Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell touched lives far beyond the basketball court in his 88 years of life, his work as a mentor and civil rights activist literally helping to change the course of US history.
And for that, he is at least as fondly remembered by his peers in that struggle that saw him in the March On Washington at the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. And by the side of Muhammad Ali with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jim Brown as Ali defied the draft. Now, today, another ally in that struggle, the Reverend Al Sharpton, took some time to memorialize his friend and comrade.
Speaking with MSNBC after learning of Russell’s passing, Sharpton spoke at length about how the Celtics great pioneered the role of athletes using their platform for greater causes than sport.
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