bill russell family life
He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. [email protected], Other Works Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. 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. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Watch out, Pettit. He helped start the National Basketball Players Association. His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. MARTIN: Exactly. 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. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. 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But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. The couple divorced in 1973. POLLARD: Well, I was approached by Ross Greenberg, who used to be the president of HBO Sports, about two years ago to get involved with the film as a director. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. He was represented by Russell Spielman, Manager and Booking Agent, GSE Worldwide, Melville, Long Island, New York, United States. 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. He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. Celtics's all-time leading rebounder (21,620, 22.5 rpg) in 963 games; second best in history. In 1956 Red Auerbachthe Celtics head coach and general managertargeted Russell in the NBA draft, seeing the solution to his teams shortcomings. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. This story was shared by Bill Russell and he discusses the first day of moving into new projects. - IMDb Mini Biography By: BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. POLLARD: Yeah, because I think most people see him just as a great sports figure, a legend on the basketball court, and really didn't really dig into how complex his life was off the court. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. 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. 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. And I hope that one day, in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man.. 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. 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). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Rose Swisher and Bill Russell had three children, daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr and Jacob. 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. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). President Barack Obama at about 6-foot-2, a taller-than-average individual had to stretch a bit when draping the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Russells neck in 2011, even after Russell crouched down to accommodate the moment. Bill Russell had a delayed emergence. After his death he was interred in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA. But above all else, Russell was basketballs ultimate winner. 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. Why do you think it is that that part of his life doesn't seem to have gotten the same kind of attention as other athlete activists like the ones that you named, like Jim Brown, like people who - or even, gosh, even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who's thankfully still with us. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. Coon. 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. POLLARD: Yeah, I hope that they walk away understanding that he was not only a great basketball player, but he was also a great man and a complicated man. Cass Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief of BroBible. She married BillRussell in 1977. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named I mean, you've won so many accolades. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. The two who were previous friends were now very distant. Have something to tell us about this article? In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. He left for a road trip and his garbage cans got turned over. That day changed my whole attitude about she says I dont want you to ever pick a fight, but always finish the fight youre in. Jon Jones Reacts To Islam Makhachev Declaring Himself The Best Fighter In The World, Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To ESPN/UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Thirsting Over Him In Viral Video, Jon Jones First Shirtless Pic At Heavyweight Before UFC 285 Goes Viral, Ja Morants Lawyer, Agent Threaten Legal Recourse For Defamatory Report From The Washington Post, Another Glitch In The Matrix Has Occurred As A Bird Is Filmed Motionless In Mid-Air, Bengals Exec Sends Harsh Wake-Up Call To Teams Sniffing Around Tee Higgins. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. The ball went up, and Bob Pettit of the Hawks and I jumped for it. | He was 88. Russell was only eight years old when the family moved to Oakland and one of the first things his mother ensured he had was a library card. They were together from 1956 to 1973. It seems weird that there hasn't been this kind of full feature-length treatment until now, given the impact that he had. And these 5 guys ran by. Be the first one to comment on this story. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. POLLARD: Well, first of all, he was a very angry guy about that. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. Official Sites. If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, please dont hesitate to contact us. Bill Russells Mom Changed His Life Forever By Making Him Fight 5 Guys In The Projects To Learn A Lesson. Frustratingly, his sheer basketball excellence made his actions not only excusable for fans but tolerated in a way that bordered on dismissive. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. WebWilliam "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. She says dont cry. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Copyright 2023 NPR. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. 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. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. Accuracy and availability may vary. This intensity not only paid off in the Olympics, and in college, but it would have an immediate impact in the NBA. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He supported Muhammad Ali when the fighter refused to go to Vietnam. So did Russell. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. Omissions? He was 88 years old. Bill Russell Wiki/Biography. Thanks, mom. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. And so she says are these the guys?. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. So why did you want to do this film and why now? The following season, Russell earned the NBA MVP award and helped the Celtics to another NBA final which they lost. So I think he wasn't just - he wasn't as vocal and he didn't have as much exposure as they did. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human The comedy centered on a family in Harlem and addressed both the political and generational conflicts of the time. And there was no hesitation on my part because I grew up in the '60s. Like, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson, you know, the abuse that was directed at him. Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. William Felton Russell was born on the 12th February 1934 to Mr Charles Russell and Mrs Kutie Russell. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. When Auerbach retired after the Celtics won the 196566 NBA title, Russell succeeded him as coach. In 2005, Russell recorded bankruptcy after investing an estimated amount of $250,000 to finance a rubber plantation project in Liberia. And thats what you must always do. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. What happened to Lil Durk at Lollapalooza 2022? But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. There were things you might take away from Bill Russell and say, wow, you know, for him to have - hold this grudge against Wilt Chamberlain for so many years. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. 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. Bill was only nine years old at the time. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Russell is a resident of Mercer Island, Washington where he stays with his wife. He marched in Mississippi after the slaying of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. He would return and defeat the Sixers in 1968, in a hotly contested Conference Final series, and easily defeat the Lakers in the Finals. We don't remember a lot of the abuse that he had to put up with earlier in his career. 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. His draft rights were traded by the Hawks to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and. 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. 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}}. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. 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. Took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969 was. To him, publicist, legal and political analyst, as well: well, I was 9 old...: well, I was 9 years old at the time of his death he was n't -. For most rebounds in a way that bordered on dismissive the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2011 ( inaugural )! Over as a player releasing on a rush deadline by an npr contractor we certainly know the! 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They did much scoring, but it would have an immediate impact in the projects looking for those guys!