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Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend – A Poignant Memoir of Race, Basketball, and an Unlikely Bond
“Bill Russell was the greatest team basketball player ever….[He] has produced a moving tribute to his friend and, in a larger sense, to friendship.”
—Booklist
In Red and Me, Boston Celtics basketball legend Bill Russell pays homage to his mentor and coach, the inimitable Red Auerbach. A poignant remembrance of a life-altering relationship in the tradition of Big Russ and Me and Tuesdays With Morrie, Red and Me tells an unforgettable story of one unlikely and enduring friendship set against the backdrop of the greatest basketball dynasty in NBA history.
—Booklist
In Red and Me, Boston Celtics basketball legend Bill Russell pays homage to his mentor and coach, the inimitable Red Auerbach. A poignant remembrance of a life-altering relationship in the tradition of Big Russ and Me and Tuesdays With Morrie, Red and Me tells an unforgettable story of one unlikely and enduring friendship set against the backdrop of the greatest basketball dynasty in NBA history.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
49 people are currently reading
1608 people want to read
About the author
Bill Russell
6 books22 followersWilliam Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) was an American former professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969.
Bill^^^^Russell
Bill^^^^Russell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 4, 2012
A heart-warming look at the special relationship between Celtic basketball legends Bill Russell and Red Auerbach. As a player Russell joined the Boston team at a time of great racial prejudice and strife. He and his coach Auerbach developed a bond through mutual respect that defied the color barrier of the day, essentially by almost completely ignoring it. Both wanted to win and that's all that mattered to them. The short and focused, Red and Me sticks almost entirely to the friendship that rose from this cohesive pairing, straying only on rare occasion to add a quick anecdote, most often only for the purpose of illustrating a point. Russell, a highly private man on and off the court, uses this book to finally shed a bit of light on his long time relationship with the now deceased Auerbach in a way he seldom if ever did in the past. Seek in depth, career-spanning analysis elsewhere, because this one's just about Red and him.
Rating: 3.5 stars I'm a life-long Celtics fan. I tried to rate this without bias, buuut...just take that into consideration.
Rating: 3.5 stars I'm a life-long Celtics fan. I tried to rate this without bias, buuut...just take that into consideration.
May 16, 2009
An inspiring book that explores the anatomy of a friendship. Red Auerbach was the Coach/GM of the Boston Celtics, and Bill Russell their star center. Together these two men won 11 NBA championships, but more than that they formed a unique and meaningful bond that lasted until Red's death on October 28th 2006.
In Red and Me, Russell illuminates the qualities that each brought to the relationship, and gives examples of how these qualities allowed them to work together so well. Along the way Russell explains his philosophy of friendship and offers some amazing autobiographical anecdotes.
Red and Me is much more than just a Basketball book, it is both a fitting tribute to Red, and a reminder to the rest of us to value the special relationships in our own lives. Recommend this book to a friend, and let them know that you're thinking about them :)
In Red and Me, Russell illuminates the qualities that each brought to the relationship, and gives examples of how these qualities allowed them to work together so well. Along the way Russell explains his philosophy of friendship and offers some amazing autobiographical anecdotes.
Red and Me is much more than just a Basketball book, it is both a fitting tribute to Red, and a reminder to the rest of us to value the special relationships in our own lives. Recommend this book to a friend, and let them know that you're thinking about them :)
September 10, 2022
While this book was rather repetitive and not terribly well written it will nonetheless be loved by lovers of the game and of Bill Russell/Red Auerbach in particular. Russell comes across as a curmudgeonly man of principal.
A major point he makes again and again is that his relationship with Red was one of equals, that Red never ordered him around. A lesson perhaps to leaders of great men.
While Russell was the first black coach in any major sport he was very much not a Jackie Robinson character. While Jackie was chosen to integrate because of his skills and winning personality, Russell had no interest in winning fans. He was who he was. As he said it he never played for Boston, he played for the Celtics.
A major point he makes again and again is that his relationship with Red was one of equals, that Red never ordered him around. A lesson perhaps to leaders of great men.
While Russell was the first black coach in any major sport he was very much not a Jackie Robinson character. While Jackie was chosen to integrate because of his skills and winning personality, Russell had no interest in winning fans. He was who he was. As he said it he never played for Boston, he played for the Celtics.
June 3, 2014
I am stunned that Bill Russell had a coauthor to write this. I had great hopes for some snippets of wisdom or some insight into the character of one or the other. The only take away is that Red let Bill do his own thing and that worked for Bill.
May 6, 2020
One of the best books on leadership and friendship I've ever read.
October 16, 2021
Bill Russell on the court
Bill single handedly changed the way defense was played. He led the Celtics to dominate the NBA with his remarkable shot-blocking and rebound abilities. In total, he won 11 championships in 13 seasons. A record unmatched in any major sport. The last two he won as both player and coach. He was the first African American coach in a major league sport, of any sort.
Bill Russell off the court
Bill Russell's biggest example is his father. He showed Bill no matter the situation, you need to stand up for your rights. This example fueled his legacy both on and off the court.
Bill stood by Mohammed Ali, he marched with Martin Luther King and he was outspoken for equal rights for all. When the black Celtics were not served in a restaurant, he refused to play in the scheduled game, inspiring millions of African Americans in segregated cities across the country. When the black Celtics needed to sleep in dorms, seperated from the hotel where their white teammates were sleeping, he gave the feedback that this would be the first and last time to tolerate this. After this one time it never happened again, proving it pays dividends to speak up.
He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focussing on making his teammates better players, he never stopped speaking up for what was right and with that participating in changing the course of a nation. Therefore, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest possible distinction in the United States.
Bill Russell and Red Auerbach
The book describes a remarkable lifelong friendship in times of tribulations between different tribes, Bill being black, Red being Jew. This true friendship is characterized by mutual respect, admiration, not debating each other's principles, loyalty, trust, having each other's back and finding solutions for each other's problems.
There was no hierarchy, not a coach standing above the players. The team acted as one unit, in which the coach did the coaching and the players did the playing, making the Celtics the most progressive team out there during the fifties and sixties.
Bill and Red facilitated each other with all needed when needed in their quest to strive for excellence, to convert each game into a win and to collect the maximum amount of trophies.
Bill single handedly changed the way defense was played. He led the Celtics to dominate the NBA with his remarkable shot-blocking and rebound abilities. In total, he won 11 championships in 13 seasons. A record unmatched in any major sport. The last two he won as both player and coach. He was the first African American coach in a major league sport, of any sort.
Bill Russell off the court
Bill Russell's biggest example is his father. He showed Bill no matter the situation, you need to stand up for your rights. This example fueled his legacy both on and off the court.
Bill stood by Mohammed Ali, he marched with Martin Luther King and he was outspoken for equal rights for all. When the black Celtics were not served in a restaurant, he refused to play in the scheduled game, inspiring millions of African Americans in segregated cities across the country. When the black Celtics needed to sleep in dorms, seperated from the hotel where their white teammates were sleeping, he gave the feedback that this would be the first and last time to tolerate this. After this one time it never happened again, proving it pays dividends to speak up.
He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focussing on making his teammates better players, he never stopped speaking up for what was right and with that participating in changing the course of a nation. Therefore, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest possible distinction in the United States.
Bill Russell and Red Auerbach
The book describes a remarkable lifelong friendship in times of tribulations between different tribes, Bill being black, Red being Jew. This true friendship is characterized by mutual respect, admiration, not debating each other's principles, loyalty, trust, having each other's back and finding solutions for each other's problems.
There was no hierarchy, not a coach standing above the players. The team acted as one unit, in which the coach did the coaching and the players did the playing, making the Celtics the most progressive team out there during the fifties and sixties.
Bill and Red facilitated each other with all needed when needed in their quest to strive for excellence, to convert each game into a win and to collect the maximum amount of trophies.
December 16, 2017
In Red and Me, Bill Russell, an 11 time NBA champion, expresses life lessons that he learned through his relationship with his coach Red Auerbach. Red is portrayed not only as a coach but also as a friend of Russell’s throughout the book. Red saw Russell’s potential from the start, which is why their relationship is so special. Red stuck with Russell through times when he was being discriminated against for his race.
This is a great read for basketball fans and players. One of the most important messages displayed through it is to be determined and committed to whatever you do. "The only important statistic is the final score", said Russell, stating that if you did not win you did not try hard enough. This teaches perseverance to sports players, and gives them a reason to try harder and to keep trying to succeed. Getting to hear the words of one of the best basketball players in the world teaching you to keep pushing is truly inspirational. But this book teaches more than skills on the court. This book also brings the reader through experiences with racism and demonstrates skills in standing up for yourself. One experience described in the book that stood out is when Bill and his team (the Celtics) were at a hotel in Kentucky before their game the next day. All of the black players were denied service at a restaurant in the hotel, so Bill did what he thought was right and flew home with the rest of the black players and didn’t play in the game. Red completely understood this decision. The lesson this teaches is to stand up for yourself, which is an important life lesson for everyone to learn.
To me, the only part of this book I felt was missing was actual sports content. The book went very in-depth into the “behind the scenes” of being in the NBA which was especially important during that time period but was lacking in actual basketball content. If you are looking to read this book for that purpose, then your expectations will not be met. I wish this book could have been extended by illustrating more on-court moments, rather than primarily sticking to what happened off the court.
Overall, Red and Me gives sports players a determination to keep going, and teaches valid life lessons, while it lacks in the area of basketball content. Russell stating that “True friends occupy special places in our psyches. They don’t have to interact with us every day, or every month, or every year. They’re always a part of us. It’s not that we take them for granted. We just incorporate them into our lives so naturally, we don’t realize they’re there.” (Russell, 2076), is a depiction of his relationship with Coach Red. Throughout the book this relationship explored, and Russell uses this quote in the epilogue to wrap it up.
This is a great read for basketball fans and players. One of the most important messages displayed through it is to be determined and committed to whatever you do. "The only important statistic is the final score", said Russell, stating that if you did not win you did not try hard enough. This teaches perseverance to sports players, and gives them a reason to try harder and to keep trying to succeed. Getting to hear the words of one of the best basketball players in the world teaching you to keep pushing is truly inspirational. But this book teaches more than skills on the court. This book also brings the reader through experiences with racism and demonstrates skills in standing up for yourself. One experience described in the book that stood out is when Bill and his team (the Celtics) were at a hotel in Kentucky before their game the next day. All of the black players were denied service at a restaurant in the hotel, so Bill did what he thought was right and flew home with the rest of the black players and didn’t play in the game. Red completely understood this decision. The lesson this teaches is to stand up for yourself, which is an important life lesson for everyone to learn.
To me, the only part of this book I felt was missing was actual sports content. The book went very in-depth into the “behind the scenes” of being in the NBA which was especially important during that time period but was lacking in actual basketball content. If you are looking to read this book for that purpose, then your expectations will not be met. I wish this book could have been extended by illustrating more on-court moments, rather than primarily sticking to what happened off the court.
Overall, Red and Me gives sports players a determination to keep going, and teaches valid life lessons, while it lacks in the area of basketball content. Russell stating that “True friends occupy special places in our psyches. They don’t have to interact with us every day, or every month, or every year. They’re always a part of us. It’s not that we take them for granted. We just incorporate them into our lives so naturally, we don’t realize they’re there.” (Russell, 2076), is a depiction of his relationship with Coach Red. Throughout the book this relationship explored, and Russell uses this quote in the epilogue to wrap it up.
May 20, 2018
Bill Russell is one of if not arguably the greatest NBA champion of all time helping the Boston Celtics will 11 of their 17 championships. Aronald "Red" Arbach is among coaching royalty in Boston sports lure serving as the Celtics coach and GM from the 50s to 80s.
This book accounts the friendship between the coach and star center in a time when racial prejudice ran rampant. While at times it felt like Russell was repeating himself he still tells his tale as if it were only yesterday. While on the short side I had a good time with this mini memoir.
This book accounts the friendship between the coach and star center in a time when racial prejudice ran rampant. While at times it felt like Russell was repeating himself he still tells his tale as if it were only yesterday. While on the short side I had a good time with this mini memoir.
January 17, 2021
This book is not a terribly eloquent story of friendship, but rather a friendship in the simplest of terms, and for that, it is beautiful.
Russell’s description of Red’s success as a coach reads like a study manual for future coaches that’s largely (and unfortunately) been ignored. It should be required reading for anyone wanting to coach. I don’t agree with the vulgarity, but the fairness with which he coached, the way he valued rest (what a novel idea!), and the respect he had for his players, their knowledge of the game, and the roles they filled, allowed him to arguably be one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Russell’s description of Red’s success as a coach reads like a study manual for future coaches that’s largely (and unfortunately) been ignored. It should be required reading for anyone wanting to coach. I don’t agree with the vulgarity, but the fairness with which he coached, the way he valued rest (what a novel idea!), and the respect he had for his players, their knowledge of the game, and the roles they filled, allowed him to arguably be one of the greatest coaches of all time.
December 15, 2022
Pretty good, Russell strikes me as a cranky old grandpa who you respect and admire for his principles. Red Auerbach comes off as a shrewd, brilliant manager, who knew how to unlock players and let them be themselves. I am glad Russell didn't shy away from the segregation stuff, and how race played out in his relationship with Red.
I read this alongside "Coach Wooden And Me", by Kareem to compare and contrast, and I have to say this book does suffer a bit by comparison. I enjoyed them both however!
I read this alongside "Coach Wooden And Me", by Kareem to compare and contrast, and I have to say this book does suffer a bit by comparison. I enjoyed them both however!
November 9, 2022
I learned so much. This book was thoughtful, endearing, interesting, so many great life stories from both of these besties. I’m so sad they’ve both passed because I don’t even really like basketball and I am now such a fan of both these men. The most unlikely friendship, so happy I randomly picked this up at the library. I would recommend this to everyone.
September 12, 2018
If you love basketball you'll love this book. If you love teamwork you'll probably love it as well. Bill Russell has a simple voice and he restates his central themes over and over again which may come across as redundant but to me produced a meditative quality where I felt like I was inside of a highly effective mind that knew how to get the most out of itself.
November 1, 2025
This was pretty good. Not the most well written, and quite redundant at times, but a good story of a really precious friendship
April 9, 2012
I love coaching basketball; even at the low level of church rec ball for teenage girls--it's just fun. I found out my coaching style has some similarities with the great Celtics coach Red Auerbach.
Bill Russell played college basketball at University of San Francisco, leading the team to two NCAA championships. Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach deftly drafted Russell (1956) and went on to win 9 championships in 10 seasons. Russell's defensive play changed the role of center.
Bill Russell had never had a coach like Red Auerbach who immediately recognized the huge undeveloped talent in Russell. Auerbach and Russell worked together to turn that talent into results.
How do you get the most from your players? You better listen to them.
This book is filled with stories and life lessons in a format that basketball (especially Boston) fans will appreciate. Bill teaches plenty of lessons about civil rights that would make for interesting reading and discussions.
While I really enjoyed this book and lessons about hard work, I would caution anyone planning to read this book with their young children. Basketball players and coaches don't always use the best language and some of Red's ideas about making the players/coaches from the other team mad is not a good example of sportsmanship. I do think you can read large excerpts of this book with your kids, especially those who like sports, to motivate them to push themselves a little harder, and not just in sports.
Some quotes from the book I like:
"The only important statistic is the final score." BR
"To love someone is nothing, to be loved by someone is something, but to be loved by the one you love is everything."
Advice that Bill Russell’s father gave him…"Son, I don’t know what you’ll be when you grow up. But here’s what I want you to think about. When you take a job, if they pay you two dollars a day, give them three dollars worth of work. The reason is, if they’re paying you two and you’re giving them three, you’re more valuable to them than they are to you…"
"Take pride in doing things well, the right way, and to the best of your ability. Don’t do things to just get through them. Work hard when no one is looking."
"Let the first thing out of your mouth be your second thought. It will greatly reduce the number of apologies you have to make, either to yourself or the person you’re speaking to."
"The greatest thing about waking up healthy each day is that we have a choice. A choice to be happy or sad. A choice to be upbeat and ready to go, or a choice to mope about the responsibilities and challenges that await us."
"This should be an easy choice for most of us. We are lucky to be able to do what we do every day, and have the people in our lives that love and support us unconditionally (win or lose). We’re blessed to be able to work hard at something we enjoy. Sure, some days are going to have their obstacles. Just something to think about the next time something doesn’t go your way or keep in mind during a “losing streak”."
Love these 'shorts':
Bill Russell played college basketball at University of San Francisco, leading the team to two NCAA championships. Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach deftly drafted Russell (1956) and went on to win 9 championships in 10 seasons. Russell's defensive play changed the role of center.
Bill Russell had never had a coach like Red Auerbach who immediately recognized the huge undeveloped talent in Russell. Auerbach and Russell worked together to turn that talent into results.
How do you get the most from your players? You better listen to them.
This book is filled with stories and life lessons in a format that basketball (especially Boston) fans will appreciate. Bill teaches plenty of lessons about civil rights that would make for interesting reading and discussions.
While I really enjoyed this book and lessons about hard work, I would caution anyone planning to read this book with their young children. Basketball players and coaches don't always use the best language and some of Red's ideas about making the players/coaches from the other team mad is not a good example of sportsmanship. I do think you can read large excerpts of this book with your kids, especially those who like sports, to motivate them to push themselves a little harder, and not just in sports.
Some quotes from the book I like:
"The only important statistic is the final score." BR
"To love someone is nothing, to be loved by someone is something, but to be loved by the one you love is everything."
Advice that Bill Russell’s father gave him…"Son, I don’t know what you’ll be when you grow up. But here’s what I want you to think about. When you take a job, if they pay you two dollars a day, give them three dollars worth of work. The reason is, if they’re paying you two and you’re giving them three, you’re more valuable to them than they are to you…"
"Take pride in doing things well, the right way, and to the best of your ability. Don’t do things to just get through them. Work hard when no one is looking."
"Let the first thing out of your mouth be your second thought. It will greatly reduce the number of apologies you have to make, either to yourself or the person you’re speaking to."
"The greatest thing about waking up healthy each day is that we have a choice. A choice to be happy or sad. A choice to be upbeat and ready to go, or a choice to mope about the responsibilities and challenges that await us."
"This should be an easy choice for most of us. We are lucky to be able to do what we do every day, and have the people in our lives that love and support us unconditionally (win or lose). We’re blessed to be able to work hard at something we enjoy. Sure, some days are going to have their obstacles. Just something to think about the next time something doesn’t go your way or keep in mind during a “losing streak”."
Love these 'shorts':
May 28, 2012
very quick read, in part because I defy anyone, no matter how big a Celtics fan, to read without skimming the 100th-or-so time you get to a "Red was a master psychologist, because he treated me better than the other players" (didn't yell at Russell, let Russell not practice so he wouldn't be too tired for games, asked Russell's opinion on major coaching decisions........).
He was understandably moved by Auerbach's death, and there is some interest in the player/coach dynamic for the main figures in such a tremendous dynasty, but I think this topic justified a newspaper or magazine article more than a book.
He was understandably moved by Auerbach's death, and there is some interest in the player/coach dynamic for the main figures in such a tremendous dynasty, but I think this topic justified a newspaper or magazine article more than a book.
June 24, 2015
Decent read giving you a glimpse of some "behind the scenes" accounts that most people probably didn't know about the legendary Red Auerbach.
Kudos to Bill Russell for paying tribute to his old coach in a very favorable and complimentary way. Although in the process, many of Russell's accounts made himself look like a whining baby and a spoiled brat.
Fortunately, it didn't result in the book deviating from the point of what was intended.
Kudos to Bill Russell for paying tribute to his old coach in a very favorable and complimentary way. Although in the process, many of Russell's accounts made himself look like a whining baby and a spoiled brat.
Fortunately, it didn't result in the book deviating from the point of what was intended.
January 19, 2010
Some insights into the relationship between Bill Russell and Red Auerbach. Mr. Russell gets his points across, again and again and again. Not his best book.
May 15, 2012
An intimate exploration of a lifelong friendship, with great anecdotes for NBA fans and important lessons from a life well lived.
December 14, 2012
I enjoyed reading about the Coach/Athlete relationship.
April 29, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “THE GREATEST WINNER IN PRO SPORTS HISTORY GIVES A RARE GLIMPSE INSIDE HIS HEART”
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I must state for the record that I am not a Boston Celtic fan… but the fact that I openly admired their “team-first” play… and even though I was saddened for decades as they always beat my Lakers in the finals… as a basketball player myself… I was true to the heart of the sport… when I openly said they were the better team. The Celtics of the late 50’s and 60’s were *THE-GREATEST-DYNASTY-IN-THE-HISTORY-OF-ALL-PROFESSIONAL-SPORTS!* Winning *EIGHT-STRAIGHT-NBA-CHAMPIONSHIPS*… and winning *ELEVEN-NBA-CHAMPIONSHIPS-IN-THIRTEEN-YEARS*! This is a mark that has never been matched… and with the lunacy of free agency… probably never will. At the core of these storied championships were two men. The architect… a small fiery Jew from Brooklyn… the coach and general manager… Red Auerbach… and the winningest player in professional sports history… and Celtic center… Bill Russell. This is not to say there weren’t other great players on these Celtic teams… of course there were. The Hall of Fame’s walls are lined with many of their plaques… in addition to numerous other Celtic legends as well. Just to name a few: “Da Cooz”… Heinsohn… the Jones boys… Sharman… Sanders… Havlicek… Howell… Loscutoff… and many others. But the most valuable of all these... was center Bill (“Russ”) Russell. Russ’s unmatched record as the ultimate winner included back-to-back NCAA Championships with USF and an Olympic Gold Medal in 1956 before joining the Celtics.
Most of these accolades are known by most Celtic fans and also by true sports fans. But what hasn’t been known… until this book… because Russ never let anyone into his heart before… to share his intimate feelings… is how deep the reciprocal friendship… and yes the actual love was… between Russ and Red. The reason these feelings were never laid out in the open like this… is pretty obvious to Russ… and he’ll hit you over the head with the reason innumerous times in this book. He and Red… like many of the other men of his time… didn’t hug each other… or say I love you.
Bill Russell was a 6-foot-ten-inch “black-man”. Yes… he was a “black-man” when people still called black’s Negroes among other things. This was before the term African-American became a common phrase… and Russ was proud of being black. At the same time Red faced the specter of anti-Semitism. As Russ liked to say they were from different “tribes” that experienced different things… and both had faced lifetimes of inequality and prejudice. Neither one of these proud men told his tribes tale to the other. But because of their friendship… each learned of the other’s. Nothing was said by one to the other… nor did either preach to the other. But because these two proud irascible men loved each other deeply without words ever being spoken… the big man learned about Jews… and the Brooklyn Jew… learned about blacks. They stood by each other… they watched each other’s backs… before that was a catch phrase… and the unspoken love and friendship grew… undeclared … until this touching book.
The Celtics became the first team in any professional sport to start an all black team. Asked about it they acted like they hadn’t noticed… it was simply a case of putting the best team on the floor. When Red retired from coaching… he named Russ the new Celtic coach. Russell was the first black head coach or manager in professional sports history. Red and Russ never mentioned a thing. When the media asked Red about the significance of having the first “Negro” coach Red said: “LOOK, IT’S NO BIG DEAL. I JUST DID WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR OUR TEAM.”
The powerful impact of this book is that feelings and wisdom is being shared by a legendary sports figure who for decades and decades had kept any emotions… other than complaining about a foul call… locked in a personal vault that many thought even Russell didn’t have the combination to. But when his *FRIEND* Red Auerbach died on October 28, 2006… the big man decided to share some of his personal beliefs and feelings.
There are some powerful and beautiful sentiments shared with the reader such as:
“IT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAN TO BE UNDERSTOOD.”
“FRIENDSHIP DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU GIVE TO EACH OTHER, NOT WHAT YOU GET FROM EACH OTHER.”
“BUT WE BOTH UNDERSTOOD THAT IF I SUCCEEDED, IT ENHANCED HIM, AND IF HE SUCCEEDED, IT ENHANCED ME. ULTIMATELY, OUR REAL SUCCESS WAS OUR ABILITY-WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO EXPRESS IT OPENLY-TO COLLABORATE IN EVERY WAY WE COULD THINK OF, TO HELP THE *TEAM* SUCCEED.”
Any Bill Russell fan will be utterly surprised at the side of Russell that he allows the world to see in this book. One quote that has already affected me is:
“MY AMBITION AS YOUR FRIEND IS THAT MY FRIENDSHIP HAS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IF AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, IT WILL ENHANCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE.”
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I must state for the record that I am not a Boston Celtic fan… but the fact that I openly admired their “team-first” play… and even though I was saddened for decades as they always beat my Lakers in the finals… as a basketball player myself… I was true to the heart of the sport… when I openly said they were the better team. The Celtics of the late 50’s and 60’s were *THE-GREATEST-DYNASTY-IN-THE-HISTORY-OF-ALL-PROFESSIONAL-SPORTS!* Winning *EIGHT-STRAIGHT-NBA-CHAMPIONSHIPS*… and winning *ELEVEN-NBA-CHAMPIONSHIPS-IN-THIRTEEN-YEARS*! This is a mark that has never been matched… and with the lunacy of free agency… probably never will. At the core of these storied championships were two men. The architect… a small fiery Jew from Brooklyn… the coach and general manager… Red Auerbach… and the winningest player in professional sports history… and Celtic center… Bill Russell. This is not to say there weren’t other great players on these Celtic teams… of course there were. The Hall of Fame’s walls are lined with many of their plaques… in addition to numerous other Celtic legends as well. Just to name a few: “Da Cooz”… Heinsohn… the Jones boys… Sharman… Sanders… Havlicek… Howell… Loscutoff… and many others. But the most valuable of all these... was center Bill (“Russ”) Russell. Russ’s unmatched record as the ultimate winner included back-to-back NCAA Championships with USF and an Olympic Gold Medal in 1956 before joining the Celtics.
Most of these accolades are known by most Celtic fans and also by true sports fans. But what hasn’t been known… until this book… because Russ never let anyone into his heart before… to share his intimate feelings… is how deep the reciprocal friendship… and yes the actual love was… between Russ and Red. The reason these feelings were never laid out in the open like this… is pretty obvious to Russ… and he’ll hit you over the head with the reason innumerous times in this book. He and Red… like many of the other men of his time… didn’t hug each other… or say I love you.
Bill Russell was a 6-foot-ten-inch “black-man”. Yes… he was a “black-man” when people still called black’s Negroes among other things. This was before the term African-American became a common phrase… and Russ was proud of being black. At the same time Red faced the specter of anti-Semitism. As Russ liked to say they were from different “tribes” that experienced different things… and both had faced lifetimes of inequality and prejudice. Neither one of these proud men told his tribes tale to the other. But because of their friendship… each learned of the other’s. Nothing was said by one to the other… nor did either preach to the other. But because these two proud irascible men loved each other deeply without words ever being spoken… the big man learned about Jews… and the Brooklyn Jew… learned about blacks. They stood by each other… they watched each other’s backs… before that was a catch phrase… and the unspoken love and friendship grew… undeclared … until this touching book.
The Celtics became the first team in any professional sport to start an all black team. Asked about it they acted like they hadn’t noticed… it was simply a case of putting the best team on the floor. When Red retired from coaching… he named Russ the new Celtic coach. Russell was the first black head coach or manager in professional sports history. Red and Russ never mentioned a thing. When the media asked Red about the significance of having the first “Negro” coach Red said: “LOOK, IT’S NO BIG DEAL. I JUST DID WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR OUR TEAM.”
The powerful impact of this book is that feelings and wisdom is being shared by a legendary sports figure who for decades and decades had kept any emotions… other than complaining about a foul call… locked in a personal vault that many thought even Russell didn’t have the combination to. But when his *FRIEND* Red Auerbach died on October 28, 2006… the big man decided to share some of his personal beliefs and feelings.
There are some powerful and beautiful sentiments shared with the reader such as:
“IT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAN TO BE UNDERSTOOD.”
“FRIENDSHIP DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU GIVE TO EACH OTHER, NOT WHAT YOU GET FROM EACH OTHER.”
“BUT WE BOTH UNDERSTOOD THAT IF I SUCCEEDED, IT ENHANCED HIM, AND IF HE SUCCEEDED, IT ENHANCED ME. ULTIMATELY, OUR REAL SUCCESS WAS OUR ABILITY-WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO EXPRESS IT OPENLY-TO COLLABORATE IN EVERY WAY WE COULD THINK OF, TO HELP THE *TEAM* SUCCEED.”
Any Bill Russell fan will be utterly surprised at the side of Russell that he allows the world to see in this book. One quote that has already affected me is:
“MY AMBITION AS YOUR FRIEND IS THAT MY FRIENDSHIP HAS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. IF AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, IT WILL ENHANCE MY QUALITY OF LIFE.”
July 10, 2021
Real Professionalism, Friendship, and Courage - While reading Pomerantz’s "The Last Pass: Cousy, Russell, the Celtics, and What Matters in the End" (see my review), I also sought out more material from Bill Russell particularly relating his experience and found this book.
Given my background in consulting and socio-technical systems (e.g. see Sibbet’s "Leading Business Teams: How Teams Can Use Technology and Group Process Tools to Enhance Performance (Addison-wesley Series on Organization Development)"), I was particularly interested in learning more about Russell as a player-coach. Although there was not as much about “Russ’s” coaching, one can infer much about his approach and style from his descriptions of Red Auerbach and their times together---- real professionalism, friendship, and courage.
The book begins with a Prologue – ‘Don’t Fall,’ and proceeds through 9 Chapters tracing Russell’s background and his playing career with the Boston Celtics, and the gradual development of his friendship with Auerbach: (1) Common Ground, (2) From Place A to Place B, (3) A Pretty Good Sign, (4) My Father’s Son, (5) What’s Best for the Team, (6) We All Just Lived It, (7) Boy, What Fun, (8) Godspeed, (9) This is My Friend, and finally an Epilogue – ‘Goodbye to My Friend.’
My particularly favorite parts included Russell’s acknowledgement about he and Auerbach being from different tribes (he a black man from Louisiana and Red, a Jew from Brooklyn (see my review of Hughes "Literary Brooklyn: The Writers of Brooklyn and the Story of American City Life"), each dealing with the own types of prejudice they faced), yet forging a strong bond around winning basketball. Unlike his previous coaches in high school and college, Auerbach was different: “Red, like me. . . was strategy-minded, innovative, result-oriented. . . constantly calculating new ways to improve.” They proceeded via respect and shared desire to win. For instance, from the beginning, Red told Russ, “When we talk contract down the line, I will never discuss statistics. All I’ll discuss is if we won and how you played. All I want you to do is what you’ve always done. Play your game. And I won’t tell you how to do that. Just play the way you know how.” Red found ways to best utilize his players, tending to their needs and optimizing their skills, for the team as he did employing Bob Cousy’s passing ability. He backed up Russell, relied on his excellent defensive/rebounding ability, brought him into the offense as with others. With this combination of coaching and talent the Boston Celtics became a “fast breaking,” championship basketball powerhouse. As Russ says, “This atmosphere was almost entirely Red’s creation. It was about his natural openness, powers of observation, psychology, mathematical genius, and willingness to allow his players to improve their own games, as long as it improved the team’s chances of winning.” His style seemed to prefigure some of the methods later introduced (see my review of Blatt’s "I Don't Care if We Never Get Back: 30 Games in 30 Days on the Best Worst Baseball Road Trip Ever").
Russell also relates how ups and downs, tested and reinforced their bond. For example, “. . . in the early ’60s, we were scheduled to play a special homecoming exhibition with the St. Louis Hawks in Lexington, Kentucky . . . If I had announced to the press, ‘They wouldn’t serve us in the restaurant,’ they would have written that the black players on the Celtics were refused service before the game—and that would have portrayed us as victims. Instead, the next day it came out in the papers exactly the way I wanted it to: ‘The Negro players did not play.’ Red . . . by not trying to impose his viewpoint on us and then making the necessary adjustments so that we never had to deal with that nonsense again. were strong signs of the kind of man with whom, one day, I might forge a lasting friendship” (see my review of Coates’ "We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy" for more on such conditions to be overcome).
Red similarly supported Russell when he became player-coach, they stayed in touch, had their separate lives, but remained friend’s and supportive until Red’s death. There are additional books that can provide further detail on Russell, his style as a player, coach, and social activist. However, as Russ says “What you want to do in your profession is go from a journeyman to an artist. And let everyone see your art” and this book shows how both men helped one another toward this end.
Given my background in consulting and socio-technical systems (e.g. see Sibbet’s "Leading Business Teams: How Teams Can Use Technology and Group Process Tools to Enhance Performance (Addison-wesley Series on Organization Development)"), I was particularly interested in learning more about Russell as a player-coach. Although there was not as much about “Russ’s” coaching, one can infer much about his approach and style from his descriptions of Red Auerbach and their times together---- real professionalism, friendship, and courage.
The book begins with a Prologue – ‘Don’t Fall,’ and proceeds through 9 Chapters tracing Russell’s background and his playing career with the Boston Celtics, and the gradual development of his friendship with Auerbach: (1) Common Ground, (2) From Place A to Place B, (3) A Pretty Good Sign, (4) My Father’s Son, (5) What’s Best for the Team, (6) We All Just Lived It, (7) Boy, What Fun, (8) Godspeed, (9) This is My Friend, and finally an Epilogue – ‘Goodbye to My Friend.’
My particularly favorite parts included Russell’s acknowledgement about he and Auerbach being from different tribes (he a black man from Louisiana and Red, a Jew from Brooklyn (see my review of Hughes "Literary Brooklyn: The Writers of Brooklyn and the Story of American City Life"), each dealing with the own types of prejudice they faced), yet forging a strong bond around winning basketball. Unlike his previous coaches in high school and college, Auerbach was different: “Red, like me. . . was strategy-minded, innovative, result-oriented. . . constantly calculating new ways to improve.” They proceeded via respect and shared desire to win. For instance, from the beginning, Red told Russ, “When we talk contract down the line, I will never discuss statistics. All I’ll discuss is if we won and how you played. All I want you to do is what you’ve always done. Play your game. And I won’t tell you how to do that. Just play the way you know how.” Red found ways to best utilize his players, tending to their needs and optimizing their skills, for the team as he did employing Bob Cousy’s passing ability. He backed up Russell, relied on his excellent defensive/rebounding ability, brought him into the offense as with others. With this combination of coaching and talent the Boston Celtics became a “fast breaking,” championship basketball powerhouse. As Russ says, “This atmosphere was almost entirely Red’s creation. It was about his natural openness, powers of observation, psychology, mathematical genius, and willingness to allow his players to improve their own games, as long as it improved the team’s chances of winning.” His style seemed to prefigure some of the methods later introduced (see my review of Blatt’s "I Don't Care if We Never Get Back: 30 Games in 30 Days on the Best Worst Baseball Road Trip Ever").
Russell also relates how ups and downs, tested and reinforced their bond. For example, “. . . in the early ’60s, we were scheduled to play a special homecoming exhibition with the St. Louis Hawks in Lexington, Kentucky . . . If I had announced to the press, ‘They wouldn’t serve us in the restaurant,’ they would have written that the black players on the Celtics were refused service before the game—and that would have portrayed us as victims. Instead, the next day it came out in the papers exactly the way I wanted it to: ‘The Negro players did not play.’ Red . . . by not trying to impose his viewpoint on us and then making the necessary adjustments so that we never had to deal with that nonsense again. were strong signs of the kind of man with whom, one day, I might forge a lasting friendship” (see my review of Coates’ "We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy" for more on such conditions to be overcome).
Red similarly supported Russell when he became player-coach, they stayed in touch, had their separate lives, but remained friend’s and supportive until Red’s death. There are additional books that can provide further detail on Russell, his style as a player, coach, and social activist. However, as Russ says “What you want to do in your profession is go from a journeyman to an artist. And let everyone see your art” and this book shows how both men helped one another toward this end.
July 1, 2021
This book, written by Bill Russell, describes the friendship between Russell and Red Auerbach. Their friendship was based on mutual respect.
Russell describes his upbringing and how much he respected his parents and grandparents. He learned many lessons from them. Russell's strong character and courage was influenced by his parents and grandparents. They were hardworking, honest and strong people. Russell seems to have garnered his strength, at least in part, from his parents and grandparents.
When there were no schools for African Americans in the area, Russell’s grandfather bought the lumber for a new school and built the school by himself. He also raised $42 for the first year’s salary for the teacher. This story made a strong impression on me. I really admire what Russell’s grandfather did. It showed strong character and generosity.
Russell also emphasized how hard working and dedicated his father was.
Russell, having grown up in the deep South, had to overcome racism. Despite the inequalities that he had to deal with, Russell was strong and self confident. This prepared him for the challenges he would face as a college basketball player at the University of San Francisco and as a member of the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
There is no greater winner in the history of basketball than Russell. He helped the University of San Francisco win two NCAA championships in his junior and senior years. Additionally, he helped the Boston Celtics win 11 NBA titles.
Russell says that Auerbach was different than other coaches that he played for. Auerbach understood that he did not know everything about basketball, unlike other coaches of that time who had their own preconceived notions about how everything was supposed to be. Auerbach provided guidance and leadership for the Celtics, but he treated the players as equals. He listened to their opinions and suggestions. Russell was also impressed with Auerbach's willingness to give Russell an occasional day off from pactice because Russell worked so hard during the games and played so many minutes. The other teammates did not mind that Russell got an occasional day off because they knew that he respected them and was such a good player.
Russell emphasized that Auerbach wanted to do what was best for the team. According to Russell, Auerbach was always honest with his team. Auerbach did not care what the media or others thought. He simply tried to do what was best for the team. It seems that Auerbach’s honesty and straightforwardness helped him to earn Russell’s respect. Auerbach’s decisiveness was another quality that Russell respected about him. Russell emphasized that Auerbach was “innovative” and that he coached and thought differently than other coaches. Russell also points out that Auerbach knew how to communicate to the players individually.
According to Russell, Auerbach was good at motivating the players, including Russell. Even when Auerbach motivated individual players, it was always for the good of the team. Russell also points out that during the games, Auerbach was always doing his best to help the team.
Auerbach emphasized that the Celtics needed to play like a team. According to Russell, Auerbach expected the players to take personal responsibility for the team. Auerbach guided the team, but asked the players what their opinions were. Perhaps, this helped the Celtics to play more like a team. When he involved the team in making decisions, he helped the players to become more responsible.
When Auerbach retired from coaching, Russell took over as a player and coach. They continued to remain friends. They eventually attended some Celtics’ games together as well. Their friendship remained strong through the years.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in human interest stories. It can be good to learn about athletes and coaches. It can be good to learn about their friendships and experiences outside of sports. This book is good for those who like basketball and human interest stories.
Russell describes his upbringing and how much he respected his parents and grandparents. He learned many lessons from them. Russell's strong character and courage was influenced by his parents and grandparents. They were hardworking, honest and strong people. Russell seems to have garnered his strength, at least in part, from his parents and grandparents.
When there were no schools for African Americans in the area, Russell’s grandfather bought the lumber for a new school and built the school by himself. He also raised $42 for the first year’s salary for the teacher. This story made a strong impression on me. I really admire what Russell’s grandfather did. It showed strong character and generosity.
Russell also emphasized how hard working and dedicated his father was.
Russell, having grown up in the deep South, had to overcome racism. Despite the inequalities that he had to deal with, Russell was strong and self confident. This prepared him for the challenges he would face as a college basketball player at the University of San Francisco and as a member of the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
There is no greater winner in the history of basketball than Russell. He helped the University of San Francisco win two NCAA championships in his junior and senior years. Additionally, he helped the Boston Celtics win 11 NBA titles.
Russell says that Auerbach was different than other coaches that he played for. Auerbach understood that he did not know everything about basketball, unlike other coaches of that time who had their own preconceived notions about how everything was supposed to be. Auerbach provided guidance and leadership for the Celtics, but he treated the players as equals. He listened to their opinions and suggestions. Russell was also impressed with Auerbach's willingness to give Russell an occasional day off from pactice because Russell worked so hard during the games and played so many minutes. The other teammates did not mind that Russell got an occasional day off because they knew that he respected them and was such a good player.
Russell emphasized that Auerbach wanted to do what was best for the team. According to Russell, Auerbach was always honest with his team. Auerbach did not care what the media or others thought. He simply tried to do what was best for the team. It seems that Auerbach’s honesty and straightforwardness helped him to earn Russell’s respect. Auerbach’s decisiveness was another quality that Russell respected about him. Russell emphasized that Auerbach was “innovative” and that he coached and thought differently than other coaches. Russell also points out that Auerbach knew how to communicate to the players individually.
According to Russell, Auerbach was good at motivating the players, including Russell. Even when Auerbach motivated individual players, it was always for the good of the team. Russell also points out that during the games, Auerbach was always doing his best to help the team.
Auerbach emphasized that the Celtics needed to play like a team. According to Russell, Auerbach expected the players to take personal responsibility for the team. Auerbach guided the team, but asked the players what their opinions were. Perhaps, this helped the Celtics to play more like a team. When he involved the team in making decisions, he helped the players to become more responsible.
When Auerbach retired from coaching, Russell took over as a player and coach. They continued to remain friends. They eventually attended some Celtics’ games together as well. Their friendship remained strong through the years.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in human interest stories. It can be good to learn about athletes and coaches. It can be good to learn about their friendships and experiences outside of sports. This book is good for those who like basketball and human interest stories.
June 4, 2017
In the book Red and Me, the two main characters are NBA legend Bill Russel who played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. Another big Character in this book was his mentor Red Auerbach. Russel wanted Red to be his mentor and help him on basketball to help him achieve championships. One Principle in the book that I agreed with/felt interesting was the fact that the two had a big bond with each other with the game of basketball. Over the years they both produced many results with each other. When thing that worked well for me from the book is that i was able to take away a message from the book, which was mutual success. It has made me want to achieve more tasks that will benefit me. I did not really disagree with anything in this book, i related to most of the topics in the book.
Bill and Red had a very long relationship with each other as best friends. Their bond Grew out to be at least 50 years. The both of them were seen as very stubborn people. But from that they respected each other for their privacy and who they were as an individual. When either of them had their not so good days they were always there for each other. Red being Bill's mentor/coach he would give him a different set of rules to bill rather then his other players. Some of those rules were that bill was allowed to sip tea during scrimmages and was also able to leave the team for a certain amount of days at a time. In this book there was great value for bill telling his side of the story because when Red would have his nasty talk on the sidelines during the Celtics games Bill would be there on the sidelines to comfort him and calm him down. Bill really cared about winning, but winning games with poor and unpleasant gamesmanship was not the act for him. The poor gamesmanship would upset the opposing coach and also intimidate the officials.
I personally agree and respect Bill Russel for who is because he has a good heart for others, and especially a caring heart for his friend Red. Bill is seen as a very positive person and also has achieved success in his life. He has won 11 NBA Championships in his 13 year career. His very first championship was achieved his rookie year playing with the Boston Celtics.
In my opinion i would personally recommend this book to a friend because of how impacting the book is. This Book gives a whole insight view of Bill and Red and their bonding together through their NBA Careers. Their Journey was very astounding because of all the success they earned. Bill Russel hold the most earned titles in NBA history. The dynamic duo was seen differently to other duos in the NBA. Bill was always there to calm Red down he was not acting right. Red would actually a very calm guy in which he dealt with his players differently compared to Phil Jackson and how he treats his players.
Bill and Red had a very long relationship with each other as best friends. Their bond Grew out to be at least 50 years. The both of them were seen as very stubborn people. But from that they respected each other for their privacy and who they were as an individual. When either of them had their not so good days they were always there for each other. Red being Bill's mentor/coach he would give him a different set of rules to bill rather then his other players. Some of those rules were that bill was allowed to sip tea during scrimmages and was also able to leave the team for a certain amount of days at a time. In this book there was great value for bill telling his side of the story because when Red would have his nasty talk on the sidelines during the Celtics games Bill would be there on the sidelines to comfort him and calm him down. Bill really cared about winning, but winning games with poor and unpleasant gamesmanship was not the act for him. The poor gamesmanship would upset the opposing coach and also intimidate the officials.
I personally agree and respect Bill Russel for who is because he has a good heart for others, and especially a caring heart for his friend Red. Bill is seen as a very positive person and also has achieved success in his life. He has won 11 NBA Championships in his 13 year career. His very first championship was achieved his rookie year playing with the Boston Celtics.
In my opinion i would personally recommend this book to a friend because of how impacting the book is. This Book gives a whole insight view of Bill and Red and their bonding together through their NBA Careers. Their Journey was very astounding because of all the success they earned. Bill Russel hold the most earned titles in NBA history. The dynamic duo was seen differently to other duos in the NBA. Bill was always there to calm Red down he was not acting right. Red would actually a very calm guy in which he dealt with his players differently compared to Phil Jackson and how he treats his players.
January 21, 2019
This book went into details on one of the most intimate, influential, and pivotal relationships within the history of basketball. I really think if Bill Russell [former player and eventual player-coach of the Boston Celtics] and Red Auerbach [coach, GM and former president of the Boston Celtics] didn't link up on the same team in the 1950s and 1960s, racial integration and reconciliation would have been delayed SIGNIFICANTLY. I really mean that. I've read books by Bill Russell, but never by or about Red Auerbach. This gave me some crucial insight into their temperaments and relationship.
They were two very strong personalities, but having both experienced racial discrimination themselves [I didn't know Auerbach was Jewish], they "got it" and, in general, based on what Russell says in this book, knew how to respond to all the pressure and inequality and even to challenge the status quo in MANY ways. I REALLY admire them both tremendously for their sacrifices and courage.
Now, both men were VERY stubborn, as Russell mentions, but the book was cool to share some glimpses into some very funny and ROUGH challenges they faced [Russell even shared details about his father and how extremely hard he worked to better his family after his wife [Russell's mom] died. Again, I gained some interesting ideas for how a coach can have a close relationship [and, more specifically, a friendship] with the star of the team [the Celtics won 11 NBA Championships in 13 years].
They were two very strong personalities, but having both experienced racial discrimination themselves [I didn't know Auerbach was Jewish], they "got it" and, in general, based on what Russell says in this book, knew how to respond to all the pressure and inequality and even to challenge the status quo in MANY ways. I REALLY admire them both tremendously for their sacrifices and courage.
Now, both men were VERY stubborn, as Russell mentions, but the book was cool to share some glimpses into some very funny and ROUGH challenges they faced [Russell even shared details about his father and how extremely hard he worked to better his family after his wife [Russell's mom] died. Again, I gained some interesting ideas for how a coach can have a close relationship [and, more specifically, a friendship] with the star of the team [the Celtics won 11 NBA Championships in 13 years].
February 9, 2018
In "Red And Me" Bill Russell celebrates the life of and the friendship he had with Red Auerbach.
“It is far more important to understand… than to be understood” is a key understanding that Bill Russell had about life and relationships and this is one of the themes throughout.
This book is more than just a memoir of their time together... it is also a 'how to' book on getting along, winning, putting Team first and being true to yourself.
This is how Russell describes both of them...
“We were both passionate, driven, and single minded. Away from it (basketball), we were standoffish by nature, not terrifically sociable. Neither of us bonded easily with others.”
Russell walks through his incredible basketball career with Red, racial issues and incidents as well as overall prejudice. The two were perfect for each other, one a Jew and the other a black man: “Red was always just Red. And I have always been just me.”
The two shared one common trait: Winning is everything. It was the results of the TEAM that mattered and never individual accomplishments.
A little basketball history, a lot of insights into both of their characters, and some American social history during the 50's and 60's as well. Very fine read!
“It is far more important to understand… than to be understood” is a key understanding that Bill Russell had about life and relationships and this is one of the themes throughout.
This book is more than just a memoir of their time together... it is also a 'how to' book on getting along, winning, putting Team first and being true to yourself.
This is how Russell describes both of them...
“We were both passionate, driven, and single minded. Away from it (basketball), we were standoffish by nature, not terrifically sociable. Neither of us bonded easily with others.”
Russell walks through his incredible basketball career with Red, racial issues and incidents as well as overall prejudice. The two were perfect for each other, one a Jew and the other a black man: “Red was always just Red. And I have always been just me.”
The two shared one common trait: Winning is everything. It was the results of the TEAM that mattered and never individual accomplishments.
A little basketball history, a lot of insights into both of their characters, and some American social history during the 50's and 60's as well. Very fine read!
December 2, 2021
Growing up a huge Lakers fan in the L.A. area, I hated Red Auerbach and, to a lesser extent, Bill Russell with a passion. I always respected them, but I couldn't stand them beating my Lakers every year, year after year. But this book gave me a whole new outlook on them. I could never be their friend, because they only ever had a small, tight circle of friends, but I wish I could have been. Their friendship was built on trust, respect, and loyalty with an eye single to winning. I especially liked hearing about where Bill Russell came from (his parents and grandparents and all they had to endure as African-Americans in the first half of the 20th Century) and learning that Red Auerbach was the opposite of what I had imagined him to be, the stereotypical coach. Unlike most other coaches, he coached by listening to his players, treating them as individuals, and respecting them as people. I can see now why they won all those championships, and it wasn't just because the Lakers were cursed.
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February 27, 2020This book is an autobiography on the friendship between Bill Russell and his former coach the late great Red Auerbach. The book tells give a little bit of insight into the early life of Bill before he was in the NBA. As the book progresses it shows how Bill's upbringing led him to building a dependable and strong friendship between the two. I chose to read this book because of my love for the sport of basketball and my admiration for Bill since he's won 11 championships on a single team. One thing I appreciate about the book is that Bill doesn't filter himself in a way that would limit the impact of what he's saying. He gives his honest thought rather then just saying things that the audience would enjoy without substance or meaning to the words he's saying..
June 21, 2020
“No one is completely consistent—we’re all human beings with the same basic flaws. But the world changes, and you can’t stay the same when things change around you. At some point, you have to engage yourself in the process, learn what it’s about, and evolve with the changes. You expect others you respect to do the same.”
“Some people think that friends need to be equals in everything—in other words what I get from you must be equal to what you get from me. That is not necessarily so. What you need that I can provide, and what I need that you can provide, may be very different. Friendship depends on what you give to each other, not on what you receive.”
“Some people think that friends need to be equals in everything—in other words what I get from you must be equal to what you get from me. That is not necessarily so. What you need that I can provide, and what I need that you can provide, may be very different. Friendship depends on what you give to each other, not on what you receive.”
May 29, 2023
What a great touching tribute to a friendship that spanned over 50 years. The last few chapters, addressing Red’s retirement, Bill subsequently being named the coach, then Bill’s retirement and finally Red’s passing really bring you inside what these two men from totally different “worlds” shared in common; respect.
I’m so glad I read this book and I give credit to the Netflix documentary on Bill Russell. As a lifelong Celtics fan I of course thought I know Mr. Russell, his achievements, his team accomplishments, his politics, etc. but there was so much more to know about him and these books have really opened up my mind to read who he was from his own words.
Definitely worth the read.
I’m so glad I read this book and I give credit to the Netflix documentary on Bill Russell. As a lifelong Celtics fan I of course thought I know Mr. Russell, his achievements, his team accomplishments, his politics, etc. but there was so much more to know about him and these books have really opened up my mind to read who he was from his own words.
Definitely worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2024
This book rocked. I've read so many sports biographies and this one was special, telling the story of a 50+ year friendship in its entirety. Learning about Russell's career in the context of his bond with his coach was so sweet, especially their shared experiences in the space of the Civil Rights movement. It reminded me of how my Papa viewed friendship and that moved me. It made me sad that even the most powerful and expansive friendships have an end though. It gave me a deeper appreciation of Russell and Auerbach's legacies and the fact that this friendship meant so much to Russell that he had to eternalize it through a book endears him to me.
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