Bill Russell takes a knee


Unless you've spent the past few days under a rock, you're most likely aware that the debate over national anthem protests, particularly in the NFL, has dominated discussion not only in the sports world, but on cable news as well. It all started Friday night when President Trump expressed his displeasure towards players who sit for the anthem at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama. After NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement supporting the league's players in response, Trump decided to fire off some tweets directed at Goodell and the protesting players.




But the NFL isn't the only league affected by conflict with the President. After Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry stated that he would be voting against a ceremonial trip to the White House honoring the team's 2017 Finals victory, Trump rescinded the invitation for Curry, and presumably the rest of the Warriors team.


The conflict has sparked reactions from current and former NBA stars including Curry, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Charles Barkley, and more. But yesterday, all-time Celtics great and the NBA's only 11-time champion Bill Russell, who has not previously been active on social media, made his position known as he shared a photo of him taking a knee with his Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was awarded to him by President Barack Obama in 2010. The account is not yet verified, but it's clearly Russell in the photo.



Russell is a pioneer of integration in sports, and as a black athlete who started his career in the late fifties and played throughout the sixties, he knows what it's like to face racism. Boston's greatest has spoken, and weather you agree with his stance or not, he must be respected.


Photo credit: Bloomberg, Getty Images
Follow Brendan at @brendansanders0

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