Basketball great, Bill Russell passed away at age 88. He was born in Monroe, Louisiana; later his family moved to Oakland, California. He learned the basics there in the popular sport of basketball, and he started to grow tall, very tall. By the time he reached high school at Oakland's McClymonds High, he towered over his peers. He was spotted by various collegiate scouts, especially the scouts from across the Bay at the University of San Francisco, the venerable Jesuit institution that educated generations of San Franciscans. They also produced a number of athletic teams that went on to national prominence. Bill received a scholarship to play with a team under Phil Woolpert. They needed a center who could control the 'paint', and maybe put a few shots into the net.
He led the team to 2 national championships in 1955 and '56. He also led the US Olympic Team to a gold medal at the Melbourne Games. And this was only the beginning of his remarkable career and a more remarkable life.
Personal Mayoral Memory
In 1954, the USF Dons were playing the U. of Santa Clara in a league contest to be played at SF's Kezar Pavilion which was immediately adjacent to Kezar Stadium, home of the SF 49ers. College games in the Bay Area were big news since major league sports had not found the Bay Area as a viable team location. But, we had Stanford University in Palo Alto, UC Berkeley across the bay; St. Marys in Moraga, and San Jose St. College in the south bay(Silicon Valley). The Pacific Coast League team, the SF Seals, were filled with locals and gave a start to the DiMaggio brothers, 3 of whom went to the majors. So, my Dad, like many of his peers from North Beach, was a sports fan, and decided we should attend the game between the two local rival college teams. It was my first "big sports game". It was very exciting to watch these giants up close. How close? Well, we sat right behind the USF team bench. That's close. And in those days, there few if any restrictions. Late in the second half, the game was close and it could go either way. I got up and went to the sideline. Soon I found myself among the bench players, one of whom at the time was Bill Russell. He looked 10' tall to lil' ol' me. I don't think he even saw me, and he didn't step on me either. There was no conversation; no attaboys, only intense observation. The game ended, Dons win.
Ken Sears was the big name for Santa Clara, and I remember him as well. He could move in and out of the paint and score. But Russell was the dominate player.
Bill went to the Boston Celtics where he enjoyed a coalition of great players put together by Red Auerbach. They would go on to win 8 consecutive championships, and Bill would win 11 over all. He would go on to coach at the highest level for several years. But off the court he was a statesman for civil rights and supported the struggles of minority groups across the nation. He supported Martin Luther King during the civil rights era of the '60's. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom by Pres. Barack Obama in 2011. The NBA"s MVP Trophy is named in his honor. The Celtics erected a statue in his honor to commemorate his contribution to the sport, the team, and the city. He was a great man and will never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace, Bill.
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