I saw that Bill Russell was at the game last night. I don't even know why honestly. I know it was his birthday the other day and I know that February is Black History Month. But honestly, I don't even need a reason to post about Bill Russell. He's Bill Russell.
So here's a link to an article that was published exactly a year ago today. Enjoy.
Boston should honor Bill Russell for his historic roles as a basketball player and man - ESPN
"I always felt it was better to understand," Bill Russell once said, "than to be understood." At a heavy cost, Bill Russell understood. He understood contradiction: between the individual and the team, the distance between black and white, and how different things could be if he was dealing with a person or a people. If you don't flinch from the truth, Bill Russell is all things human and ultimately inspirational: heartbreaking, right, wrong, independent, excellent, revolutionary and flawed. He understood the difference between the American ideal and its often contradictory realities. He understood that publicly navigating these poles could drive a person insane.
Also, our very own Master PO had the honor of interviewing Bill a few years back. Here is that interview in two parts.