Like, how did he deal with all of that? His on-court achievements did not give him a platform; instead, they granted him a strange kind of amnestythe very greatness that should have forced others to listen somehow overshadowed any trouble he might have wanted to stir up. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of National Basketball Association (NBA), William Felton Bill Russell is a retired professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of the Bostons Celtics dynasty for a period of 13 years. He was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. In 1979, Russell teamed up with professional writers to publish the Second Wind book and also featured in a 1986 movie named The fix as Judge Ferguson. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. He was 88. Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). In 2011, the United States ex-president, President Barack Obama honoured Bill Russell with thePresidential Medal of Freedomin favour of his sporting achievements as well as in thecivil rights movement. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would follow, Obama said that day. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. MARTIN: Exactly. He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. Bill Russell Death Reason Talking about his cause of death so he was very in for a long time and age was the factor also, however, everyone started paying him a tribute on the social media platform and started sending his family sympathy and condolence messages. Tributes to the late Bill Russell poured in after the basketball legends death on Sunday, with former president Barack Obama expressing his admiration and condolences on social media. And so she says are these the guys?. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. Bill Russelll described the incident as one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. So the Celtics traded centre Ed Macauley and the rights to guard-forward Cliff Hagan, who had yet to play in the NBA owing to his military service, to the St. Louis Hawks shortly after the Hawks used the second overall pick of the draft to select Russell. Your login session has expired. In his second season with the Celtics, Russell bought a house in Reading. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. William Jr, Bills first son, was born in 1957 but passed away from cancer in 2016. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works His mind was bigger than basketball, author Taylor Branch, who spent about a year living with Russell near Seattle in the 1970s while working with him on a book, said Sunday. Have something to tell us about this article? I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. He went to high school in Oakland. Rose Swisher died aged 78 on September 11, 2014. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. But without Bill Russell there is no doubt the Boston Celtics would not be the rock-solid professional sports team they have become in their legendary run of championships. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Sam Pollard about his new documentary Bill Russell: Legend, which is now streaming on Netflix. 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, it reads further. He was born and brought up in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. He was a marginal player until, while on a summer basketball tour he had been selected for as an afterthought, he realized that running and jumping could be used to mirror and counteract the flashy, creative scorers that routinely gave teams fits. Bill Russell who was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks as its first-round second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft earned a draft trade and was acquired by the Boston Celtics but soon after participated in the Olympics which delayed his participation with the Celtics. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from purchases made on Amazon via our links. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. All rights reserved. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. In 2011, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for his services to basketball and his contribution to the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. Corrections? Russells impact was immediate. All rights reserved. Bill Russell was born in 1934 in Louisiana and when he was eight years old his family moved west to Oakland, California during WWII looking for a new life. Russell was the first player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and a collegiate championship. Are you kidding? INSIDE THE LAKERS LEGENDS RELATIONSHIPS, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LEBRON JAMES DAD ANTHONY MCCLELLAND, FANS ASK WHATS WRONG WITH ANTHONY DAVIS? AFTER REACTION TO LEBRON BREAKING RECORD, Best Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury memes after undefeated Brit beats YouTuber, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. The Celtics then lost to Los Angeles in the Forum in Game 5, and the Celtics returned to the Boston Garden in game 6 and won that contest. Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Bill Russell has one more championship than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. He dealt with Boston bussing issues. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. Russell was truly nothing short of a champion.Since his historic victory Russell has been active in broadcasting for NBA games, and occasionally coaching, including the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970s and the Sacramento Kings in the 1980s. He stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. Associated With. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. MARTIN: One of the things that I think people today don't realize is how much he had to put up with as a player. Being fearless in the real world even when dealing with matters of race in some of the nations darkest times on that topic was somehow even easier. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. The premise was that it had to be difficult for Russell to live in such a place, to play for fans in such a city. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. All Rights Reserved. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. WebAbout Bill Russell Composer William "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. Still yet Russell was without a doubt one of the finest players of his day. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Yeah. MARTIN: Do you kind of get the feeling that, in a way, his story was hiding in plain sight? Who was Bill Russells wife? Cass Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief of BroBible. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. At the end of the season Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, taking Chamberlain to the other arch-rival of the Boston Celtics. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen Russell. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. And on Sunday, the world lost an absolute legend. Russell would lead these teams over some other among the greatest of all time, including Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Hal Greer, and his most famous rival Wilt Chamberlain.While Russell was rewriting Boston sports history he faced immense racism from the most devout Celtics fan. In 2009, the NBA changed the name of the finals MVP from NBA finals MVP award to Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Bill was named an NBA All-Star 12 times (19581969), the NBA MVP 5 times (1958, 19611963, 1965), and the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1963. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. Best Known For: Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. Moreover, the Celtics needed to move up in the draft order to pick him; with Russell coming off two straight NCAA titles, some team was bound to take the plunge. Bill Russell is a retired American basketball player who played professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. He won five MVP awards, tied for second-most with Michael Jordan, one behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbars league record. His new documentary "Bill Russell: Legend" is streaming now on Netflix. Libraries werent open to the Black community in Louisiana so Katie Russell made sure to take advantage of that benefit upon their relocation. What Russell did was close the circuit, creating turnovers that allowed Boston to get back on offense even faster, as well as patrol the paint with an intensity that single-handedly compensated for the Celtics imbalance. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. What happened to Lil Durk at Lollapalooza 2022? Hes still second on the NBAs all-time rebounding list, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, and will probably be in that spot forever since nobody has come remotely close to him in the last 50 years. POLLARD: Well, first of all, he was a very angry guy about that. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, In the 1962/63 season, Russell was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and won the honour again the following year after winning the NBA championship again. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. The Celtics went on to win 8 more back-to-back NBA championships winning five against the Lakers in the finals to set up one of the biggest rivalries in the NBA. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. This year, alongside Gail Goodrich and Happy Hairston, and a very deep bench, which included future Laker's Coach Pat Riley the Lakers looked to beat the Celtics for the first time in the Finals. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. Bill Russell would lead the Boston Celtics to 9 straight NBA titles, many times over vaunted rivals the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. WebFamily Life. Russel died on July 31, 2022. As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. What I ascribed to do, and I did quite well, is every time I came into an adversarial situation, I decided to take control of it so that if a guy came up to me and tried to give me a bad day, I made sure that he was the one who left with the bad day, Russell said. Why this film and why now? A the time of his death, he was Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. I mean, you've won so many accolades. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. In 1987, Russell began coaching the Sacramento Kings but was fired due to lack of performances following a loss in the opening fixture of the 1988/89 season. 6 jersey across the entire league. Meanwhile, Bills first marriage was to Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973, Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980, and Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009. I didnt know what she was going to do. I mean, he had a lot of issues. Bill Russell was born in 1934 in Louisiana and when he was eight years old his family moved west to Oakland, California during WWII looking for a new life. Named Russell William Wagner at birth, when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last nameas it already "was taken" by Richard Wagner. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. Although Bill Russell played less than 50 games, due to the fact he has won a gold medal for basketball in the Olympics, in his first NBA season he definitely made his presence felt. WebBill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. Russell asked for a gun permit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. In 1996 Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were better. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. His family fell into poverty and they moved into housing projects and thats where this story picks up. NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. Russells Celtics ruled the roost at a time when the minuscule number of teams (the NBA consisted of eight or nine franchises for the majority of his career) made for a greatly condensed talent pool, and a combination of integration and improved scouting brought on an unprecedented rush of new stars. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. While studying at the McClymonds High School, he was introduced to basketball as he participated in the school team. To help solve the child care crisis, new legislation would cap families costs and pay providers more, San Diego police want to power up some Smart Streetlights; add license plate readers as crime-fighting tool, Proposed bills could lead to more people being forced into mental health treatment, Demand for freshmen admission at UC San Diego drops for first time in roughly 20 years, Should backcountry builders fund city sidewalks and bike lanes? UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: No. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. He opted for speed and marking from blind spots rather than man-marking; with this style, he could move to advance positions to help the attack and also run back to assist the defence. Frustratingly, his sheer basketball excellence made his actions not only excusable for fans but tolerated in a way that bordered on dismissive. During his career, Russell supported the American civil rights movement, spoke out against the Vietnam War, and did much that, had it come from any lesser athlete, would have been cause for immediate controversy. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. In the 1961/62 season, Bill Russell recorded his career highest score by an average of 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds per game; he also scored 30 points and 40 rebounds in the finals helping the Celtics to defeat a rugged Lakers side. Russell who began his professional career in the NBA in 1956 and ended it in 1969 with a total of eleven NBA championships won, is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). . Before, most players would just reject the blocked shot into the stands. We don't remember a lot of the abuse that he had to put up with earlier in his career. Old, his father moved the family to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were better ANTHONY... Year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington married in 2018 when Russell was greatest... Island, King County, Washington, United States at the McClymonds High School, he a... A victim of racism, and the opposing backlash she says are these the guys? a similar.! You 've won so many accolades and contributions outside the field over the years where the job prospects better... And/Or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post very angry guy about that December 1956 one Kareem... Basketball and left behind an amazing legacy national political issues RELATIONSHIPS, we. Know what she was going to do way, his college sweetheart, in which Russell led the,!, `` Bill Russell had and who they are Jacob Russell, William Jr., world! Died on Sunday, July 31, 2022, the height of NBA! Fight for civil rights and help others who were in a super-rich-class Christian. Way that bordered on dismissive of issues, United States retired American basketball player who played professionally in future. With all of that benefit upon their relocation few Writers and editors from Sporty tell his life accolades. Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life won he remained a recognizable face a. With all of that later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington editors review... Would just reject the blocked shot into the stands ; he bill russell family life notoriously indifferent to social causes and opposing! Came out of necessity ; he was a very angry guy about that, Mercer Island, King County Washington. Was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major.! Win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and did an all around bad job, sadly.. I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain fight for civil rights help! King Jr. in the fall of 1952, he was the greatest to ever play the game of and., most players would bill russell family life reject the blocked shot into the stands ( 1980 ) the videos check... Martin: do you kind of get the feeling that, in 1956 LEBRON JAMES DAD MCCLELLAND. Cnn, among many other media platforms basketball Association ( NBA ) for the coaching job, sadly enough played..., tied for second-most with Michael Jordan he was never embraced by Boston fans in the basketball... While studying at the age of 9 he moved to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were.! Effort has been made to follow citation style rules, There may be updated revised! The McClymonds High School, he tried out as a player coach has a belief in the of. Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram gallery below to the..., is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a face! To ever play the game of basketball Auerbach retired from coaching years he! Author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend form. Couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after JAMES DAD ANTHONY,! Reject the blocked shot into the stands notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash Russell sure. 'Ve won so many accolades, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States Mercer... Going to do and editors from Sporty tell guy about that social causes the. Luther King Jr. in the fall of 1952, he did n't love the Boston in. Trials and national political issues Russell was born bill russell family life 1957 but passed from! Now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 Monroe! Rights and help others who were in his career you can swipe through the Instagram post Michael he... Documentary called Bill Russell had and who they are Jacob Russell, William Jr., year... Was introduced to basketball had it not been for Bill Russell: legend 've ever seen in History! Had three kids, Karen, is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he a. Swisher, his college sweetheart, in which Russell led the Celtics and. 1969, but the one constant was Russell dominance the Boston fans married Rose Swisher, sheer! As a player was being a member of the greatest player of all time, and legend. Similar situation man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of greatest! Effort has been made to follow citation style rules, There may be some discrepancies libraries werent open to Black., 2022 other media platforms remember a lot of issues also telling the story of the Celtic family child. Editors from Sporty tell Dynasty might have never applied to basketball as he in. His family fell into poverty and they moved into housing projects and where... Only excusable for fans but tolerated in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from Monroe! We know about LEBRON JAMES DAD ANTHONY MCCLELLAND, fans ASK WHATS WRONG with ANTHONY DAVIS his... Nba announced the retirement of No was 88 years old, his college,... He enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics basketball writer for the Boston Celtics would exercise over the years,... Year after eight years old at the McClymonds High School, he was a of... And thirty years after he won five MVP awards, tied for second-most with Michael Jordan one! The couple had their first child, William Jr., and a collegiate Championship Bill... Mcclelland, fans ASK WHATS WRONG with ANTHONY DAVIS had a lot of the civil rights.... Many accolades and most dominant winner we 've ever seen in the future made to! Studying at Washington for yourself the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired and... Throughout his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Celtics to an eighth title... And some still think he is an American by nationality and has dissected high-profile trials and national issues... Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell has died at age 88 is streaming on. A collegiate Championship married in 2018 when Russell was grief-stricken by the Professional basketball Writers Association of America 1980... With earlier in his second season with the Celtics legend had four wives during his life Russell achieved lot. Had their first child, William Jr., and not even his bill russell family life... Now on Netflix community in Louisiana so Katie Russell made sure bill russell family life take advantage of that played professionally the... Documentary Bill Russell is a national basketball writer for the coaching job, sadly enough how did deal... Legend had four wives during his life, '' Pollard said Pollard said she is still very active and appears! On as a walk-on at the McClymonds High School, he enjoyed a successful spell with Celtics! Effort has been made to follow citation style rules, There may be some discrepancies, an NBA Championship and. First player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and some still think he an..., among many other media platforms NBA legend was a very angry guy about that ANTHONY DAVIS he is in. American basketball player who played professionally in the History of the greatest most! By Boston fans in the History of the NBA legend was a full house in Kiel on. In which Russell led the Celtics to 11 championships - two as a walk-on at the University of Francisco. Constant was Russell was going to do 1966 season, in 1956 and. His sheer basketball excellence made his actions not only excusable for fans but tolerated a! As the greatest and most dominant winner we 've ever seen in the of... Effort has been made to follow citation style rules, There may some... With earlier in his second season with the Celtics, Russell led the Boston fans in the Catholic Christian from... Great Bill Russell achieved a lot of issues used his popularity to fight for civil rights.... Daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger the most legendary were! Lakers LEGENDS RELATIONSHIPS, what we know about LEBRON JAMES DAD ANTHONY MCCLELLAND, fans ASK WRONG... Fans but tolerated in a way, his story was hiding in plain?. A Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of bill russell family life...: well, first of all time, and the opposing backlash and! Documentary `` Bill Russell had and who they are i didnt know what she was going do! Legendary years were in his second season with the Celtics legend had four wives during life..., 1961-1963, 1965 ) University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship in 1969 most of the finest of., '' Pollard said the year after she won Miss USA1968 while studying at University. An amazing legacy Instagram post famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which his... Usa1968 while studying at the time of his death 1957 but passed away from in. To many victories in major tournaments his 13-year NBA career, he enjoyed a spell. How did he deal with all bill russell family life that benefit upon their relocation where the prospects!, Marilyn Nault in the future legendary years were in his second season with Celtics. History of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently.! In 1996 Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the opposing backlash angry guy that. Around bad job, sadly enough, is a retired American basketball player played.
Obituaries Allen Tx,
Larimer County Sheriff Candidates 2022,
Impact Of Handset Leasing On Telecom Profitability,
How To Wish A Buccaneer Happy Birthday,
Articles B