Mar. 3, 2006 - met Bill Russell, NBA hall of famer and racial wiseman

Bill Russell, the HOF basketball player was speaking.

He is a man not just of legendary sports achievements, but of off-the-court greatness. He has many foundations and his words explained things that I never really understood as well as I do now.

Here's a few things I remember from his hour long talk.

A guy came up to him in the 70s: "Mr. Russell, I am here to tell you that Affirmative Action is wrong. Tell me how can you explain it."

Russell said, "well how about this. Let's say I never played basketball. And there was a team with 12 and that I had an opportunity to make the team. Would you give me that chance?". The guy said, "No, only the best player at the time must have that spot." Bill then said "Well how can I ever have the chance? Your system is rigged so that I am never the best qualified person for it."

Some guy from our room then carefully asked, "I don't know if you are involved with the current game. But nowadays these people are different. What do you think about the spoiled NBA players that say I'm not a role model, the Allen Iverson and Ron Artests?"

Bill said, "well I think what they say is taken wrong. They may say I'm not a role model because it's the parents that should be the role model. Also, when one say "these spoiled athletes" when one of them acts up, it reminds me of how there are more billionaires than these millionaire athletes. And you don't hear much from them because a fan on tv sees only these athletes that act up."

In Washington state somewhere, 2 years ago he was asked "what do you think about LeBron James got $60 million and he hasn't even touched a basketball?" Bill said, "if you drive over to Bill Gates' house, he has a son who hasn't done anything and he's already a billionaire. I don't see anyone complaining about that."

"Like Jesse Jackson said, it's not the bus, it's us", he added.

He repeated words he lived by:

-don't judge someone just based off of one aspect, what he looks like or sounds like

He emphasized that it would be your loss to not want to hear what that person has to say or offer.

-when confronted with something unpleasant, if it's not going to make your life better don't react the way you initially want to

-treat everyone with respect and kindness

He recounted how he was asked to speak after the "Boston" Patriots won their first Super Bowl so they can go on and keep winning. He said that they were shocked when in a violent sport he asked them to treat each other with kindness (reminds me of Joe Gibbs). So much so that Teddy Bruschi asked him to meet his wife who was touched by what he told her Bill said.

He also said some "bizarre" guy who used to work for him a restaurant he once owned in Boston said to him "Bill I was never able to tell you something back then because you were my boss. So I'd like to tell you now. I just have to have you." Instead of reacting angrily or whatever, he said he basically said "I'm sorry but I don't go that way. I'm flattered you think that way but I'm not that way. Tell you what, give me your phone number and if I change, you'll be the first I'll call". He said there was nothing to gain by getting angry with him.

I wish I got to shake his hand but being in the room to hear his 80 years, and racial wisdom was enough.


I originally posted this here, and got some very interesting response, particularly as it sorta relates to my old post about "blacks being loud in movies": http://www.karljay.com/forum/forum.php?postid=134776