Bill Russell & Nichelle Nichols both, quite literally, embodied grace & dignity in the face of not just mere adversity, but outright HATRED for their embodied aspirations, & the palpable NEED for them to FAIL, which they BOTH REFUSED TO DO.
????— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) July 31, 2022
"If you can see it, you can be it," the saying goes. Nichelle Nichols gave millions of people the opportunity to see themselves on the frontiers of science and exploration, boldly expanding human understanding.
She inspired so many of us to reach for the stars. What a legacy. pic.twitter.com/Ly2IpmxWiJ
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 1, 2022
A friend sent this to me and ?? pic.twitter.com/B8kMYlFqu3
— Heather Rae ?? STLV ???? They/She ???????????? (@BatlethBabe) August 1, 2022
Bill Russell was one of the greatest athletes in our history, and the first Black coach in a major U.S. sports league. Off the court, he used his voice to advance civil rights and social justice. We are a better nation because of him.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 1, 2022
For Black athlete activism, Bill Russell is the north star. My latest for @TheAtlantic https://t.co/J6Q5yswSq9
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 1, 2022
Not many people can make Charles Barkley, the former NBA MVP and legendarily outspoken broadcaster, pipe down. But the NBA icon Bill Russell, who died on Sunday age 88, once called Barkley and did just that.
“He called me. ‘Charles Barkley, this is Bill Russell.’ I said, ‘Oh hey, Mr. Russell,’” Barkley told me. “He said, ‘I need you to shut the fuck up.’ I said, ‘Okay.’”
Russell had seen Barkley on television complaining about how much he paid in taxes. Russell was displeased with Barkley’s comments.
“[Russell] said, ‘Son, let me tell you something,” Barkley said. “‘You grew up poor. You went to public school, and I bet the police came to your neighborhood when somebody called the cops.’ I said, ‘Yes, Mr. Russell.’ He said, ‘Somebody was paying those people, and you didn’t have any money. I don’t ever want to see your Black ass on TV complain about taxes ever again.’ And I never did.”
Russell’s record—11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics—came to define winning. More than that, though, his fierce dedication to speaking out against racial injustice, his deep sense of integrity and righteousness, has long been considered the gold standard for athlete activism. Today, many Black athletes revere Russell and regard him as their north star…
Perspective: Bill Russell was a fully dimensional Black athlete more than a half century before it was okay to be one https://t.co/G86qjh6g11
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 31, 2022
… Russell and Chamberlain were among the pioneers in transforming the game into a more vertical show, one in which tall men with astounding leaping ability did unimaginable things in the air. Russell reserved most of his athleticism for practical purposes: rebounding and blocking shots. He combined his physical skill with his mind, studying the manner in which errant shots ricocheted off the rim and developing strategies for when and how to block shots…
In paying his respects Sunday, Michael Jordan said of Russell, “He paved the way and set an example for every Black player who came into the league after him, including me.” When Russell retired from the NBA in 1969, Jordan was 6. Abdul-Jabbar was about to enter the league the next season. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were 10 years from beginning their rivalry in the NCAA championship game. His heyday with Red Auerbach and Boston’s all-star cast was so long ago, and recency bias has diminished some appreciation of the enormity of his influence. But considering all that the NBA — and sports in general — has become, Russell belongs among a handful of the most significant athletic icons ever to walk the planet.
He was a defining sports figure during a defining time in American history, speaking up during the same era in which Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, Arthur Ashe, Jim Brown and Abdul-Jabbar refused to stay silent. Russell was 13 when Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, and he used Robinson’s example as a blueprint for his career. When Robinson died, Russell was a pallbearer at his funeral. On July 19, Russell wrote his last message on Twitter, wishing Robinson’s widow, Rachel, a happy 100th birthday.
Eleven years ago, when President Barack Obama awarded Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he reflected on the big man’s legacy.
“Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,” Obama said during the ceremony. “He marched with King; he stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the Black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players and made possible the success of so many who would follow.”…
From a thread full of lovely vignettes:
Bill Russell used to go to Wilt Chamberlain's house for Thanksgiving
"eat my food, sleep in my bed and then go out there and whip my butt and my mother would say 'Now Wilt we shouldn't feed Bill so well next time…'" pic.twitter.com/Atp1A3oF6n
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) July 31, 2022
The original cast was really a unique collection of remarkable, talented, and kind people.
And William Shatner. https://t.co/fFXRrjWlwE
— Jort-Michel Connard ?? (@torriangray) July 31, 2022
Elizabelle
Glad to see Bill Russell get a lot of respect, too.
Are the original Star Trek episodes streaming somewhere? Haven’t watched any, except one about Tribbles or something. Um, must confess, in my house the shows to catch were Batman and Dark Shadows.
cain
I never even heard of Bill Russell until now. So great to hear about these stories about `black athletes. Him, Mohammed Ali, and others really set the stone – using their power for equity for Black Americans everywhere. Rest in Power.
It’s such an interesting dynamic where a woman and a man, both had profound influence on black men and women and both dying the same day. Rest in Power, Nichols.
ETA – and look at that – powerful comment, powerful position #2. YES!
cain
@Elizabelle: Which batman? Batman: The Animated Series – the best of all the Batman!
SiubhanDuinne
I’m so glad to see the tributes keep coming for these two giants. Thanks especially for sharing the Charles Barkley story (“I need you to shut the fuck up.” “Yes sir, Mr. Russell.”) and the Wilt Chamberlain T’giving dinner story. Priceless!
Steeplejack
@Elizabelle:
You can stream Star Trek on Paramount+ or buy episodes from several services.
Elizabelle
@cain: Adam West and Burt Ward and Cesar Romero and … whoever played Alfred. Bam! Pow! Batman aired after my bedtime (which was absurdly early), and was the show that I was allowed to stay up late for. Only Wednesday evenings.
Dark Shadows was a few years later. My mom would watch that one with us.
Elizabelle
@Steeplejack: Good to know. Really should check them out.
Wondering if maybe the county library has them on DVD or whatever, too. They have The Wire on DVD, so shall be taking those out in a few weeks. I miss so much of pop culture, not being much of a TV watcher.
Elizabelle
@SiubhanDuinne: Loved both those stories.
Meanwhile, FWIW, Mrs. Jackie Robinson (Rachel) just turned 100 on July 19th. Good to have some pathbreakers still with us.
Immanentize
@Elizabelle: You forgot the sexiest of all – Eartha Kitt as Cat Woman, certainly as watch worthy as Uhuru. Batman w/Adam West was the truest comic book adaptation. I loved the cameos from the building windows. This was all at the same time as Laugh In. Life was a lot funnier then
geg6
@Elizabelle:
I recommend TOS simply for being so unique and groundbreaking. You’ll laugh at the special effects though. Then watch Next Generation for the best the series has to show and for the best Captain, Jean-Luc Picard.
Elizabelle
@Immanentize: Eartha Kitt was unforgettable. Wasn’t Julie Newmar in there too?
And we caught the tail end of The Flintstones in first release. That show ended in 1966. They were on in the early evenings. (We were watching from Hawaii; no idea if they aired the same time as the mainland or what …)
Elizabelle
@geg6: TOS is The Original Show?
Dangerman
Rock on, Vernon. I’ve probably said it previously, but please pardon the repetition if so; best rock concert I’ve ever seen was Living Colour. Probably because it was a small club and I was a few feet from the band.
geg6
@Elizabelle:
Yes.
Gin & Tonic
Men at work.
geg6
@Dangerman:
Many years ago, I saw them open for the Stones. No one knew who they were. They rocked Three Rivers Stadium.
guachi
I’m sure Alex Pareene randomly chose Mannix but he couldn’t have made a worse choice. As I mentioned a few days ago Gail Fisher was the first Black female to ever win an Emmy award for starring in… Mannix.
Immanentize
@Elizabelle: Newmar was no Kitt. But also looked great in spandex!
Immanentize
Dupe
Baud
@Immanentize:
So do I!
HumboldtBlue
Bill Russell:
PAM Dirac
I did watch the “Woman in Motion” documentary recommended yesterday. It was exceptionally good and showed that Star Trek was just a small part of what Nichelle Nichols should be remembered for. She gets a lot of credit for successfully getting women and minorities into the space program. She had been pretty vocal about how NASA didn’t seem to be very serious about making space for all of us and she ended up with a meeting with the NASA administrator. When the administrator suggested that she be the face of the program she agreed as long as she ran the program. She had already started a production company that was developing what would now be called STEM education and recruitment. She also wanted to make clear that if she was successful and NASA didn’t follow though and get these people in to the astronaut corp, she would become “their worst nightmare”. She was quite amazing in so many ways.
JML
Bill Russell was remarkable. An amazing leader. People talk about him as being the ultimate winner, someone who was almost pathological about it, an extreme competitor. And that’s true. But he’s also proof that you don’t have to be a shitty teammate and a complete asshole to also be a huge winner and driven competitor. Russell’s teammates revered him. He didn’t need to dominate or demean them to be great. He was a great teammate in addition to every other superlative you could throw at him.
Total legend. (who also had a fantastic laugh)
Immanentize
@Elizabelle: Akshully!
STOS = “Star Trek Original Series” while if you are in a Star Trek discussion, TOS = “The Original Series.”
STNG = “Star Trek Next Generation.”
Brit in Chicago
@SiubhanDuinne: My opinion of Barkley just went up a notch when I read that story. I think he knew who was the better player, and the bigger man (and I don’t mean in inches or pounds).
Immanentize
@Dangerman: i loved Living Colour live. I have a Vernon Reid guitar pick he flung at me in Boston. The pick is purple and has printed on it: “Vernon Reid.” Just in case I forgot?
Immanentize
@Baud: Who’s to say?
Booger
@geg6: There is a ‘remastered’ DVD set available where the special effects are nicely updated. The “Doomsday Machine” episode holds up well and is greatly improved with the new effects; it was also one of the only episodes to have a unique score with motifs for the various parts.
NotMax
Elizabelle
The Flintstones was the first animated series to be regularly scheduled during prime time.
Check out their sponsor.
;)
ExpatDanBKK
Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols were amazing, inspiring people. I’m happy to have shared the planet with them.
And Vernon Reid? Probably the best 80s hard rock guitarist you probably never heard of! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7xxgRUyzgs0
HumboldtBlue
@Brit in Chicago:
I’ve been watching Charles Barkley since he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s actually a pretty good guy, open, honest, very funny, and as with this Russell interaction, willing to listen and learn.
A few weeks ago, he spoke plainly and sincerely to our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.
“If you are gay or transgender, I love you. And if anybody gives you shit, you tell ’em Charles says ‘fuck you!’”
You’re not Brit from Lost In The Pond are ya? Grimsby Town’s most famous Lawrence.
Elizabelle
@NotMax: Mm hm. But: the lawnmower!
Mike in NC
I think the general rule is that a person has to have been deceased for ten years before they get a postage stamp. Maybe they will waive that for a giant like Bill Russell.
SiubhanDuinne
@Elizabelle:
Somewhere, very recently, I saw that Bill Russell’s very last tweet was a 100th birthday greeting to Mrs. Robinson. BTW, there’s another hella strong and distinguished woman.
satby
PACT Act passes!
Dorothy A. Winsor
The PACT has passed. Not unexpected, under the circumstances. Now for some primary results
HumboldtBlue
Breaking: The Senate has passed the PACT Act, the bill to expand benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits, 86-11.
The no votes were Crapo, Lankford, Lee, Lummis, Paul, Risch, Romney, Shelby, Tillis, Toomey, Tuberville.
prostratedragon
@Mike in NC: Maybe not quite, since Pete Seeger has his this year (d. 2014). Or it is waivable, he being someone else for whom one might do it.
Might as well “Enjoy the Silence” with Vernon Reid.
SiubhanDuinne
@Immanentize:
And at pretty much the same time, I think (maybe a hair earlier), Diana Rigg was slinking around our TVs as Emma Peel.
Also, leave us not forget Barbara Feldon.
HinTN
@NotMax: Great googly moogly! Now you make me think that when I took up smoking at 16, so I could be ready to smoke pot in that nebulous future when I might have the opportunity, I smoked Winstons because I watched the Flintstones. GAH
Elizabelle
@HumboldtBlue: Romney was a no. The others are troglodytes, plain and simple. Romney suprises me, though.
Baud
@HumboldtBlue:
Romney?
zhena gogolia
@Elizabelle: Alan Napier
HumboldtBlue
@Elizabelle:
Nothing any of these people do any more catches me by surprise.
Elizabelle
@zhena gogolia: Ah, Alfred. Thank you.
eclare
@HumboldtBlue: Wow! My pathetic excuses for senators, Blackburn and Hagerty, voted for it?
I am surprised.
eclare
@Elizabelle: Romney’s vote surprised me too.
NotMax
@Booger
In 2004 William Windom reprised his Commodore Matt Decker role in one of the better guest star appearances for nostalgia buffs among fan-produced original episodes based on TOS.
zhena gogolia
@HumboldtBlue: Romney? Toomey?
Dangerman
@Gin & Tonic: I read someplace that Wilt would have been a hell of a decathlete. Read the same about Russell yesterday. I’m too young to remember BR as a player but their games must have been something.
A Good Woman
I recall @Immanentize expressing concern about fetuses becoming legal persons. Looks like Georgia is going down that path.
HumboldtBlue
@Baud: @zhena gogolia:
According to Acyn
UncleEbeneezer
@Dangerman: Living Colour was one of my first concerts and their debut album Vivid is pretty much the reason I picked up guitar and drums. Incredible band. I saw their Vivid anniversary tour a few years ago and they still are absolutely killing it. Plus songs like Pride, Funny Vibe and Which Way to America couldn’t be more timely as they were 30 years ago. I also got to meet them (at a record signing for Stain) and they are semi-regular guests on TheBlackGuyWhoTips podcast. Vernon and Corey are both super smart and hilarious!
HumboldtBlue
@Dangerman:
He might be the greatest athlete this country ever produced.
UncleEbeneezer
@HumboldtBlue: Barkley does get into respectability and BlueLivesMatter bullshit a bit too much for my taste.
Raoul Paste
@Dangerman:
I can easily see how Living Colour would be your best memory. Back in the day I saw a little-known band called the Eagles open for Yes, and yet i’d have to say that Santana, whom we saw 10 years ago, was the best live show. Extremely tight, total pros.
Dan B
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Marrange protection has been moved to September. Discouraging but probably wise.
Jeffro
@Dangerman: seconded here – they’re just unbelievable live, even in recent years.
SiubhanDuinne
@eclare:
Yup, me too. I was going to say so in a comment, but everyone else beat me to it.
Elizabelle
This was wonderful. ESPN: Celebrating Rachel: Jackie Robinson’s widow and her impact beyond the game
Interview with their youngest son, David. Talks about his parents and their times; how he was the only black child at a private school with 400 plus students. He now lives in Tanzania and runs a coffee cooperative.
Background on Rachel Robinson in ESPN’s intro: she was a civil rights activist, and in her own right, a pioneer in the medical field. In 1961, Rachel graduated from New York University with a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing. She was later the director of nursing for the Connecticut Mental Health Center and an assistant professor of nursing at Yale University.
Ben Cisco
@Elizabelle: Geg beat me to it, but all of ST is available on Paramount+. TNG (The Next Generation) and my personal favorite DS9 (Deep Space 9) run on BBC America.
Kevin
I hope they both felt some of the love that is outpouring in death while they were alive. Ill admit I didn’t know much about either until now but clearly they both had huge a impact.
Elizabelle
@Ben Cisco: Thank you. Will have to get with the programs.
@Kevin: It’s striking what a different world they encountered, and succeeded in. And sought to make progress for others, and inspire people to dream.
And then we see, from the next post’s topic, now worse Americans want to drag us backwards. We cannot let that happen.
Geoduck
Shatner is a jerk, but I will say that on those occasions when he makes an effort, he is a pretty good actor. Sadly, he himself has admitted that he half-assed it a lot during the TOS era.
kalakal
@Elizabelle: The episode that usually gets voted as the best is The City on the edge of Forever
Miss Bianca
@Elizabelle: Alan Napier played Alfred. I recently caught a younger Alan Napier performance, playing the role of a country doctor in the great spooky story The Uninvited from 1944. I thought he looked familiar but I couldn’t place him. Then I looked up the cast list on IMdB and saw a head shot taken when he was older and said, immediately, “Oh! Alfred!”
Elizabelle
@Miss Bianca: The Uninvited. Will look for that. Spooky is good.