It's Time to Honor Bill Russell in Boston

The city of Boston has long had a love affair with its sports teams and heroes. Make a trip on I-90 between South and East Boston and you'll find yourself traveling inside of the Ted Williams Tunnel. Williams also has a statue in his honor outside of Fenway Park. Take a stroll around TD Garden and you'll see a bronzed Bobby Orr, flying through mid-air. There are various other tributes to iconic sports legends around the city, including the bronzed Converse sneakers of Larry Bird, but one name in particular is missing: Bill Russell.

Over 20 retired numbers hang in the rafters of TD Garden. These numbers serve as reminders of those who helped build the most decorated franchise in NBA history. On March 12, 1972, Bill Russell's #6 was raised to the rafters of the old Boston Garden. In 13 seasons with the Celtics, Russell won 11 championships. He was named most valuable player of the league on five separate occasions and an NBA all-star 12 different times. It was his tenacious defense and rebounding prowess that helped anchor the Celtics' dynasty, but Russell was more than just grit at the center position. He was a team player.

Russell has said that he made it a point to learn every play from all five positions on the floor. Thus, without even looking, he knew where everyone on the floor was supposed to be. This awareness of the game and his teammates, helped Russell ensure that the Celtics as a team were playing at their highest level. During the last three years of his career, Russell preached this philosophy not only as a player, but also as the coach. Said teammate Don Nelson of Russell to the Boston Herald, "There are two types of superstars. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was."

It was no coincidence that Boston won 11 championships in Russell's 13 seasons, including eight in a row. Russell put the Boston Celtics on the map as one of the most prominent sports franchises in history, yet wear is his recognition from the city of Boston? Sure, his #6 hangs high in the rafters, but so do the numbers of at least 20 other great Celtics. Where is the highway, the city park or at the very least a statue?

It has been over 30 years since Russell retired from the Celtics. In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America named him the greatest player in the history of the NBA. He's been named to all-NBA anniversary teams on multiple occasions and is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame. Despite all of these national accolades, he still lacks an individual honor in his own professional city of Boston.

There really is only one acceptable answer to why Boston has not built a shrine to Russell, and would be that maybe Russell does not want one. Although purely speculation, this hypothesis would at least appear to make some sense. After all, Russell was the ultimate team player.

Retired Numbers, Celtics Retired Numbers, Celtics.com

Ted Williams Tunnel, Tunnel Information, Bostonroads.com

Bill Russell Bio, Russell Bio, NBA.com

An Interview With Bill Russell, Interview, Academy of Achievement