By Adrian Walker
Globe Columnist / February 19, 2011
Every so often, Boston turns its lonely eyes to Bill Russell, and the spectacle is always fascinating to watch.
One of those rediscoveries occurred in 1999 when the Celtics great assented to a night in his honor at what was then the Fleet Center. Thirty years after his last game, he was celebrated before a packed house, most of which had never seen him play. Legendary adversary Wilt Chamberlain joined in the celebration, and a deep old wound between Russell and Boston began to heal.
Another sign of thaw came during the Celtics’ championship run in 2008, when Russell not only appeared at the Finals, but did television interviews with his newfound buddy, Kevin Garnett.
And now, once again, Russell and Boston are in the news. The idea of a tribute to Russell is everywhere: Cedric Maxwell has been lobbying on talk radio for a statue, and even President Obama took up the cause Tuesday, when he presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/19/give_bill_russell_his_due/
Blackstonian Editor’s Note:
We are glad to see that President Obama has come around to the long held idea that Bill Russell deserves a statue in Boston, the Blackstonian has been working on a statue and honoring Bill Russell in Boston for some time. We suggested an Official City of Boston “Day” as well as a State of Mass “Day” honoring Mr. Russell. We suggested his birthday of Feb. 12th. In addition, the ONLY person who should do this statue is Fern Cunningham, the Black Woman who also made the Harriet Tubman statues and the work in Forest Hills Cemetary.
See Basic Black Feature on Fern Cunningham here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNcrUsC63SI
The Blackstonian hopes that when our dream comes to fruition, we at least get invited 😉
