.....when in the summer of 1999, he let his daughter Karen talk him into accepting a Bill Russell Night in Boston that the Celtics put on. This is a proud man, who:
- Wouldn't sign autographs (even for teammates)
- Wouldn't attend his team number retirement, nor
- His induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame
- And always did his own thing, but
- Finally agreed to attend that night
- (And Wilt Chamberlain attended, only to die later that year).
In contemplating the plight of Americans who might not look like you, nor live like you but who nonetheless need your support - I was reminded of his words that night.
That evening, he spoke of meeting wealthy, elderly people (Well-off Republicans, he has often said, tire him out by complaining how tough they have it) at college graduations. They would say to him, "Bill, love how you played the game. What I don't like is having to constantly pay-and-pay to educate other people's children".
The line of the night was his reply: "Sir, there are no 'other people's children'. They are all our children".
How I hope that many heretofore unmoved Americans could hear those words, at this time of need. (And now as I think of it, Bill Russell - although he came of age in Oakland, California - is a native of Monroe, Lousiana).