It may not be 83-year-old basketball and civil rights legend Bill Russell tweeting at @TheBillRussell, but that’s the man himself in the photo. Russell is the winningest winner in pro sports history with titles in 11 of his 13 years in the NBA — after winning collegiate titles at San Francisco. And then he won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. You see the Medal of Freedom on the ribbon dangling in front of the big man’s chest in the photo.
Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice.” #takeaknee #medaloffreedom #NFL #BillRussell #MSNBC pic.twitter.com/1MhinoAcW7
— TheBillRussell (@BillRus73270016) September 25, 2017
The Twitter account is unverified, but Russell appears to be collaborating. Russell’s history of social activism is as legendary as his ability to collect championship rings — more of them than he has fingers to put them on. Russell also won Olympic Gold and became the first African American coach in any of the US’s four major sports leagues. The NBA Finals MVP Award is named for him. To learn more about Russell’s social activism, a great place to start is with Bill Simmons’ exceptionally good interview with the man. It’s here:
Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice.” #takeaknee #medaloffreedom #NFL #BillRussell #MSNBC pic.twitter.com/1MhinoAcW7
— TheBillRussell (@BillRus73270016) September 25, 2017
Bill Russell, bottom left, supports Ali’s Vietnam War protest, 1967 / Kneels in support of Colin Kaepernick’s police brutality protest, 2017 pic.twitter.com/7D55g7zAjB
— Sean Craig (@sdbcraig) September 26, 2017
