Saturday, August 10, 2024

Bill Russell: The Greatest Basketball Player In History

 

Bill Russell

The Greatest Basketball Player In History

Belongs to the Ages

Bill Russell, who was one of my childhood heroes passed away today at the age of 88. Russell was arguably the greatest NBA basketball player in history, and certainly the winningest having been an 11 time NBA champion. 


Russell was also the first black basketball player in the NBA and was a major role model. Nick Gould discovered this superb photos of Russell, rocking his yellow gold Rolex Day-Date.


I will never forget, when I was a kid (more than 40 years ago), Bill Russell was interviewed on 60 Minutes, but Morley Safer. I remember Morley asked Bill: 

"Many professional athletes these days have drug and alcohol addictions. Did you ever experiment with drugs?"

Russell responded:

"You know Morley, that's an interesting question, as my two sons asked me the same question to which I responded 'No. I have not tried drugs, which are stupid. There is something to be said for living life at its own speed.'"

For some reason, Bill's eternal words have stuck with me to this day, and I often remember them!