“I would argue (that Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell) was the most important and impactful athlete that ever lived,” offered renowned sports journalist Jackie MacMullan in an interview on ESPN’s “Sports Center” show after news broke of Russell’s death. at age 88 this past Sunday.
“Certainly the most impactful basketball player,” she added, a legend in her field in her own right. “I don’t say that he won at every level — which he did — I don’t say that because he won 11 championships in 13 seasons, which will never, ever be duplicated. I say that because in the face of all that, there was so much to lose.”
“This man was a fearless civil rights activist at a time when our country was really very racially divided,” added MacMullan.
The famous sports journalist had plenty more to say about the Celtics legend in the clip embedded above.
Watch it in full to get MacMullan’s perspective on a true legend of our times, both on and off the court.
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Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire