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A true legend of the game (Bill Russell) was the 4th man at the start of ABC's pregame coverage. I thought it was kinda cool how he just chimed in whenever he felt like it. He just starts talking while the others guys are going thru the motions. Was anyone else amused by this? Also once he started making a point, he just kept going and going....I can see the director in the truck with his head in his hands. Good times.

Honestly, not so great, great great player and you can tell he has a great basketball mind, but he is kind of hard to understand, you could tell he was nervous talking and while obviously very intelligent i think his nerves prevented him from being particularly articulate.

Actully I think since it was his first pregame he did well, though he was cut out a couple times and I thought they must of not of even rehearsed.

Ither way I would love to see Bill more next year ither with a national Network or with Tommy Heinson I believe if Bill wants a Job broadcasting he deserves it after his Career.

When you think about:

A. How long ago Russell played
B. The fact that Russell doesn't sign autographs and so on

he probably doesn't have much money at all by modern athlete standards.

Cousy certainly doesn't (he auctioned off his trophies for money, not for charity, when he moved into smaller quarters), and I see no reason to think Russell has significantly more.

Or has he had any major endorsement gigs?

Yikes
I was cringing while he was speaking. He is a great man and Celtic who should not have been put on live tv. It the fault of ABC for doing that to him. It would have been much better to have him interviewed.

You could hear at the end of the first segment SS trying to get out and Russ was still talking in the background. It was sad to see

Bill Russell is extremely bright, he's just getting along in years.

Those of an advanced age have trouble getting it together sometimes.

Cousy has his senior moments too, and he's getting paid to broadcast.

Never stopped me from enjoying hearing either one of them speak.

Spin Move wrote:Honestly, not so great, great great player and you can tell he has a great basketball mind, but he is kind of hard to understand, you could tell he was nervous talking and while obviously very intelligent i think his nerves prevented him from being particularly articulate.

WHAT? That's outrageous.

I think he meant.. "Honestly, not so great performance. He was a great, great, player..."

Who-rod wrote:I think he meant.. "Honestly, not so great performance. He was a great, great, player..."

I kinda agree with him though. I love Bill Russell, but he's not such a good interview.

If only he played like he commentated he might have won 12 or maybe even 13 rings

I wish I could've heard it...music at the bar was too loud. Sad to hear from a lot of you that he wasn't so hot, but you don't listen to Bill Russell to hear eloquence, you listen to hear his knowledge of the game, so I can forgive him.

He's a VERY eloquent writer, though.

Who-rod wrote:I think he meant.. "Honestly, not so great performance. He was a great, great, player..."

Great t-shirt in your sig.

Athanacropolis wrote:I wish I could've heard it...music at the bar was too loud. Sad to hear from a lot of you that he wasn't so hot, but you don't listen to Bill Russell to hear eloquence, you listen to hear his knowledge of the game, so I can forgive him.

He's a VERY eloquent writer, though.

It's not so much the content of his interview, I didn't like, but it's more of the way he was speaking. He had a lot of long pauses, spoke very slowly and choppy. Just not very good for fast paced TV, you know?

His point was good though, especially about how Kobe has to go and take what he needs to win. Not just take what the defense gives him. He knows his basketball, no doubt, so I think he comes off better in writing.

Ah I see what you mean tombattor.

Russell's Age is catching up with him, but he's still as smooth as a Lebron James cut to the basket. Respect the legend. Age touches us all eventually.

Ant wrote:Russell's Age is catching up with him, but he's still as smooth as a Lebron James cut to the basket. Respect the legend. Age touches us all eventually.

You're right. No disrespect to #6. It's just an observation.

I like how he mentioned in 69 the C's were down 2-0 and won the title that year.
The jerks didn't even listen to him talk.