Page 41 - Red Auerbach News Today

When they hold the ultimate all-time draft with every player who ever played in the NBA or the ABA, if I get the first pick, I’m taking Bill Russell. This will make the second and third pickers…

The passing of Bill Russell brought back a rush of memories of my attempt to obtain the basketball icon’s autograph in a place where few die-hard New York Knicks fans would have dared to enter. But I am getting ahead of the story.

Where can I begin to tell about what Bill Russell meant to me and my generation of Boston basketball fans? When Russell arrived in Boston just before Christmas day in 1956, he had won gold with the USA team in the Olympics and had led his college team at the University of San Francisco to two national NCAA championships. Still, he was mostly an unknown quantity for us Boston

The NBA All Star used his voice on and off the court.

BOSTON -- Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. He didnt know any other way but to speak his mind.

Hall of fame, bill russell was a man who defended muhammad ali, hes refusal to be drafted. while he was red auerbachs great player, he would go on to march on the washington for jobs and freedom. he would sit in the very first row, watching dr. martin luther kings i have a dream speech. went to black teammates refused service as a hotel coffee shop, he refused to sit back and take it. >> i told ray, were leaving because its important to me that everybody everywhere knows that the black players a...

There are no superlatives, no metrics, no numbers, no generational or era comparisons that can account for a life lived, especially one as furiously pronounced and independent as Bill Russells.

Bettmann/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Bill Russell will be remembered as a tremendous rebounder, legendary post defender and NBA Hall of Famer. But more than

In honor of the Celtics legend's passing, readers share the best Bill Russell moments. Share your memories of the iconic player on Boston.com.

Former Boston Celtics star Bill Russell, one of the sports world's greatest winners as the anchor of a team that won 11 NBA championships, as well as the league's first black coach, died on Sunday (July 30) at the age of 88. Russell, a five-time Most Valuable Player who was also outspoken on racial issues, passed away peacefully with his...