She has done a lot of activist work, and her articles can be found in the New York Times Magazine, HuffPost, and many other publications. That same year, in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a deal with the St. Louis Hawks and traded for the draft rights to the young center. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Your login session has expired. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. And he became a major star at USF, went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Australia and then got drafted by the Celtics in '57. He was born and brought up in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. His marriage with Rose produced 3 children of which one, Karen Russell is a renowned television pundit and lawyer. So why did you want to do this film and why now? 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. One of the first players to utilize the blocked shot as a weapon. There, his father initially worked as a truck driver and Bill Russell lost his mother at the age of 12. Only Russell remained of the fabled Boston Celtics, except for the emerging superstar John Havlichek, and aging star Sam Jones. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. And finally today, we know it's all about football today, it being Super Bowl Sunday and all, but we're going to talk basketball for a minute to hear about one of the icons of that sport - Bill Russell. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. Coon. Go back to Africa, you baboon. The Greatest Food Debates Of All Time, Answered Pineapple On Pizza? This intensity not only paid off in the Olympics, and in college, but it would have an immediate impact in the NBA. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Russell, Academy of Achievement - Biography of Bill Russell, Bill Russell - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), The great Bill Russell remembered at NBA All-Star weekend. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. So how did he deal with it? He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with the Boston Celtics, and he became the first African American coach of a modern major professional sports team in the United States when he was named the player-coach of the Celtics in 1966. | He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell, the great Boston Celtics center who died last summer at the age of 88, cuts a singular figure in the American sports firmament. 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 also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. In his second season with the Celtics, Russell bought a house in Reading. 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. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. And so she says are these the guys?. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009. After his death he was interred in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA. While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. And I think maybe it's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. He helped start the National Basketball Players Association. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). 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. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. However, they divorced in 1973. He was represented by Russell Spielman, Manager and Booking Agent, GSE Worldwide, Melville, Long Island, New York, United States. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." WebFamily Life. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. Due to malnutrition as a child, Russell was a lightweight player but built an exclusive manner of play as a centre to help the defence. Shedding light on his life achievements outside basketball, the statement read: But for all the winning, Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. Full Article. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), American basketball player who was the first outstanding defensive centre in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the sports greatest icons. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with You know, one night, they came back to this house. During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. Russell immediately made an impact by improving the Celtics defence with his shot-blocking talent. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. He was assaulted by a group of guys that ran by. It was a treasure for me to be around Bill and see how he viewed the world in all of its dimensions.. His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). He dealt with Boston bussing issues. Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before starting his pro career with the Boston Celtics in 1956. Why this film and why now? Thats what I did, Russell said in 2009. He was a man who grew up in Monroe, La., moved to Oakland with his family when he was a young, young man in his pre-teens. And thats what you must always do. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. For the first time in the Bill Russell- Wilt Chamberlain rivalry Chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the Celtics, although many contend that the Celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. Granted, it was in part because no one could deal with the moody Russell except Russell himself, but it still made him the first African American coach in NBA history, as well as the first to win a title when Boston took the 196768 championship. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! All rights reserved. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. But we learned that, you know, he had a very interesting life and complicated life off the court. The couple divorced in 1973. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. After his retirement, he served as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (197377) and the Sacramento Kings (198788), served as a commentator on television broadcasts of NBA games, and continued to remain active in social causes. His draft rights were traded by the Hawks to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and. 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. He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippis first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. 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. WebBill Russell Legend on DVD - Both Episodes The life and career of Hall of Fame NBA player Bill Russell is celebrated in the documentary Bill Russel: Legend. On the court, Russell was a force to be reckoned with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. 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. Before he won 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards before he won two national championships in After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. Never turned the trash cans over again.. Bill Russelll described the incident as one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Dorothy Catherine Anstett was born on June 28, 1947, and was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. He shares all three of his children with his first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, whom he divorced in 1973. This was the first All-Star weekend since the death of 11-time champion, Hall of Fame player and Hall of Fame coach Bill Russell. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. It was, however, a milestone made possible by Russells performance and larger significance. Never Have I Ever: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_N99x0gAAk/hqdefault.jpg. Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. In the History of professional sports there has never been an athlete who has more accolades or championships, in other words Bill Russell was not only a champion, but he was perhaps the definition of a champion. He received as much as $100,001 annually, plus an extra $25,000 as a player-coach. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. 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. He didn't love Boston. You'll get covered with chocolate. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. Who was Bill Russells wife? The Celtics who were supposedly way past their prime were led by Bill Russell to their eleventh championship, they were only the third team to repeat a championship, the first were the Minneapolis Lakers, and the second were the Boston Celtics. 15 Episodes of Seinfeld That Teach Everything You Need To Know About Life, Read more sports articles on BroBible right here, 5-time NBA MVP Bill Russell shared a story from his childhood that he says changed his life forever, It took place right when he and his mother moved to the projects and he was attacked by a stranger, his mother then took charge of the situation. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called Rose. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics On joining the Celtics during the mid-season, he made his professional debut against the St. Louis Hawks. He brought a defensive style of play and led his side to the playoffs, the first in their franchise history. Do you know what I mean? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. Somebody had broken in and defecated on the family bed and made - you know, wrote things on the wall and on his garage door. She attended theUniversity of Washingtonwhere she majored in English but later found fame as a beauty queen and pageant titleholder. Supervisors explore ways to offset vehicle traffic from new rural housing, Column: Padres offense inspires bright forecasts as Petco Parks worst clouds have lifted, Opinion: Converting Californias empty office buildings to apartments and condos is a great idea. And these 5 guys ran by. By the end of his career, however, Russell himself had come to see the turmoil of the 1960s as far more important than the silly little game he played for a living. However, he still performed well as a player the following season and led the team to yet another NBA championship title. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. Or expensive cars with souped-up sound systems so he could blare the music of Laura Nyro, Janis Ian, or Crosby, Stills and Nash some of his favorites. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. And she said What!. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. Bill was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, having won 11 championships during the course of his thirteen-year career. On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. In 2005, Russell recorded bankruptcy after investing an estimated amount of $250,000 to finance a rubber plantation project in Liberia. Russell, while no behemoth, was tall enough to make his high school team on height alone. Bill Russell attended the University of San-Francisco and played on the school team presumably due to his height advantage. 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. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. Over the years, Russells approach became the teams overall philosophy as athletic players who saw defense as a means to key the fast break were introduced into the roster. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Bill Russell, Birth Year: 1934, Birth date: February 12, 1934, Birth State: Louisiana, Birth City: Monroe, Birth Country: United States. He was born in rural Louisiana. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side, his family wrote. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Without Chamberlain and an injured Jerry West, it was not enough to defeat the Celtics, who won by only two points.Russell later said Chamberlain was week, and should have demanded to go back into the game. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). 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. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. In school, he was a natural track star and led his high school basketball team to consecutive state titles. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. The world has many of them. Take away all the on-court accomplishments, and Russell still lived a life. He was 88 years old. He would return and defeat the Sixers in 1968, in a hotly contested Conference Final series, and easily defeat the Lakers in the Finals. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. And, you know, for me as a filmmaker, that gave me an opportunity to dig into Bill Russell's life, which was much more complicated than most people know, and that he was not only a great player on the court, but he was a very important human and civil rights activist off the court, too. This is probably my favorite Bill Russell highlight that I can think of. MARTIN: Which, again, it just seems interesting that we don't necessarily put him in the same breath as those other kind of prominent athlete activists, you know, like Muhammad Ali. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast At the international level, he had captained the United States to the Gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 Then came the proving ground of Boston. Copyright 2023 NPR. She is still alive today. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969). Russell was married three times. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. The Celtics won a title in his rookie year, and he became the leagues first African American superstar, though not its first Black player (who was Earl Lloyd in 1956). Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. Now the incident is under review. We go back to our place and Im crying. The family of Bill Russell announced that he passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. Universally recognized as one of the most accomplished athletes in professional sports history, NBA legend Bill Russell died Sunday. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. She married BillRussell in 1977. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress.
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