Bill Russell passed. Normally a good time to switch to radio and hear about his local legacy--Russell was raised in
Oakland.
No dice.
The local TV News was devoid of any real
Russell-Oakland roots--only that he died and barely scant attention to his Oaktown upbringing via high school, (Mack) and college (USF)--he was more than a great
NBA Hall of Famer with the
Boston Celtics--he won 11 championships in a 13-season career, but he was often outspoken on social issues and race relations in the US. Which no doubt affected his professional life, on and off the court.
Russell didn't care.
He was perceived as being a difficult person and often times moody and complex. Only if you didn't know him.
I saw Russell once at the Kings X bar in Oakland and he was having a beer--must have been twenty years ago and he was pleasant and cordial. It was a quick encounter --nothing lengthy but he smiled and seemed like a nice man and not what I've always heard.
A complex guy? Of course. Interesting, provocutive, and unique too? Absolutely.
Bill Russell was a class act. Loved his announcing on the ABC Game of the Week back in the ‘70’s.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I was in Cooperstown 10 years ago and our waitress at the bar also worked at the hotel on the lake. She worked at the hotel during HOF induction weekend. I asked who was the nicest ball player she met at the hotel. She said Frank Robinson. He would make sure all of the older HOFers were comfortable and taken care of. He was also a generous tipper. The worst she said was an ex-catcher from Cincinnati.
Frank Robinson and Bill Russell both went to McClymonds HS in Oakland. They played on the same HS basketball team. RIP Bill Russell & Frank Robinson.
DeleteAnother great HOFer and Mack alum; Oakland's own Paul Silas, the greatest rebounder in NBA history.
DeleteThanks for the post, Rich.
ReplyDeleteBill Russell was a remarkable player, and a remarkable man in so many respects. Thoughtful, intelligent, very funny; gregarious at times, and pensive and serious at other times. A true basketball pioneer and sage, and an activist, who cared about sports, people, and the world. Like many, especially in his era, he endured yet nobly persevered beyond egregious indignities. His passing should receive due attention, locally (in the Bay Area, and in Boston) and nationally, and not just in the sporting context.
A footnote: last night, I had an impulse to watch an old Jerry West highlight on YouTube. Bill Russell was the television analysis, on that particular broadcast. Russell "called' the play and result, accurately, before it materialized. That caused me to hearken back, to Russell's wonderful knowledge, work, life, and presence. Funny how many times I've heard similar accounts: where a person will think of a noteworthy individual, right before that noteworthy individual passes.
Bill Russell's passing received much attention on the local news in Boston. WCVB devoted the first 10 minutes of its 11:00 newscast to Russell's passing and the impact he had both on and off the court. The sports report mostly consisted of Bill Russell stories. The Sunday night post-news Sportscenter 5 Extra program devoted two thirds of the broadcast to Bill Russell.
ReplyDeleteI expect both Boston sports talk stations, WBZ-FM and WEEI-FM, will have their regular hosts talking about Bill Russell on Monday.
Thanks for that info, 9:21.
DeleteBack in 1998 I took my dad to lunch at Lois the Pie Queen. He was going to meet some of his fellow 60-year old buddies. I was supposed to just drop him off...run errands..and then come back to get him. But they all persuaded me to stay. "I'll buy you lunch...and pie," said one of them. That did it for me--I stayed! I soon noticed seated not far away was an elderly tall black guy, by himself, who kept looking at our table--probably because my dad and his three buddies were having a good ol' time...and were loudly talking about their beloved Oakland Raiders. I then realized, "Holy crap, that's Bill Russell!" He soon got up to leave...but one of my dad's gregarious buddies and who recognized him got up to day hi. "THis guy is the all-time greatest!" "The PRIDE of McClymonds!" Etc... just heaping praise on Russell.
ReplyDeleteHe smiled and said, thanks. But then my dad's buddy said to him, "Mr. Russell, this young man here (pointing to me) says Shaquille O'Neal is better than you. I tell him he's crazy!" I was about to have a heart attack (because I never said that! LOL). Russell pulls up a chair and says, "Oh, REALLY now?? For the next 20-minutes he and my dad & his buddies were talking old-time NBA. Russell couldn't have been any nicer or talkative ("Young fella, I would steal his lunch money!" He then excused himself and said he had to go. As he left, he says to me, "young fella, About Mr. Shaquille O'Neal. Remember this: Eleven rings!" My dad's buddy chimed in, "and two NCAA titles!" Everyone laughed...and he left. My dad is gone now. But I'll always remember this day at Lois'.
That was a nice story, thanks for sharing !!
DeleteThat was one of the most wonderful stories I've read in a long time. The Bay Area was a special place "back in the day" and I'm proud to say I came of age here when we actually thought we could get along and make the world a better place.
DeleteWhen he spoke...You listened.............jf
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to do a long one-on-one interview with Russell years ago at a charity event. He was in a good mood that night, and talked extensively about his many battles with Wilt and Warriors’ great Nate Thurmond. Russell said Thurmond was the toughest defender he ever faced. He also spoke about his activism in the Civil Rights Movement and how he thought Boston was the most racist town in America. Russell was treated terribly while playing there and the lowly NHL Bruins consistently outdrew the Celtics for much of the 1960s. Fascinating man.
ReplyDeleteOne of the stations in Reno had a good story about him and his Oaktown roots.
ReplyDeleteI so hope future generations remember him. We are a disposable culture and no attention span. His work off the court is more important than on. If we cant agree on US History, I see h going tbe way of Dr. Charles Drew, Paul Robeson, Fannie Lou Hamer. Rest in Power Mr. Russell!!
ReplyDeletemiller doesent say ''the game is over'', he just lets it hang until you deduce its over by the park annoucer in background.you also dont remember who was at the plate-unbelieveable.tom tolbert also inundates his show with that circular constant talk.nothing you can sa but ,''yuh huh, yeah yeah'' like copeland.
ReplyDeleteBill Russell was an enigmatic figure to some; blunt, aloof and uncompromising in his views. But he was respected and attacked racism and injustice head on. If you caught him on the right day, he might reveal some pretty strong opinions and observations. On the court, his matchups with Wilt and standouts such as Nate ‘The Great’ Thurmond of the Warriors were mesmerizing. He once said that the challenges he faced going up against Chamberlain were daunting, but that Thurmond was the toughest defender he had to deal with.
ReplyDelete