Bill Russell in 1956

bob
MY NOTE: No Jim Thorpe perhaps, but pretty damn impressive nonetheless.


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Here is a great story which attests to the superb athleticism o fboth Bill Russell and his close lifelong friend Johnny Mathis. Bill eventually cleared 6'9 and 3/4", more than an inch better than the American who won the NCAA's that year of 1956. Bill stood 6'9". Earlier Johnny, who was 5'7.5" had beaten Bill Russell's previous record of 6'5". Think about that. Johnny was 13.5" shorter than Bill yet still out-jumped him! I love Johnny Mathis, and no. I'm not gay, but there's nothing wrong with that!

Bill also anchored the Don's winning mile relay team and finished third in the javelin when competing against Nevada. What a superstar. No question he would be a winner in today's NBA.

https://www.nevadaappeal.com/sports/johnny-mathis-bill-russell-and-mackay-stadium/

1956 NCAA High jump:
1. Reavis, Villanova – 6 feet, 8¼ inches
1. Lang, Missouri – 6 feet, 8¼ inches
1. Dyer, UCLA – 6 feet, 8¼ inches

When I was in high school, I was on the track team and did the high jump. Like Bill Russell, I easily cleared my height as well. Unlike Bill, it was my height in the 6th grade.

Bobh,
There's also retraction by Perk:
Well I’ve been checked by an All-Time Great so sorry @KingJames I’ve had a change of heart....@RealBillRussell is the Most Athletic Player in NBA History!!! My apologies @RealBillRussell https://twitter.com/realbillrussell/status/1273049821025189888 …

Also, IMHO, Russells' mental "athleticism" surpasses his physical.

AK

He really was a specimen. He ran like a gazelle down the court, teams could not keep up with him. Awesome.....that is all I can say about him as an athlete and a man

He was neighbors with my old girlfriend Judy Garland, now of Bradenton, whose dad Dr. Garland would often have the Russell's over for dinner. She was 12 at the time and knew nothing about basketball but thought Mr. Russell was a very nice man who had very intelligent conversations with her dad.

This article from Wikipedia is a pretty amazing story, full of many factys I never knew about Mr. MVP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell

Celtics Direct (@CelticsDirect) Tweeted:

I still cant get over this clip of Bill Russell jumping over a guy 🤯

https://t.co/h6XpSh6nnf https://twitter.com/CelticsDirect/status/1278748179912175616?s=20


bob


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How long is it going to take the rest of the world to come around to what dboss already knows and said in our zoom meeting?!!

Bill Russell - T.G.O.A.T.P.!!! Next up, the MJ myth!

db