CSNNE to air documentary on Bill Russell Nov. 9


In line with the recently erected statute of possibly the greatest Celtic of all time, CSNNE will air a documentary about Bill Russell on Nov. 9 at 10:30 p.m.

From a release from CSNNE about the documentary:

Comcast SportsNet presents Russell in Bronze – a 30-minute documentary chronicling the behind-the-scenes construction of the Bill Russell statue. The documentary examines pivotal moments in Russell’s life both personally and professionally. Russell in Bronze will air on November 9, 2013, immediately after Celtics vs. Heat Postgame Live at 10:30 p.m.

Russell in Bronze will feature exclusive and historical interviews with Russell himself, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Red Auerbach, Sam Jones, Frank Ramsey, Johnny Most, NBA Commissioner David Stern, Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, Celtics Partner Steve Pagliuca, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and local artist Ann Hirsch who was selected to construct the statue.

Aside from being a Hall of Fame basketball player, Russell is also a strong supporter for civil rights in America. Russell faced his share of racial discrimination both on and off the court. This motivated Russell to march with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the historic 1963 “March on Washington.”

It's been said, but this is a long time coming. Not only was Russell one of the best big men to ever play the game, he is a pretty amazing human being too. It's disgusting to think about how Russell was treated when he was playing in Boston.

For those who need a reminder, this is from a 2011 ESPN piece when the statute was first announced:

OK, we all think we know why it has taken this long. Russell never embraced the city of Boston when he played here -- it was always "the Celtics" -- and, from what we know, for pretty good reason. Boston was not a hospitable place for African-Americans in the 1950s and '60s (or, as we would discover with court-ordered busing, in the '70s, either). And God forbid that an African-American might be smart, outspoken, defiant and a great basketball player yet refused to sign autographs.

Vandals broke into Russell's suburban Boston house, wrote racial epithets on the walls and left feces on his bed.

Thankfully, the country and Boston are a little more accepting now.

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