Russell is as passionate in his social justice campaigns as he was during his HOF basketball careerGETTY IMAGES
THE ATHLETIC's Lisa Olson profiled Basketball HOFer BILL RUSSELL, whose "DNA would never allow" him to "fade quietly" into retirement. His personal campaigns "against social injustice are every bit as vigorous as those shot-blocking skills that were for years the defining staple" of his Celtics teams. If there was a "Hall of Fame for activism, for athletes who use their platforms to bring about social change, Russell would be a first ballot addition." Russell -- and "all those who endured so much vile before and after him -- deserves this movement and the progressive developments that (hopefully) ensue" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/12).
NOT JUST A VOICE: In L.A., Bill Plaschke noted USC football announcer PETE ARBOGAST is a "volunteer in the Providence St. John’s No One Dies Alone program, a nationwide service that offers companionship to dying patients." If a terminally ill patient’s family is "not immediately available, or if they have no family, Arbogast is one of about 50 volunteers who might be summoned to their bedside." Because volunteers are "only known by their first names, few in the hospital know he is associated with USC football" (L.A. TIMES, 8/11).
THE GOOD STUFF: Former UConn men's basketball coach JIM CALHOUN hosted the ninth UConn alumni Calhoun All-Star Game, presented by Cigna, which drew 5,323 fans to Mohegan Sun Arena. The biennial event has raised over $8M for the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at UConn Health (HARTFORD COURANT, 8/11)....Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY is donating $25,000 through his and his wife's foundation to the GoFundMe page of golfer SCOTT HARRINGTON and his wife, JENN, who is battling cancer (ESPN.com, 8/11)....ESPN NBA analyst PAUL PIERCE “dropped by Staples’ flagship store” in Brighton, Mass., on Friday to “recognize three local teachers who received surprise flash-funding for their classroom projects with the help of DonorsChoose.org” (BOSTONHERALD.com, 8/12).
NAMES: The USA Boxing Alumni Association “unveiled its second class to be inducted” into its HOF on Dec. 7 in Salt Lake City. The ’18 class includes ROY JONES JR., ANDRE WARD, CLARESSA SHIELDS, late trainer EMANUEL STEWARD and late longtime USA Boxing official TOM CLEARY (ESPN.com, 8/12)....Items belonging to HARRY LORD, who was a member of the Red Sox’ founding team, will “go up for auction” Wednesday. The items “include a 6-foot-long panoramic photo" of the Red Sox and Senators playing on Patriots Day at the Huntington Avenue Ground in Boston in 1910 and a “photo of Lord” with HOFers like TY COBB, NAP LAJOIE and TRIS SPEAKER at Shibe Park in Philadelphia (BOSTONHERALD.com, 8/13)....Providence Journal sports columnist JOHN GILLOOLY penned his last column after covering Rhode Island high school sports for “more than four decades” (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 8/12).
