RIP Bill Russell

[Tarheel316]

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

I still think about the 1969 finals, game 7 at the Forum. Jack Kent Cooke had thousands of balloons up in the rafters for the postgame celebration. Russell told Jerry West before the game, “those ****ing balloons are staying up there.”

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I still think about the 1969 finals, game 7 at the Forum. Jack Kent Cooke had thousands of balloons up in the rafters for the postgame celebration. Russell told Jerry West before the game, “those ****ing balloons are staying up there.”

If anyone had known that Russell had made up his mind that was his last game, it would have been taken off the board by every bookie on earth.

 

[HanSenSE]

The rivalry between Russell and Chamberlain was quite intense. When Chamberlain signed his $100K contract, a few days later Russell signed one for $100,001.

 

[BTExpress]

In that 1969 Game 7, Lakers outrebounded the Celtics by 20, had 10 more assists and shot 16 more free throws.

Way to go, Butch van Breda Kolff.

I still think about the 1969 finals, game 7 at the Forum. Jack Kent Cooke had thousands of balloons up in the rafters for the postgame celebration. Russell told Jerry West before the game, “those ****ing balloons are staying up there.”

And then West went into the Celtics' locker room after the game, ripped the trophy from Red's arms and threw it against the wall.

"Winning Time," Celtics edition.

 

[Scout]

Globe obit:

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

Jesus

From that story…
Celtics coach Red Auerbach, whose club had never made an NBA final,

 

[heyabbott]

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.

His only competition for The Greatest is Kareem. He may be the greatest defensive player in history and the greatest rounder ever to play, though Wilt averaged almost half a rebound more per game, they are #1 & 2 at 22+ a game. 3rd place is 6 less per game.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Saw a stat on twitter. Russell played in 10 NBA Game 7s. Won 'em all. In those games, he played 488 of 495 minutes.

 

[justgladtobehere]

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."

Ted Williams trained pilots in WW2 and flew next to John Glenn in Korea. He was one of the greatest hitters ever, a great pilot, and a great fisherman. He deserves everything he got.

 

[heyabbott]

Ted Williams trained pilots in WW2 and flew next to John Glenn in Korea. He was one of the greatest hitters ever, a great pilot, and a great fisherman. He deserves everything he got.

I think Heinsohn was criticizing Boston’s failure to properly honor Russell, not criticizing Williams. It was less than 10 years ago that Russell got a statue in Boston.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It is an undeniable fact that almost all of Boston's greatest athletes have left the place and spent the rest of their lives elsewhere upon retirement, starting with Williams. Yaz, Russell, Bird, Pedro all followed suit and of course so will Brady. Oh, they come back for the plaudits and anniversaries, but they don't live around here. Bobby Orr is the one exception. He lives in a very nice golf community on Cape Cod.

 

[exmediahack]

Plus he married a reigning Miss USA the second time around. True Hall of Famer.

 

[DanOregon]

Two reads worth checking out. His book "Second Wind." and the Deford piece.

Bill Russell helped the Celtics rule their sport as no team ever has

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

Holy crap.

 

[heyabbott]

Holy crap.

Only in Boston

 

[Jake from State Farm]

There was a great story during the 80s that I think the LA Times did
Went into Roxbury and interviewed folks about the Finals and found out nearly everyone was rooting for the Lakers
As for Russell, I was a Wilt fan so I didn’t really appreciate him until I got older

 

[wicked]

There was a great story during the 80s that I think the LA Times did
Went into Roxbury and interviewed folks about the Finals and found out nearly everyone was rooting for the Lakers

A lot of the suburban fans only liked the non-threatening black guys, like M.L. Carr waving his towel around.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Anyone remember when he guest hosted SNL and was in a parody of The White Shadow?

 

[OscarMadison]

RIP, Man.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Anyone remember when he guest hosted SNL and was in a parody of The White Shadow?

Yes.

 

[MileHigh]

Never saw him play, but I grew up Purple and Gold but came to respect him despite the daggers and hearts he butchered, especially the Game 7 balloons game, that led to a pure hatred for the leprechauns.

Unbelievable career. Even bigger life.

From the Globe obit: “The Yankees won 26 championships. What did it take them, 100 years?”

RIP.