The greatest champion in team sports has died.  Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 National Basketball Championships in 13 years.  The Celtics streak of 8 straight championships is the most in any professional sport.   

Bill Russell arrived in Boston in 1956 with 3 significant championships. He led his college, San Francisco, to the NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956.  Russell also won the Gold at the 1956 Olympics in Australia.  Russell played in 21 winner-take-all games in his career.  His teams were 21-0! The NBA honored him by forever naming the Finals MVP the Bill Russell award.

Russell was a transformational player.  He revolutionized the sport by emphasizing defense, rebounding, and the fast break. His combination of athleticism and intelligence led to a player who was able to consistently impose his will on the game.  He was such an outstanding leader, that the Celtics appointed him as player-coach. Russell was the first Black coach or manager in any professional sport. He won the title in 2 of the 3 years he coached the Celtics.

Russell’s accomplishments were not confined to the court.  He was a fierce fighter for civil rights.  He marched with Martin Luther King and stood with Muhammed Ali in his stance against the Vietnam War.  President Obama presented the Medal of Freedom award to Russell in 2011.

In 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live.  My wife got a call from Russell’s wife at the time, Dorothy Anstett, to invite us to the show.  They had been roommates in the early 70’s.  I was beyond excited.  We were given seats on the floor, right in front of the stage.  And, after the show we had a chance to meet Bill Russell.  His hand was huge and his smile was welcoming!  I can hardly believe it happened almost 43 years ago.  I was a huge fan before our encounter and remain steadfast in my belief that Bill Russell was the Most Valuable Player of all time!