. 11 rings, 8 in a row. The only interruption other than 1958 was the powerhouse 76ers team in 67 with Wilt, Lucius Jackson, Walker, Cunningham, Jones and Greer. He was the greatest team player in the history of sport. He was also one of the best analysts the NBA has ever seen with perhaps only Hubie Brown being in his company. Russell knew exactly what a team would do in a given situation.

It's a shame he never had a really talented team to coach except his Celtics. The first black coach in the NBA, he did it first as a player coach without any assistant coaches who had not been invented at the time. The Celtics won two of three titles when he was the player coach including the incredible last dance when they beat the Lakers in LA and West was named MVP, the only time a player from a losing team was named. He transformed the sport and few athletes are so influential that they have a synergistic effect on society as well. Many, many coaches and players have stood on his shoulders and many, many more will continue to do so in the future. Sunday afternoon Wilt against Russell was just iconic.
 
EdSaid said:
Mr. Russell is at the very top all by himself. No one, from any sport, can match him.
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Like it or not, like him or not, HE set the standard if you judge “ALL TIME” greatness by the number of championships won.

I remember Magic Johnson saying that when a player retires, the only thing people are going to remember about you is how many championships you won. :cool:
 
Back in the day when Johnny Carson took time off, substitute guest hosts came on and were generally forced and dull (with the exception of Joan Rivers). Bill Russell was guest host and moved the show right along and was truly entertaining. RIP Bill Russell, stil the GOAT!
 
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