Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

[Jeffx]

The greatest winner in the history of American team sports turned 80 today. A TRUE legend and pioneer, on and off the court. I may be a Celtic *****, but I respect his basketball mind and his refusal to accept second-class treatment. Thank you, Mr. Russell!

[lilteapot]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Thanks! I feel 40 though!

[FaM0us Skins]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Happy birthday to Bill Russell.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Did somebody say Bi11 Russell?

Spoiler

[lhslancers]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

More rings than Yogi and that's saying something.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

More rings than Yogi and that's saying something.

False, Yogi has 13.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Russ is still the quickest big I've ever seen. Best man and team defender ever. Five space rebounder with incredible hands. The perfect big man.

[david20lampton]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Greatest winner in basketball history and part of the best big man rivalry ever. Happy Birthday Bill.

[lhslancers]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

False, Yogi has 13.

Russell won 11 NBA titles an Olympic Gold and 2 National championships in college.

Berra won 10 World Series titles.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Russell won 11 NBA titles an Olympic Gold and 2 National championships in college.

Berra won 10 World Series titles.

And 3 as a coach/manager. So without counting the gold medal, which shouldn't count towards this anyways, they both have 13.

[lhslancers]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

And 3 as a coach/manager. So without counting the gold medal, which shouldn't count towards this anyways, they both have 13.

As an aside Bill Walton didn't lose a game from grammar school on up until the UCLA streak was broken.

Henri Richard is tied with Russell with most team game championships in NA with 11.

Russell 11 Yogi 10 as players.

[return.specialist]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Russell was also the first coach of African-American decent in the NBA--a player-coach at that.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

Enough said....

“Hey, thank you for leaving me off your Mount Rushmore. I’m glad you did,” the basketball legend stated. “Basketball is a team game, it’s not for individual honors. I won back-to-back state championships in high school, back-to-back NCAA championships in college. I won an NBA championship my first year in the league, an NBA championship in my last year, and nine in between. That, Mr. James, is etched in stone.”

[return.specialist]

Re: Happy Birthday, Bill Russell!

^^^ loved that quote when I heard it.