As a kid, before the NBA moved west, I rooted for the Celtics, not only because they were good but because it seemed like half the team (Russell included) was from McClymonds High in West Oakland, reaching the NBA by way of USF. Huey Newton was another McClymonds grad. Sadly, the neighborhood is being gentrified with a vengeance— if you’ve seen “Blindspotting,” you may remember scene there with the smarmy white realtor, preparing to close out a deal with the landlord on behalf of her yuppie clients while an elderly black couple is being evicted.
Thought I responded earlier but probably forgot to his "reply', and OG liability. My best memories of Sam Jones was his old-school bank shot, which was deadly, but which you rarely see now except on lay-ups. Sam was the prototype of the 'shooting guard', another position that seems to be on the way to becoming a relic, as today's 'switchable' defensive roles require folks who can defend everything from on-ball to point guards to posting up big men. And 7 footers can dribble and sink 3s. Its an exciting game, requiring tremendous skill and stamina from phenomenal athletes. And probably one reason why dominant athletes of their era, like Sam Jones and even Bill Russel (lightning strike me) might have problems in today's game. But comparing players form different eras doesn't make a lot of sense.
Great article. Brought to mind other great athletes who stood up for social change. Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul Jabbar just to name a few. Or how about Curt Flood who was effectively banned from baseball after he successfully fought to rid baseball of slavery (known as the reserve clause). John Carlos and Tommie Smith with black gloved fists raised on the medal stand at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. And more current acts of resistance like Colin Kaepernick kneeling in defiance during the playing of the national anthem during the Black Rise Matter protests. Thanks for reminding us of the contributions of the great Bill Russell. And to anyone reading this...who did I leave out?
Thanks for that Bob. Roberto Clemente, great right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates who died in a place crash while delivering humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Bill Walton, brilliant UCLA center and oh yeah, Celtics 6th man on the 1986 championship, arguably the greatest NBA team ever. Anti-war protester and supporter of indigenous peoples. And probably the most famous fan of the Grateful Dead, "the big red Dead-head".
Well said Jeff. I was lucky to go to my first Celtics game in 1969 at the old Garden to see Sam Jones night (#24 aka The Shooter). Celtics blew out Nate Thurmond’s San Francisco Warriors by 48 points! This season will be very challenging without Tatum, Jru, Horford and the others who left the team.
Nice article Jeff. And what Celtics fan could forget that "sweet, calming" effect of Johnny Most: "Why that's a violent, violent foul by Laimbeer. Thomas, Rodman and Laimbeer --what a yellow and gutless bunch of thugs! What a disgusting display by this dirty Pistons team. And now off the bench comes that nice guy Mahorn. Oh my , oh my!
Thank you for this great column. I learned a lot about Jaylen Brown and also the Celtics role in unionizing. Back in 1968 I didn’t realize I was making half as much as a Celtics player as a nurse. Yes, we need more than one selfcare strategy in these times.
Elly DM'd me about Dr. J -- yeah I was just teasing. I loved Dr. J, one of the few athletes who can say they changed the game -- not quite like Russell, but still true. And Ely reminded me he went to UMASS, a state school, which is another point in his favor. My fragile principles do not completely prevent me from admiring other teams and players! Like the Warriors and their principled and progressive coach Steve Kerr who is unafraid to speak out about social justice. Or the San Antonio Spurs, who I liked even when they were lousy, with all their international players, their support of the immigrant community (remember the 'Los Spurs' jerseys?) and Coach Poppovitch, who is incapable of keeping quiet about anything, from school shootings to racial justice. I haven't seem such outspokenness from coaches like Kerr and Poppovich in any other sport (except the WNBA) and can't imagine it in the robotic NFL.
As a kid, before the NBA moved west, I rooted for the Celtics, not only because they were good but because it seemed like half the team (Russell included) was from McClymonds High in West Oakland, reaching the NBA by way of USF. Huey Newton was another McClymonds grad. Sadly, the neighborhood is being gentrified with a vengeance— if you’ve seen “Blindspotting,” you may remember scene there with the smarmy white realtor, preparing to close out a deal with the landlord on behalf of her yuppie clients while an elderly black couple is being evicted.
Thought I responded earlier but probably forgot to his "reply', and OG liability. My best memories of Sam Jones was his old-school bank shot, which was deadly, but which you rarely see now except on lay-ups. Sam was the prototype of the 'shooting guard', another position that seems to be on the way to becoming a relic, as today's 'switchable' defensive roles require folks who can defend everything from on-ball to point guards to posting up big men. And 7 footers can dribble and sink 3s. Its an exciting game, requiring tremendous skill and stamina from phenomenal athletes. And probably one reason why dominant athletes of their era, like Sam Jones and even Bill Russel (lightning strike me) might have problems in today's game. But comparing players form different eras doesn't make a lot of sense.
Great article. Brought to mind other great athletes who stood up for social change. Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul Jabbar just to name a few. Or how about Curt Flood who was effectively banned from baseball after he successfully fought to rid baseball of slavery (known as the reserve clause). John Carlos and Tommie Smith with black gloved fists raised on the medal stand at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. And more current acts of resistance like Colin Kaepernick kneeling in defiance during the playing of the national anthem during the Black Rise Matter protests. Thanks for reminding us of the contributions of the great Bill Russell. And to anyone reading this...who did I leave out?
Roberto Clemente!
Thanks for that Bob. Roberto Clemente, great right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates who died in a place crash while delivering humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Bill Walton, brilliant UCLA center and oh yeah, Celtics 6th man on the 1986 championship, arguably the greatest NBA team ever. Anti-war protester and supporter of indigenous peoples. And probably the most famous fan of the Grateful Dead, "the big red Dead-head".
Well said Jeff. I was lucky to go to my first Celtics game in 1969 at the old Garden to see Sam Jones night (#24 aka The Shooter). Celtics blew out Nate Thurmond’s San Francisco Warriors by 48 points! This season will be very challenging without Tatum, Jru, Horford and the others who left the team.
Nice article Jeff. And what Celtics fan could forget that "sweet, calming" effect of Johnny Most: "Why that's a violent, violent foul by Laimbeer. Thomas, Rodman and Laimbeer --what a yellow and gutless bunch of thugs! What a disgusting display by this dirty Pistons team. And now off the bench comes that nice guy Mahorn. Oh my , oh my!
Thank you for this great column. I learned a lot about Jaylen Brown and also the Celtics role in unionizing. Back in 1968 I didn’t realize I was making half as much as a Celtics player as a nurse. Yes, we need more than one selfcare strategy in these times.
Too bad nurses don't make half what the Celtics players make today!
Move over Dave Zirin we got another one on the bench. And he brings assistants and assistants to the assistants with him. Maybe a column on Dr. J?
If it took Zirin as long to write something as it does me, he'd starve to death. And Dr J -- he played for some other team, right?
Elly DM'd me about Dr. J -- yeah I was just teasing. I loved Dr. J, one of the few athletes who can say they changed the game -- not quite like Russell, but still true. And Ely reminded me he went to UMASS, a state school, which is another point in his favor. My fragile principles do not completely prevent me from admiring other teams and players! Like the Warriors and their principled and progressive coach Steve Kerr who is unafraid to speak out about social justice. Or the San Antonio Spurs, who I liked even when they were lousy, with all their international players, their support of the immigrant community (remember the 'Los Spurs' jerseys?) and Coach Poppovitch, who is incapable of keeping quiet about anything, from school shootings to racial justice. I haven't seem such outspokenness from coaches like Kerr and Poppovich in any other sport (except the WNBA) and can't imagine it in the robotic NFL.