BOSTON — Boston sports fans we spoke with don’t mind the statues for Bobby or Bill, they just wonder why it’s not Bobby and Bill.
“He needs to be here with Bobby Orr,” said Revere resident Darren Dawson. “That’s just my opinion.”
While on the court is where he made a name for himself, Bill Russell’s legacy is bigger than basketball, and that’s part of the reason his statue sits at City Hall.
“We love that statue,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I walked by it almost every day and I think about the legacy that he has left for the city. You walk by, you look up and see that larger-than-life figure and how much he gained for all of us.”
But should the statue be at City Hall or TD Garden?
“Personally I like it here because everyone who comes in here will have to do something do you have to see him but not everybody gets a chance to go to TD Garden,” said Russell fan David Cleckley. “They come to City Hall. I just wish they would’ve made it a little bigger.”
“He should be here and TD Gardon both,” said Russell fan Will Barrett.
There’s a solution. Why not both? The icon’s stature on the court was just as deserving as his stature off and Mayor Wu agrees.
“He showed what it means to be relentless and fearless in fighting for equality and justice,” said Mayor Wu. “So I hope that we can continue to talk about what an appropriate tribute would be. We don’t have to have just one statue. We can talk with all those involved and we want to make sure Boston does our part in remembering and cementing his legacy permanently.”
Mayor Wu says cannot think about the Garden without thinking about Bill Russell so she would be happy to support any effort to either move this statue or have another one.
So what do you think?
Where should the #BillRussell statue be? It’s at City Hall right now because many feel his biggest legacy is off the court but some feel it should be @tdgarden. What do you think? I may use your answers @boston25
— Wale Aliyu (@WaleAliyu) August 1, 2022
Follow Wale on Facebook: WaleAliyuTV / Instagram: WaleAliyuTV / Twitter: @WaleAliyu / TikTok: WaleAliyu, / YouTube: Wale Aliyu
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