There is so much that is uncertain about the unique, complex and truly great Bill Russell, who died 2 days back (City on a Hill, which once titled an episode Bill Russell’s Bedsheets had its third season premiere that day, provoking thought) save the fact he was the greatest “winner” in major North American team sports, playing on 11 NBA title teams (only Henri Richard has as many at the professional level) and 2 NCAA title teams with the Boston Celtics and University of San Francisco Dons respectively.
Bill Russell was so gifted, beyond intelligent and most of all perceptive. Yet what really were the consequences and thoughts of Bill regarding the Monroe, Louisiana to Boston racism (non freedom) ride he endured?
Again so complex and who knows what made Bill such a competitor and ultimate winner?
My head spins with thoughts remembering him and he has been cited so often in these posts, far too often, especially of late when such great Boston Celtics’ players and coaches as K.C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones, and John Havlicek predeceased the one and only “Russ,” whose rebounds and outlet passes fused a thing of beauty and great, unmatched within a period success that was the Celtics “fast break” and title run.
Bill’s incredible defensive acumen, best exemplified by his shot blocking and control of said blocked shot fused great ability, including geniusand perception. (He knew angles and often where the ball would go!)
Look if you can find (why so little of any real games, not the often disjointed highlights) as Mr. Russell grabbed the rebound when Frank “Pops” Selvy missed a shot that if made, would have given L.A. the ’62 and first L.A. crown–instead “Russ” and the great Sam Jones led in the overtimes and that first L.A. Lakers’ crown was 10 years down the road.
You know in citing Bill Russell, one must talk about the key member of that ’72 title team, 3 years after Bill retired, (Bill was doing playoffs “analysis” and long distance–“can’t miss with long distance” ads), namely Wilton Norman Chamberlain.
My dad Norman rooted for “Russ” and the Celtics, I was for a number of Wilt led teams. Russell and the Celtics prevailed in all but one playoffs clash vs Wilt’s teams. Bill and the Celts won 11 titles in 13 seasons, Wilt’s teams won 2 in his 14 seasons, albeit with at the time, the two greatest NBA records.
They were good friends, sharing that “Thursday holiday in November” dinners and playing with Bill’s electric trains.
As written here before, and I will post it below, they did not talk for a long time, a lesson for all, before resuming such, however at that juncture, it was not all that long after that Wilt died alone nearly 23 years before Bill, who was happily married.
I can go on and hopefully will in future posts. It (Russell/Chamberlain) is an endless, complex, no real answer, greatest of sports debates– replete with real life and lessons thereof.
Bill stood vs racism and for justice, notably doing so, among many other times, along with greats Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, (then Lew Alcindor) (others) in defense of Muhammad Ali when Ali was denied his rights, when he refused induction into the U.S. military in 1967. (life went on, ESPN was formed giving us 1963 as the erroneous year in question and totally disrespecting the great Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks, saying the Celts “waltzed” through the ’57 playoffs, when in fact, the Hawks took them to a 7th game that went into overtime. All that in ESPN.com’s Bill Russell’s news of death).
Lighter: (I swear no pun, but this person devoid of seeing or caring what one’s skin color is, believes we have to “Sheryl Crow it,” (“lighten up” a bit anyway, regarding so called political correctness and apply logic.) Bill called my late friend Beano Cook, “Bongo” and Beano praised in a gentlemanly, classy way-Bill’s girlfriend of those ABC “on air at 2, so often Wilt and Bill teams clashing, with the actual start at 1:55” Sunday telecasts. (They were on ABC and Beano worked regarding those telecasts).
Go ahead Bill, secure in your victories, your stances, your success at finding love and helping others. Have fun up there, however, I hope this time, Wilt gets “better angels” on his team.
Alas, Bill you inspire me and others to seek the veritable “better angels” in this life. Having done that alone, never mind all else, thank you, Bill Russell.
Bill Russell, born the same date as another true great, who stood vs injustice, Abraham Lincoln, is pictured above.
Click below to view one of my many past posts that cited Bill Russell.
- Russell/Chamberlain on March 8, 2012
The American League won 7 straight World Series from (1947-1953). Only once did the National League ever win as many as 4 straight in the once Fall Classic.
That 4 game N.L. World Series win skein was from (1979-1982).
L.A. in what eventually was a down to the last day, second place finish to the Giants in 1971, leads Atlanta by an (11-0) or (12-0) score in its last home tilt on September 19th.
The Dodgers Bobby Valentine flies out to Atlanta Right Fielder Dusty Baker. Score it (9), correct?!
In years ending in 0, 1 and 2 a la the 4 straight N.L. W.S. wins, Valentine in “0” year, 2000 and Baker in 1 year, 2021 and 2 year, 2002 are the managers of the losing World Series team, Baker with the A.L. once N.L. Astros last year in 2021.
Who but me, but we did not want obituaries numbering 3. Not in succession!
However, we lost the greatest winner in North American sports and so much more, mostly good even great, but not all, when the truly superb,Bill Russell passed away today. Much more on “Russ,” in the days to come.
“Leave It To Beaver” was in first run/first “ran” from 1957-1963, making mine and so many others first view via the “re,” (rerun)– in which Tony Dow,(older brother, Wally),who died days back at age 77, will live on.
He was a man that helped so many others, among other ways, talking of the juxtaposition of his depression and the sunny aspects of “Beaver,” though remember the show “warned” us via the cunning, phony character “Eddie Haskell,” played so well by Ken Osmond.
Dow also directed, produced and was a sculptor.
As I think of he, and long time friend Jerry Mathers as “The Beaver” walking home, the show’s theme playing–I cite another “Dow,” the Dow Jones. That industrial average has gone up since Mr. Dow died.
Tony Dow surely is an “up,” and hopefully (with justice he is)headed up to a good place. That he Dow, battled the “down” and helped speaking out and performing, leaves an indelible good impression, much like the boys walking home on that famed show.
Tony Dow, pictured above.
A scant, just over two weeks after James Caan, with whom he performed tremendously well in the great film, “The Gambler,” died, another great, Paul Sorvino has died at age 83. (Caan was 82).
Sorvino stood out in so many great roles, among them, as mobster Paul Cicero in “GoodFellas.”
He was a magnificent actor who did fulfill his dream and sang opera at the New York City Opera. He had a cooking book, a restaurant called Sorvinos, TV’d on Law and Order and was a great family man.
In the under rated, excellent film, “Nixon,” Mr. Sorvino gave as a good version of Henry Kissinger as any while in “That Championship Season,” so long ago on Broadway, his incredible passion poured through, leaving indelible impressions.
It was in “The Gambler,” such a meaningful, superb film that I remember Paul Sorvino best. He played the role of “Hips” so well and in reference and regarding that, we spoke one Monday night in a New York club.
My post of April past included that talk, now I post it again, time having marched on taking Sorvino, Ray Liotta (with whom Paul acted in “Goodfellas”) and Caan, within a 2 month period.
Highlighted is Sorvino and not gambling. Go sing from the heavens, Mr. Sorvino.
The superb actor, Paul Sorvino, pictured above once told me (on a Monday night, as I complained the scores were going “wrong”) what he said as a character in “The Gambler,” namely that he did NOT gamble.
- Action Packed Sunday on April 11, 2022 Mr. Sorvino is cited in paragraph 2.
I was fortunate enough to have met both Phil Rizzuto and Bob Feller, each a truly good man, in my time.
At his charity golf event in 1992, Phil talked of “poor Bob Feller” never winning a World Series game.
He came close, pitched very well, but the great baseball contributor and pitcher, John Sain outdueled Mr. Feller in the Boston Braves’ (1-0) win over the then Cleveland Indians in game 1 of the 1948 World Series.
A pick off play by the Indians was ruled unsuccessful and Tommy Holmes, another baseball great in a better day, drove in the game’s only run soon after.
Apparently in Bob Lemon’s victory in game 2 at Boston, vs the Braves, the Indians pulled off a successful pick off play.
This year in their heartbreaking game 7 loss, an Indians’ player (why embarrass him, has not there been enough?!!) was picked off first base.
Below is a well written caption from a CBS website concerning the play.
Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau (and shortstop) disagrees with the umpire Bill Stewart that Phil Masi, who was pinch running for Bill Salkeld, is safe, October 6, 1948. Masi scored on the next play when Tommy Holmes singled to left field, enabling the Braves to beat the Indians, 1-0.
The play was considered one of the most controversial in World Series history. Masi admitted in his will that he was out.
1969 floats into memory, this unbearably hot day, as I briefly recall Johnny Egan, a basketball player and Jim Lynch a football player, each of whom died this past week.
The ’69 NBA final ends, the great Chick Hearn laments what L.A. did not do in #4 of that series, “the ball goes to “Eeg” he lays it up and in, of course too little, too late– “final score the world champion Boston Celtics 108 the Los Angeles Lakers 106.”
Mr. Egan, who later coached the Houston Rockets played on a Providence NIT title team (the N.I. T. had some real meaning then) with the great Lenny Wilkens in 1961.
On a date, a woman tells me she is a K.C. Chiefs fan. I say “What would you say if I can name the whole 1969 title winning Chiefs’ starting defensive unit? I do.
She was impressed. It did or does or does not matter?
Jim Lynch, as an outstanding, outside linebacker playing the l/backer position, with Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell was a part of that superb unit.
An aside: Chiefs coach Henry “Hank” Stram recorded by NFL Films at the Supe, “where’s Bobby Stein?” I query regarding Gil Dulberg and the flowers.
New York’s Hoops Cabaret (48 W. 33 Street) combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club, and they will be showing the UFC 277 matches on Saturday, July 30.
The main event is a rematch of one of the most shocking bouts in the history of the company, as Amanda Nunes looks to regain her UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title against Julianna Pena. This is one of the most anticipated bouts in the history of Women’s MMA, and it will also be bolstered by a fantastic undercard.
Hoops Cabaret girl Candace said, “Hoops Cabaret is a great place to watch the UFC and all sorts of sports.”
The club features numerous HD TVs and flat screens, and a huge video wall. Their menu includes Short-rib Sliders, Lemon Pepper Wings, and Kobe Beef Hot Dogs.
Hoops Cabaret is very popular with sports fans and for a truly unique experience check out the “VIP Man Cave.”
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar (next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC)
Today, some quick reflections on one of basketball’s greatest and certainly least acclaimed, relative to his talent, players, Jim Pollard.
He played on all 5 Minneapolis Lakers’ title teams, teaming with the great dominant, big man, George Mikan.
Pollard could leap “out of the building,” and was known as the “Kangaroo Kid,” later a nickname given to another basketball great, Billy Cunningham.
One other thing, my late friend Joe Green, who gained my father’s respect because he tried to help me, this despite Joe’s involvement in the late fifties/early sixties, college basketball scandal, which really hurt fans such as my dad, talked of Pollard’s greatness.
Joe Green could play and certainly Jack Molinas, a misguided talent, really could play and was the third overall pick in the 1953 NBA draft.
Many times, eating his muffin which he did ever so slowly in late night diners, Green told me that Molinas felt he could play with anyone in the NBA, except Jim Pollard.
Pollard was that great!
Jim Pollard, pictured and “rising above.”
They continue to tinker (I do not mean but evoke Joe (Tinker) as in Tinker to Evers to Chance, three famed Chicago Cubs, who inspired poems, now say 115 years ago) with baseball and now please no tie after 9 innings in tonight’s once meaningful All-Star tilt as it would be settled beyond what is, at least what once was baseball.
Brighter are notes from the Yankees clinching their 14th pennant in 16 seasons on Saturday October 3, 1964.
Dick Howser is 2 for 2 and a walk in his first three trips to the bat. He is with Cleveland. The Yankees have won 14 of 16 vs them.
At game’s end it is 15 of 17 and 14 pennants in 16 seasons.
There would not be another one until 1976 and Howser was the Yankees’ third base coach.
The first of the 14 pennants in 16 seasons was in a winner take all Yankees (5-3) win vs Boston (Red Sox) in Casey Stengel’s first season (1949).
It ended when Birdie Tebbetts popped out to first baseman/Yankees great but so under rated and shamefully not in the Hall, Tommy Henrich.
The 14th pennant was clinched vs the Birdie Tebbetts managed Cleveland team on 10/3/1964.
Tommy Henrich, pictured above.
In these the last 2 days before a break in the 12 teams qualify for the ‘offs, (at least 6 to 8 too many) 2022 baseball “reg,” there is only one interleague series being played.
That involves the 29 games over .500 L.A. Dodgers visiting the 13 games under L.A. Angels.
They have never met in post-season. Four times each team made the ‘offs (’04,’08,’09 and ’14) and neither team made the World Series.
Ex Dodger and 2 time title winning player with them, Mike Scioscia guided the Angels to their lone World Series triumph in what is their lone World Series appearance, that in 2002.
Twenty years earlier on consecutive Sundays and in results for different reasons bad for me, first the Dodgers on the last day of the “reg,” yielding Joe Torre’s first ever first place finish/’offs appearance and then the Angels in the decisive 5th game of the ALCS at the then American League, Milwaukee Brewers were ousted from World Series possibility.
The truly great player, Joe Morgan, then with the S.F. Giants hit a decisive three run homer vs the Dodgers that yielded Torre and his Atlanta Braves the 1982 N.L. West crown.
Andy B Sports 