“Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in sports history American, passed away peacefully this Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife Jeannine by his side,” the family of the woman announced on Twitter. nba legend”.
The nba champion played with them Boston Celtics his entire career, from 1956 to 1969, and was the great protagonist of the ‘Dynasty’ that he conquered 11 rings, eight of them consecutively.
In the statement published on social networks, it is detailed that the arrangements for his funeral service will be announced shortly.
Who was Bill Russell?
In the message broadcast on Twitter they recalled their beginnings in the sport: “Bill’s two state championships in high school offered a glimpse of the unparalleled streak of team achievement to come.”
He was a two-time champion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); captain of a United States Olympic team, winner of an Olympic gold medal; 11-time NBA champion; and led two NBA championships as first black coach of a professional sports team North American.
They also highlighted his other individual achievements: In 2009, the NBA Finals award was renamed after the two-time Hall of Famer as the “Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award”.
“Despite all the victories, the Bill’s understanding of struggle is what lit up his life”.
The sports legend also had a facet as an activist: in 1961 he participated in the boycott of an exhibition match in 1961 “to expose the discrimination tolerated for too long”.
He also ran Mississippi’s first integrated basketball camp on the eve of Medgar Evans’ murder.
After “decades of activism”, Bill was recognized with the award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
“Bill denounced injustice with relentless candorwith a relentless frankness that was intended to alter the the state in whichand with a powerful example that, while never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness, and thoughtful change.”
Also, his family and friends asked to keep Bill in people’s prayers and relive his “golden moments”:
“It is our hope that each of us can find a new way to act or speak with Bill’s unyielding, dignified and always constructive commitment. That would be one last, and lasting, victory for our beloved #6.″.