I watched a news segment this week that highlighted the life of William Felton Russell. Russell had just been inducted into the NBA Coaches Hall of Fame. Most of us remember him as Bill Russell – an American basketball player with the Boston Celtics. Bill overcame many obstacles. A great athlete but with no understanding of the game, he was cut from his Junior High basketball team and he nearly suffered the same fate as a freshman. His skills developed quickly and with a growth spurt and his dedicated work ethic, his team won back to back state high school championships. Russell’s unorthodox style earned him only one college scholarship offer and he quickly accepted the chance to attend University of San Francisco. Russell realized that basketball was his only chance to escape poverty and racism.
The coach at USF focused on defense and he was “unaffected” by the skin color of his players. Russell played with the great K. C. Jones and Hal Perry. He invented help defense and his play led to rule changes like widening the lane and, a bit later, basket interference became illegal. USF went on to win back to back National Titles in 1955-56 including a string of 65 wins in succession. While often exposed to racial slurs and overt discrimination and being overlooked for honors and recognition – Russell overcame. He said after being snubbed for an obviously deserved recognition, “that let me know that if I were to accept these as the final judges of my career, I would die a bitter old man.” The alternative “put the team first and foremost, and not worry about individual achievements.”
In his professional career he led Boston to 11 National Championships in 13 seasons. Russell was a 12 time All Star and earned 5 Most Valuable Player Awards. He became the first black head coach in 1966 while still playing the game at a high level. Under his leadership the Celtics earned two more NBA crowns. Russell is 6 foot 10 inches tall with a 7 foot 4 inch wing span, and he could jump. Competing in track and field at USF he was the seventh best high jumper in the world in 1956 clearing very close to his height and he ran a 49.6 second 440. He earned an Olympic Gold Medal with the US basketball team.
At the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony, President Obama spoke eloquently about Bill Russell the man, “he stood up for the rights and dignity of all men”. Russell’s story is the American dream. The founder’s vision gives each of us the opportunity to build a life, with liberty and justice for all. Individuals like Russell keep that dream alive.
Thanks to all of the American’s who voted for Biden. The focus on vaccinations has made our country safer and allows us to begin to build back better. We have plenty of daunting challenges ahead of us but as Joan Baez sang at the 1963 March on Washington, “We Shall Overcome.”
Enjoy the week end. Mike