Anyone else happy that Bill Russell is being Appreciated more?

[obarth]

what does being an assistant coach have to do with the NBA not telling its pre-1980 story properly?

Not only that, but if you go through the top 50 list of players before 1980, you will notice a lot of guys arent anywhere near the NBA game at the moment.



i have no idea what any of this means with my point about the NBA not telling its story properly.

I'd agree baseball does a better job of telling its legend's stories

I never disagreed with you. My point had nothing to do with the one you're laboring at the moment. If you disagree that NBA legends are a visible and integrated part of the NBA community then we can talk about that but I addressed your point before you even made it. And a lot of the players before 1980 are currently old as shyt; mostly in their 60's-80s. They all were welcomed by and many participated in the NBA in different capacities after their retirement. And a lot of legends went and did their political/business thing.

 

[Johnny Kilroy]

He's the anti-Kobe. A Celtic who was a team player and didn't shoot every time he touched the ball.

 

[mitter]

I think Russell has always been around though. I haven't seen any noticeable shift over the last decade.


Russell was a color commentator for CBS in the 70s and 80s. And if you watch old games from the 80s and 90s, there have been lots of times Russell was in the audience (and oftentimes he'd be interviewed). Also, Russell's never been shy about talking to the media or accepting recognition from the NBA. He's written several books as well.

So he's always been around.



If anything, I think other stars from his era and a bit later have been shunned. Nobody really mentioned Oscar Robertson until LeBron's emergence as the first player since Oscar to put up comparable stat lines. Oscar is no longer ignored (mainly because of LeBron and the modern obsession with triple-doubles). However, nobody talks about Elgin Baylor to this day, and he was one of the most important players in history. Modern basketball at the defensive end began with Russell. But modern basketball at the offensive end began with Elgin Baylor.

 

[mastermind]

I think Russell has always been around though. I haven't seen any noticeable shift over the last decade.


Russell was a color commentator for CBS in the 70s and 80s. And if you watch old games from the 80s and 90s, there have been lots of times Russell was in the audience (and oftentimes he'd be interviewed). Also, Russell's never been shy about talking to the media or accepting recognition from the NBA. He's written several books as well.

So he's always been around.



If anything, I think other stars from his era and a bit later have been shunned. Nobody really mentioned Oscar Robertson until LeBron's emergence as the first player since Oscar to put up comparable stat lines. Oscar is no longer ignored (mainly because of LeBron and the modern obsession with triple-doubles). However, nobody talks about Elgin Baylor to this day, and he was one of the most important players in history. Modern basketball at the defensive end began with Russell. But modern basketball at the offensive end began with Elgin Baylor.

Maybe I am just noticing it, but Russell has been in a lot of commercials over the last few year and been profiled a lot more than I remember.

 

[mitter]

Maybe I am just noticing it, but Russell has been in a lot of commercials over the last few year and been profiled a lot more than I remember.

Maybe


I think of all the old-timers though, Russell has always had the most visibility


I remember when Shaq came in the league, he filmed a commercial with former great centers (Wilt, Kareem, Walton, Russell) and Russell had the most prominent role.



I don't think he was ever neglected, but maybe with him pushing 80 years of age there's been a renewed demand to see him in the spotlight as the NBA's grand old man.

 

[mastermind]

I don't think he was ever neglected, but maybe with him pushing 80 years of age there's been a renewed demand to see him in the spotlight as the NBA's grand old man.

I think that may be it.

And I agree with you about Elgin Baylor, Gus Johnson, Walt Bellamy, and others from that time period who get no love. The NBA does a shytty job of that.


PS. Welcome back.

 

[Easy-E]

11 championship, No Foams or Air Nothings;

Yes. I love listening to his stories about my team he played well before my time so its like a history lesson. Its cool and his attitude is always great.

He needs to shave that white and grey hair off his neck/throught though it irks me.

When I'm that old; I'm not even gonna own shaving cream

That's how I'm tryin' go out

 

[Luke Cage]

i like how russel straight up says he's better than all the centers playing today. I agree with him but i just expected him to be a little more political with it, let the youngins have their sign.

 

[superunknown23]

"I didn't play for Boston, I played for the Celtics.
Boston is a flea market of racism"
- Bill Russell

nikka was winning titles left and right but Boston folks didn't care. They actually hated him since he was very active in the Civil Rights movement. Fans broke into his house, put racist graffiti on the walls and defecated on his bed.
shyt was so bad, he didn't show up when they retired his jersey and also when he was inducted in the Hall of Fame.
In 1999, the Boston Globe did a poll about who was the greatest athlete of the 20th century in Boston... Ted Williams won in a landslide despite bringing zero championship to the city

 

[feelosofer]

Oscar Robertson gets no love.

It's funny you say that because I was listening to an interview with him a few weeks ago on ESPN radio which was pretty good, he was talking about the state of the NBA, the differences in the game now and back then, it was enlightening, and it was cool because I was just a couple of years to young to enjoy his greatness. It was around the time, KG and Melo had that beef.

That being said, it's good to see Bill Russell get more love, it bothered me the amount of disrespect dude got both here on the Coli and outside of it.

 

[FTBS]

The NBA started in 1979 and you know it.

Man I know he has got some stories. I would love to see a biopic. Cats like him and Jim Brown and Kareem and Ali warrant the ultimate

 

[KevCo]

Mr. Russell's House, February 18th, TNT, check it out errybody

make a thread so i dont forget that shyt haha

 

[William F. Russell]

"I didn't play for Boston, I played for the Celtics.
Boston is a flea market of racism"
- Bill Russell

nikka was winning titles left and right but Boston folks didn't care. They actually hated him since he was very active in the Civil Rights movement. Fans broke into his house, put racist graffiti on the walls and defecated on his bed.
shyt was so bad, he didn't show up when they retired his jersey and also when he was inducted in the Hall of Fame.
In 1999, the Boston Globe did a poll about who was the greatest athlete of the 20th century in Boston... Ted Williams won in a landslide despite bringing zero championship to the city

Excellent point.

Racism in Boston was at its worse during Russell's career.


Although to be fair, he's now the ONLY professional athlete to have a statue in Boston. His statue is in Faneuil Hall and there was a huge unveiling ceremony which he attended.


But for sure, the racial climate during his playing career definitely impacted (and still impacts) how his career is viewed and acknowledged.

 

[FaTaL]

Wilt was better

 

[William F. Russell]

Wilt was better

Not only did Wilt not win as much as Russell in individual and team accolades. Wilt was a mental midget and couldn't carry his team/deliver rings as the main guy, despite his superstar status. Moreover he was a selfish player who had a tendency to exaggerate his injuries and cower in clutch situations during the big games.

Sounds like eerily similar to a specific player in today's league