Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), American basketball player who was the first outstanding defensive centre in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the sports greatest icons. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. In 2009, the NBA changed the name of the finals MVP from NBA finals MVP award to Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. In 2005, Russell recorded bankruptcy after investing an estimated amount of $250,000 to finance a rubber plantation project in Liberia. You know, I want you to understand, like a lot of these films about (inaudible) the complexity of the human being, we're playing up on a screen. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human When Russell was 10, his father, Charlie, fed up with trying to navigate a racially charged South, moved his family across the country to Oakland, California, where he found work at a shipyard. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. Although his father was described on several occasions by many who knew him as an authoritative and firm personality, he worked hard as a cleaner and impacted into Bills life, helping him in his rise to stardom. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Yeah. The couple divorced in 1973. Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. The Celtics legend had four wives in his life, and married former Miss USA Dorothy Anstett four years after separating from Rose Swisher. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2011 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had made great strides within the game of basketball, but the restless, conscientious Russell felt that there were bigger battles to fight. He could care less, you know, about being someone that Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. Meanwhile, Bills first marriage was to Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973, Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980, and Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. His talent did not immediately shine through. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. I thought she was going to take care of it. He had represented the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1956 to 1969 and was the central figure in the teams total domination of the league winning the NBA championship title 11 times (1957, 19591966, 1968, 1969). Although Bill Russell played less than 50 games, due to the fact he has won a gold medal for basketball in the Olympics, in his first NBA season he definitely made his presence felt. They were together from 1956 to 1973. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. Bill shares all of his three children with his first wife. He was represented by Russell Spielman, Manager and Booking Agent, GSE Worldwide, Melville, Long Island, New York, United States. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Be the first one to comment on this story. Russell who began his professional career in the NBA in 1956 and ended it in 1969 with a total of eleven NBA championships won, is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics Due to malnutrition as a child, Russell was a lightweight player but built an exclusive manner of play as a centre to help the defence. They were together from 1956 to 1973. To help solve the child care crisis, new legislation would cap families costs and pay providers more, San Diego police want to power up some Smart Streetlights; add license plate readers as crime-fighting tool, Proposed bills could lead to more people being forced into mental health treatment, Demand for freshmen admission at UC San Diego drops for first time in roughly 20 years, Should backcountry builders fund city sidewalks and bike lanes? WebBill Russell Legend on DVD - Both Episodes The life and career of Hall of Fame NBA player Bill Russell is celebrated in the documentary Bill Russel: Legend. On the court, Russell was a force to be reckoned with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. However, he still performed well as a player the following season and led the team to yet another NBA championship title. The family of Bill Russell announced that he passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. During his college years, Bill competed in many sports besides basketball, including the high jump. Copyright 2023 NPR. On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the NBA's best record in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. Associated With. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Bill Russell, Birth Year: 1934, Birth date: February 12, 1934, Birth State: Louisiana, Birth City: Monroe, Birth Country: United States. The Celtics went on to win 8 more back-to-back NBA championships winning five against the Lakers in the finals to set up one of the biggest rivalries in the NBA. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. But if those souvenir hounds had taken Russell up on the chance to sit with him for a meal, they might have heard about his obsession with golf. In the 1962/63 season, Russell was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and won the honour again the following year after winning the NBA championship again. Russell was truly nothing short of a champion.Since his historic victory Russell has been active in broadcasting for NBA games, and occasionally coaching, including the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970s and the Sacramento Kings in the 1980s. One of the first players to utilize the blocked shot as a weapon. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Updated. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. So how did he deal with it? Without Chamberlain and an injured Jerry West, it was not enough to defeat the Celtics, who won by only two points.Russell later said Chamberlain was week, and should have demanded to go back into the game. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). Russells Celtics ruled the roost at a time when the minuscule number of teams (the NBA consisted of eight or nine franchises for the majority of his career) made for a greatly condensed talent pool, and a combination of integration and improved scouting brought on an unprecedented rush of new stars. This site uses cookies to serve you better. Even after he became a s | Born: February 12, 1934Played all 13 seasons with CelticsFive-time NBA MVPEleven-time NBA championNo. Named to NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary teamsTwelve-time NBA All-StarNamed Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1968Induced into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1975Member of gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 1956 And he wasn't as aggressive as Jim Brown could be, you know, when he was at his height as an actor and as an activist. I say yes maam. You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. She was born on January 20, 1962. Bill hasnt shared how he met his last wife, but he adored her. So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. Bill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American sportspersons of all time. And so was his personality, as great as he was in basketball.. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. Or expensive cars with souped-up sound systems so he could blare the music of Laura Nyro, Janis Ian, or Crosby, Stills and Nash some of his favorites. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. WebFamily Life. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. He didnt shut up and dribble. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. Accuracy and availability may vary. Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Bill Russell has one more championship than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. And he became a major star at USF, went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Australia and then got drafted by the Celtics in '57. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. She detailed the racist vandalism the Russell familys Reading home faced once when they were out of town and listed the racist abuse Bill Russell endured from fans. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics He was assaulted by a group of guys that ran by. He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would follow, Obama said that day. Bill Russell Wife, Children. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named William Russell Jr & Jacob Russell from the wedlock. The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen Russell. William Jr, Bills first son, was born in 1957 but passed away from cancer in 2016. However, Russell was one of the huge earners in the NBA and didnt have to work part-time so as to maintain his standard of living as it was the case with other NBA players at the time. A the time of his death, he was married to his fourth wife Jeannine, who is believed to have been a competitive golfer. Russell was the first player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and a collegiate championship. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But he was a very, you know, well-rounded human being who believed that it was not only a responsibility as a player, but the responsibility of an African American man. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Both Macauley and Hagan would eventually land in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, an indication of how highly Auerbach valued Russell. Bill Russelll described the incident as one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself. And one of them slapped me as they went by. The Philadelphia 76ers did beat the Boston Celtics in 1967, but in 1966 and 1968 the Celtics, not quite to the level of the Sixers.But in 1968 it was truly Russell that beat the Sixers, as he was not the heart and soul on the court, but was now it's head coach, which he became in 1967 after legend Red Auerbach retired. But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. He was married four times and had three children. In 1979, Russell teamed up with professional writers to publish the Second Wind book and also featured in a 1986 movie named The fix as Judge Ferguson. A the time of his death, he was His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. Russell, while no behemoth, was tall enough to make his high school team on height alone. What Russell did was close the circuit, creating turnovers that allowed Boston to get back on offense even faster, as well as patrol the paint with an intensity that single-handedly compensated for the Celtics imbalance. They are the only children Bill had. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. And I'm just going to play a short clip about that. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. POLLARD: Yeah, I hope that they walk away understanding that he was not only a great basketball player, but he was also a great man and a complicated man. He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. MARTIN: So before we let you go, what's important to you? Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. In his second season with the Celtics, Russell bought a house in Reading. There was no doubt who the fans were yelling at. Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault Russell brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called Rose. Updates? And so she says are these the guys?. WebBill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. But without Bill Russell there is no doubt the Boston Celtics would not be the rock-solid professional sports team they have become in their legendary run of championships. So the Celtics traded centre Ed Macauley and the rights to guard-forward Cliff Hagan, who had yet to play in the NBA owing to his military service, to the St. Louis Hawks shortly after the Hawks used the second overall pick of the draft to select Russell. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain. His new documentary "Bill Russell: Legend" is streaming now on Netflix. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. He helped the team to the play-offs and his shot-blocking abilities were efficient in the NBA final against the St. Louis Hawks which the Celtics narrowly won. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. Being fearless on the basketball court was easy. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. And she said What!. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. So I think he wasn't just - he wasn't as vocal and he didn't have as much exposure as they did. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with the Boston Celtics, and he became the first African American coach of a modern major professional sports team in the United States when he was named the player-coach of the Celtics in 1966. Take away all the on-court accomplishments, and Russell still lived a life. But we learned that, you know, he had a very interesting life and complicated life off the court. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969). Omissions? Born on Feb. 12, 1934, William Felton Russell spent his earliest years in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west during World War II, ultimately landing in Oakland, California. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. Russell was married three times. Supervisors explore ways to offset vehicle traffic from new rural housing, Column: Padres offense inspires bright forecasts as Petco Parks worst clouds have lifted, Opinion: Converting Californias empty office buildings to apartments and condos is a great idea. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. In college, the 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) Russell blossomed, providing a defensive presence that helped lead USF to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1955 and 1956. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. All Rights Reserved. He shares all three of his children with his first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, whom he divorced in 1973. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. And finally today, we know it's all about football today, it being Super Bowl Sunday and all, but we're going to talk basketball for a minute to hear about one of the icons of that sport - Bill Russell. And he learned basketball when he went to Oakland. Hes still second on the NBAs all-time rebounding list, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, and will probably be in that spot forever since nobody has come remotely close to him in the last 50 years. If you have three hours and want to check out Russells story, you can watch this video right below. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. Russell would not stand for racism in sports, which was ironic, given Bostons historical notoriety in that department. The couple got divorced in 1973. For the first time in the Bill Russell- Wilt Chamberlain rivalry Chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the Celtics, although many contend that the Celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. I mean, that famous photograph of the African American lawyer about to be, like, speared with a flag right downtown at city government center. Russell was married three times. The former Boston Celtics legend is an 11-time NBA champion and widely regarded as one of the best players to ever play the game. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away peacefully Sunday, Like, how did he deal with all of that? There, his father initially worked as a truck driver and Bill Russell lost his mother at the age of 12. The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. Who was Bill Russells wife? Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin has been found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register a political group and provide financial disclosures at a trial in southern New Mexico, Former President Barack Obama is marking the retirement of the South Carolina woman credited with popularizing the chant Fired up, ready to go!, Top diplomats from the worlds major industrialized and developing nations have opened what are expected to be contentious talks dominated by Russias war in Ukraine and Chinas moves to boost its global influence, Authorities say a central Florida man has been arrested after fatally shooting his teenage daughter and three other people, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen state control over agriculture and make all available efforts to increase grain production, as the country faces a worsening food shortage, The man convicted of killing eight people in a terrorist attack on a Manhattan bike path declined to testify in the death penalty phase of his trial, just as he had before the jury returned guilty verdicts, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, FILE - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell stands court side during a tribute in his honor in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston, Nov. 1, 2013. 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