How Bill Russell Transformed College Basketball

ESPN Daily

ESPN

Sports

4.6 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2023

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Bill Russell’s life touched so many different areas that trying to figure out how to properly honor his legend is a task in itself. His name adorns the Finals MVP Award, he was the first Black head coach in NBA history, the 11 titles he won with the Boston Celtics are still the standard by which champions are measured. And his impact was just as large off the court where the civil rights activist fought for racial justice at every step of his life. Martenzie Johnson takes us inside the foundational chapter of Russell’s life, where he transformed a small program that didn’t even have a gym to practice in, into back-to-back national champions…and changed the entire sport of basketball along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For so many years I have relished this view, looking out at these legends this star-studded crew.
0:09.0	But a regular guest is not with us this year.
0:12.0	He approached every game and his life without fear.
0:16.0	We're thankful for 88 years of Bill Russell.
0:20.0	This league's greatest champ equal parts grit and hustle.
0:24.0	Pause now and let silence alone fill the air.
0:29.0	Bill's table this morning has won him.
0:32.0	Teacher.
0:33.0	The void left by Bill Russell is really hard to measure.
0:39.0	Right?
0:40.0	I mean, we just heard the sound of Ernie Johnson trying to do it with poetry over all star weekend.
0:45.0	But Martensi Johnson, we have asked you here because you've reported your own way in to the story of Bill Russell.
0:51.0	And this is a story that really does touch everything from the evolution of basketball to the evolution of America itself.
0:58.0	I mean, you lost one of the most decorated athletes of all time.
1:05.0	You can start with the 11 championships in 13 seasons, which I can go out on the limit and say probably will never be matched again in NBA history.
1:14.0	Those last two championships as a player coach, which again, outside of LeBron James, you probably will never ever see that again.
1:21.0	If LeBron wanted to do that, Olympic gold medalist, five time MVP, 12 time all star.
1:27.0	The accolades go on and on.
1:29.0	Even Adam Silver caught him.
1:31.0	The greatest champion of all team sports.
1:33.0	Yes.
1:34.0	So this is the guy that passed away.
	...

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