at a pep rally my freshman year in 1968 and Bill Russell, Red Auerbach, Satch Sanders and Bailey Howell were there after giving a clinic. More on that later. He had an absolutely great time at the pep rally and I was walking by him in a crowd just outside the old field house, where the Viet Nam Memorial now sits. I put my hand on his shoulder just to touch him and he did not react. I know I was lucky because he hated even signing autographs but I was not going to let that opportunity pass. At the clinic that day the three Celtics were scrimmaging against Austin Carr, Bob Whitmore and Bob Arnzen and they were pretty much dominating. Finally Auerbach says ok first team to three wins. Well Austin Carr drilled three corner jump shots on three tries and the college crowd went beserk after each basket and our three ND boys won three to nothing. Auerbach had a shit eatin grin on his face after each basket Carr made. Red Auerbach loved Austin Carr because he could move so well without the ball.
Bill Russell was a gem and he once said that a sign that we are overcoming racism will be when someone can criticize a black person and no one will think anything about it. He and Malcolm X got it about white liberals. I loved your post and Russell's film.
Unfortunately this provoked the freaks on the right to react in kind
First!
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