RIP Bill Russell

[UPChip]

 

[Splendid Splinter]

****. Great player. Better human.

 

[heyabbott]

88 years of a life well lived is worth mourning and celebrating. A tremendous man who was still larger than life. I hope he and Red can smoke some good cigars together again.

 

[Webster]

The great Tommy Heinsohn quote: "Look, all I know is, the guy won two NCAA championships, 50-some college games in a row, the 1956 Olympics, then he came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a ****ing tunnel after Ted Williams."

 

[garrow]

RIP, legend

 

[Songbird]

Wish I could've seen him play.

 

[Scout]

His team played in 29 playoff series and lost two.

Jordan played in 37 and lost seven.

LeBron played in 50 and lost 11.

Never missed a playoffs, either.

RIP

 

[jr/shotglass]

Probably the most iconic athlete I ever met face to face, and it was back when I was 10.

A defender way ahead of his time, and the embodiment of a winner.

 

[wicked]

The great Tommy Heinsohn quote: "Look, all I know is, the guy won two NCAA championships, 50-some college games in a row, the 1956 Olympics, then he came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a ****ing tunnel after Ted Williams."

I’m glad the relationship between him and the city was somewhat repaired in the last 25 years, but the fact that it got to the point it did is an indictment on a lot of people.

RIP.

 

[cyclingwriter2]

Did just about everything on the basketball court, but sing the national anthem.

 

[heyabbott]

Did just about everything on the basketball court, but sing the national anthem.

Averaged over 20 rebounds a game for 10 straight seasons. And rebounding meant something then, control the boards you controlled the games. He averaged 20/20 in college. 11 straight years of finishing in the top 4 for MVP, winning 5.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Also was a player-head coach on one of the title teams, which sounds nuts today. RIP

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[HanSenSE]

Also was a player-head coach on one of the title teams, which sounds nuts today. RIP

The last two, IIRC. Went on to do color on ABC (wasn't he Gifford's partner on the 1972 Olympic gold medal game?), do a talk show in LA, and should I really mention his stint as GM of the Kings?

 

[wicked]

Globe obit:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07...ill-russell-towering-champion-boston-dies-88/

 

[heyabbott]

Between 1959 and 1967, inclusive, his team never lost a playoff series.

 

[Tarheel316]

The great Tommy Heinsohn quote: "Look, all I know is, the guy won two NCAA championships, 50-some college games in a row, the 1956 Olympics, then he came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a ****ing tunnel after Ted Williams."

The greatest player ever. No question about it.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The greatest player ever. No question about it.

I grew up in Philly area as a Wilt fan and you are absolutely correct.

 

[HanSenSE]

 

[FileNotFound]

It’s this simple for me: The Celtics started winning when Russell arrived, and they stopped winning when he left. His greatness is as unarguable as Jordan’s and James’s.