RIP Bill Russell

moondog80

heart is two sizes two small
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Sep 20, 2005
8,093
Cant find a link but just got a notification that Bill Russell passed away in his sleep. Drag.
 

Dahabenzapple2

Mr. McGuire / Axl's Counter
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Jun 20, 2011
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RIP, sir

lot of tears flowing for this one

my late mom used to love his laugh

she worked for the Celtics & Bruins team doctor in the early 60’s. Starting with Red, she said they were *all* simply the best. But no one moreso than Russell.

although John Bucyk was her favorite

she was the greatest Celtics fan I knew and coming up on 2 years of her passing also at 88, this is a tough one
 

mauidano

Mai Tais for everyone!
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Aug 21, 2006
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Incredibly sad. Always inevitable and at 88 not a surprise. Still this is going to hurt for awhile. So many of his contemporaries and team mates are falling. Very sad.
 

PedroKsBambino

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You can argue Jordan is a better player and Babe Ruth a bigger icon. You can argue Gretzky had more impact. But the undeniable reality is Bill Russell is the greatest winner in the history of team sports and until they change the purpose of playing the game he will stand alone in my book - they take the field/court/ice to win and he did it more than anyone who has ever lived.
 

koufax32

He'll cry if he wants to...
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Dec 8, 2006
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Russell, Brady, Berra, and Richard are the Mt. Rushmore of winners.
You can argue Jordan is a better player and Babe Ruth a bigger icon. You can argue Gretzky had more impact. But the undeniable reality is Bill Russell is the greatest winner in the history of team sports and until they change the purpose of playing the game he will stand alone in my book - they take the field/court/ice to win and he did it more than anyone who has ever lived.
From the ESPN story:


Over a 15-year period, beginning with his junior year at the University of San Francisco, Russell had the most remarkable career of any player in the history of team sports. At USF, he was a two time All-American, won two straight NCAA championships and led the team to 55 consecutive wins. And he won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics.

During his 13 years in Boston, he carried the Celtics to the NBA Finals 12 times, winning the championship 11 times. The one year the Celtics lost, in 1958 to the St. Louis Hawks, Russell suffered a severe ankle sprain during the series. He missed two games and was limited in the Game 6 clincher for the Hawks.
 

Bozo Texino

still hates Dave Kerpen
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I'm not a C's fan, but I'm sitting here crying. I'm not sure why - maybe because I'm thinking about how much my dad admired him, maybe because I'm thinking about all of the things Russell had to go through.

Though small in number, there were better players. But I don't think anyone was greater.
 
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Beomoose

is insoxicated
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May 28, 2006
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Exiled
Winningest winner ever, and an even better person. We were so incredibly fortunate to cheer for him, on and off the court.

This hurts.
 

sezwho

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Jul 20, 2005
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Isle of Plum
Winningest winner ever, and an even better person. We were so incredibly fortunate to cheer for him, on and off the court.

This hurts.
Goodbye to the greatest winner in team sports, and to a man who left in impact so far beyond the court.

Hurts.
 

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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“Second Wind” is a wonderful memoir, right up there with Ken Dryden’s as the very best by an athlete. Highly recommended.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

has fancy plans, and pants to match
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Apr 12, 2001
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Bill Russell was so much more than sports. He should be one of the athletes that are discussed in history classes. His civil rights stance, how he helped all people and his sporting achievements.

The guy never didn’t do the right even. Especially when it wasn’t easy. He was a champion sportsman, but even more so he was a champion human being.

RIP BR.
 

bakahump

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Never saw him play but I remember him calling games with that goofy ass laugh. Still I am sad. Way too sad.

The world would be a better place, maybe a perfect place, if we were all like Bill Russell.
 

coremiller

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Jul 14, 2005
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Not only is Russell the greatest winner ever, and not only was he perhaps an even better person than an athlete, but one of the most remarkable things about Russell is that he was a great winner in part because was a great person (obviously of course his outrageous athletic gifts helped too). His teams were great because he cared nothing about individual glory and cared only about how he could elevate the collective, how he could connect with his teammates both as athletes and human beings to bring out the best of all of them together. I don't think there's ever been another elite athlete quite like him in that respect.
 

jmcc5400

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Sep 29, 2000
5,203
A champion on and, more importantly, off the floor. A privilege that he was one of ours. Rest in peace, Bill.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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This one really hurts. Found out now via news (tv or radio) or from people I know but by total strangers and as a third party/hearsay

RIP William
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
51,289
Greatest winner in sports while undoubtedly dealing with a mountain of racism.

We were lucky to have him. And by we I mean everyone but especially the Celtics fans among us who forever have that legacy to hold onto.

There are about a million great/funny/heartfelt clips going around right now on social media, I recommend spending some time catching as many as you can.
 

54thMA

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Aug 15, 2012
10,154
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As others have said, this one stings.

A lot.

My Mom called me a short time ago with the news, her voice cracked a couple of times.

Damn.

My Dad loved him, he used to do a lot of details at the old garden, his cousin was head of garden security, so my Dad got to know a lot of the Celtics and Bruins in the 60's through the 90's, of all the athletes he met, the two he admired most were Russell and Orr, my Dad said they were both great athletes but even better people, Russell especially, always called my Dad by his first name whenever he saw him, my Dad referred to him as "Mr. Russell", then one day Bill said to him "Chris, it's ok to call me Bill" and my Dad said "I respect you immensely, to me you will always be Mr. Russell".................my Dad told me he gave him a look that he'll never forget and replied "Thank you for that Chris. Ok, then, Mr. Russell it is."

I met him once thanks to my Dad, Bill said to me "Your Dad always took good care of me in my playing days, he's a special man, you should be proud to call him Dad."

Holy smokes is the room getting dusty.

My Dad loved his laugh among other things, my Dad also had a laugh that would fill a room.

I'd be willing to bet the two of them are up in heaven now laughing and hugging.

R.I.P "Mr. Russell"