THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
August 4, 2022 - August 10, 2022 • 40
Sports The great Bill Russell was a champion in basketball and life By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
will forever inspire teamwork, when he was eight years old. One of those young men inselflessness and thoughtful He was raised in various hous- spired during his formative change. ing projects in Oakland and years by Russell is Lem PeterBill Russell didn’t just shut “And we hope each of us can experienced early mental kin, a longtime photo journalup and dribble. find a new way to act or speak and emotional trauma when ist whose expansive work has Conversely, he was an out- up with Bill’s uncompromis- his mother, Katie, died when appeared in many publicaspoken race man. Russell’s towering presence was not singularly defined by his physically imposing 6-foot-10 frame and unparalleled basketball career, but perhaps more so by standing unbowed in advocating for racial and social justice during some of the most turbulent times of the 20th century in the United States. AM NEWS Russell passed away at the 07/07/22 age of 88 on Sunday on Mercer 0 Island, Washington, located in the Seattle metropolitan area, after battling a long illness, his wife Jeannine by his side. In a statement posted on social media by his family, Russell “peacefully” transitioned. A statement posted by the AM NEWS family on Twitter read: “Bill’s 07/14/22 two state championships in 0 high school offered a glimmer of the incomparable run of pure team accomplishment to come: twice an NCAA champion; captain of a gold-medalwinning US Olympic team; 11 times an NBA champion; and AM NEWS at the helm for two NBA championships as the first Black 07/21/22 0 head coach of any North American professional sports team. “But for all the winning,” it continued, “Bill’s understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask AM NEWS too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississip07/28/22 0 pi's first integrated basketball Boston Celtics great Bill Russell (pictured in a 1957 photo), a legendary social and racial justice activist, camp in the combustible passed away this past Sunday at the age of 88 (Photo by John G. Zimmerman for Sports Illustrated, Public wake of Medgar Evers’ assasdomain, via Wikimedia Commons) sination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by ing, dignified and always con- Russell was 12. As the afore- tions over the past 50, his receipt of the Presidential structive commitment to mentioned Russell family including prominentMedal of Freedom in 2010. principle. That would be one statement illuminated, he ly in the Amsterdam Bill called out injustice with last, and lasting, win for our evolved into one of the most News. AM NEWS an unforgiving candor that he beloved #6.” significant figures in the his“Mr. William Felton 08/04/22 intended would disrupt the Born in racially segregat- tory of American sports and Russell made me feel a 0 status quo, and with a pow- ed Monroe, Louisiana on Feb. culture, uplifting the lives of Black man could be a erful example that, though 12, 1934, Russell moved with countless men, women and Black man when I was never his humble intention, his family to Oakland, Calif. children directly and from afar. growing up in segre-
gated Aberdeen, North Carolina,” said Peterkin by phone to this writer on Tuesday. “He made me feel like I didn’t have to be afraid to speak out or stand up for myself in facing racism in the South. “I grew a goatee because Mr. Russell wore a goatee,” recalled Peterkin, now 76. “When I first started playing basketball on the team at North Carolina Central University, Coach [Floyd] Brown wanted me to cut off my goatee but I wouldn’t. I explained to him that I wore it because of Mr. 01284 Russell and told him why. AMHe NE let me keep it after that.” 07/07/ 7 74470 22784 would ultimatePeterkin ly meet his idol while shooting a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden years after Russell won his final title with the Boston Celtics in 1969, the last of 11 with the storied franchise, in a dramatic sev01294 en-game upset over the heavAM NE ily favored Los7Angeles Lakers 07/14/ 74470 22784 featuring all-time greats Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. “At first I couldn’t stop smiling,” remembered Peterkin. “I wasn’t even thinking about taking his picture. I just 01304 myself wanted to introduce AM NE and shake his hand. He smiled 07/21/ 7 at me and 74470 22784we talked briefly. I told him how much I looked up to him growing up. Mr. Russell was very nice to me.” There are numerous anecdotes and recollections similar to Peterkin’s that have been revealed since his death and myriad that will 01314 continue to AM NE be shared. 07/28/ 7 May 22784 the great Mr. Russell 74470 rest in peace as his life’s work will endure for generations to come.
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