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NFT: NBA to retire #6 league-wide in honor of Bill Russell

Anakim : 8/11/2022 3:03 pm
Just in
If any 1 player deserves to have his jersey retired  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 8/11/2022 3:16 pm : link
it's him.

I'm actually not a fan of these leaguewide jersey retirements, but it's good to see Bill Russell being celebrated like this.
Very cool  
Lurts : 8/11/2022 3:17 pm : link
.
NFL Needs To Do The Same For 56  
Trainmaster : 8/11/2022 3:27 pm : link
Some will argue for 12 for Brady, but lots of great QBs with 12.

LT by far the best player to wear 56.

Of course the NFL will never bestow that on “Bad Boy” LT.
Nice honor for the GOAT  
Stan in LA : 8/11/2022 3:31 pm : link
.
Which player  
JayBinQueens : 8/11/2022 3:36 pm : link
Will try to wear it this year...
RE: Which player  
widmerseyebrow : 8/11/2022 3:38 pm : link
In comment 15777651 JayBinQueens said:
Quote:
Will try to wear it this year...


Quentin Grimes baby!
Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
The_Boss : 8/11/2022 4:16 pm : link
But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?
RE: Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
JohnG in Albany : 8/11/2022 4:19 pm : link
In comment 15777683 The_Boss said:
Quote:
But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?


I'm guessing his civil rights work may also have something to do with it as well.

Also, players currently wearing number 6 will be allowed to continue. Grandfather clause.
RE: RE: Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
JohnG in Albany : 8/11/2022 4:21 pm : link
In comment 15777688 JohnG in Albany said:
Quote:
In comment 15777683 The_Boss said:


Quote:


But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?



I'm guessing his civil rights work may also have something to do with it as well.

Also, players currently wearing number 6 will be allowed to continue. Grandfather clause.


Russell was also the first African American head coach.
RE: NFL Needs To Do The Same For 56  
Jim in Fairfax : 8/11/2022 4:39 pm : link
In comment 15777642 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
Some will argue for 12 for Brady, but lots of great QBs with 12.

LT by far the best player to wear 56.

Of course the NFL will never bestow that on “Bad Boy” LT.

Neither player was the first black head coach in the NFL, nor were they instrumental in leading the league to national prominence, nor were they civil right leaders. This isn’t just about his playing ability. In fact, it’s probably the least important factor.
RE: Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 8/11/2022 4:54 pm : link
In comment 15777683 The_Boss said:
Quote:
But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?


I think MJ is the only one else who could get this treatment, due to his impact on the globalization of the sport and the league's financial success today.

But nobody else has Russell's on-court AND off-court resume, he's in a league of his own there.
RE: Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
bw in dc : 8/11/2022 5:04 pm : link
In comment 15777683 The_Boss said:
Quote:
But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?


With all due respect to the great Jerry West, Jordan should be the logo, instead

The amount of money he helped the NBA and its affiliates generate is phenomenal.

As for this gesture for Russell, I support the idea
MJ will most  
tyrik13 : 8/11/2022 5:05 pm : link
Assuredly get no.23 retired when the time comes for it. I think Magic could too
About 10 years too late  
arniefez : 8/11/2022 5:13 pm : link
but maybe they approached Russell and he didn't want it while he was alive. I vote no on anyone else. No one else deserves it IMO.
well  
It's a New Day : 8/11/2022 5:20 pm : link
He's one of the all time greats, but he's not Jackie Robinson. I am not in favor of this. It cheapens what Jackie did.
RE: About 10 years too late  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 8/11/2022 5:31 pm : link
In comment 15777735 arniefez said:
Quote:
but maybe they approached Russell and he didn't want it while he was alive. I vote no on anyone else. No one else deserves it IMO.


I think you could be right.

Russell also refused to be at his HOF ceremony because he felt like Chuck Cooper (1st black player drafted in the NBA) should have been inducted before him.

I feel like he would feel similarly about this honor, especially since Jackie Robinson is the only one with it retired throughout in baseball.
RE: well  
Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy : 8/11/2022 5:49 pm : link
In comment 15777750 It's a New Day said:
Quote:
He's one of the all time greats, but he's not Jackie Robinson. I am not in favor of this. It cheapens what Jackie did.


I think Wayne Gretzky having his number retired in hockey kind of shows that it doesn't just need to be about breaking the race barrier.

For what it's worth, Bill Russell was the only pall-bearer at Jackie Robinson's funeral who wasn't an ex-teammate of Jackie's. He was Jackie's favorite athlete and a man who he respected tremendously.

I'm generally not really a fan of leaguewide retirements like this because then you always say "but then this other guy deserves it too" and it could get a little awkward. But I don't think "he's not Jackie" is a good enough reason to say Russell doesn't deserve this.
I understand the thoughts about #42 in MLB  
arniefez : 8/11/2022 5:57 pm : link
I don't think it cheapens Jackie Robinson. I think it links Bill Russell with Jackie Robinson and I think he's worthy of that honor. Bill Russell won all those rings and was the first African American coach in any sport, in Boston, and his social activism off the court transcended sports.

The NBA players are the most socially active athletes now. It makes sense to me.

I loved watching LT play. Best defender ever to step on an NFL field.  
81_Great_Dane : 8/11/2022 7:23 pm : link
But he is not a guy you give a leaguewide honor to.

The drug addiction, the off-the-field stuff, not an exemplary life. He's said the same in the documentary about him.

Russell is being honored for his life's work, not just his on-the-court play and (mind blowing) 11 rings. LT's not that kind of man and not worthy of an unprecedented leaguewide honor — but he's still the defensive GOAT.
RE: I loved watching LT play. Best defender ever to step on an NFL field.  
Tuckrule : 8/12/2022 6:33 am : link
In comment 15777919 81_Great_Dane said:
Quote:
But he is not a guy you give a leaguewide honor to.

The drug addiction, the off-the-field stuff, not an exemplary life. He's said the same in the documentary about him.

Russell is being honored for his life's work, not just his on-the-court play and (mind blowing) 11 rings. LT's not that kind of man and not worthy of an unprecedented leaguewide honor — but he's still the defensive GOAT.


Well said
RE: Not that I’m critiquing this decision  
Nomad Crow on the Madison : 8/12/2022 6:52 am : link
In comment 15777683 The_Boss said:
Quote:
But if the nba does this for Russell, wouldn’t you think they’d have do the same for Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc when they pass?


Russell was so much more of a game-changing force both in the NBA and, more importantly, in society than those others you name.
...  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 8/12/2022 7:12 am : link
Well deserved for his on & off the court contributions.
They should do the same for Jordan  
LakeGeorgeGiant : 8/12/2022 12:33 pm : link
I also think it would have been nice to do this for Russell while he was alive
As it should!  
Carson53 : 8/14/2022 11:36 am : link
RIP Big Bill.
RE: They should do the same for Jordan  
GNewGiants : 8/14/2022 11:41 am : link
In comment 15779040 LakeGeorgeGiant said:
Quote:
I also think it would have been nice to do this for Russell while he was alive


Russell was such a high character guy - he would have probably refused it. He never put himself over others.
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