Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Bill Russell: I mostly didn’t do anything but I did take care of a health question that needed to be addressed. It’s really funny, but what I did was almost routine. But when you describe it, it doesn’t sound routine.
I had a valve in my heart that had to be replaced and the way you replace it is by open-heart surgery. Well, open-heart surgery sounds difficult but this was not an emergency. It was something I had to do. The same operation in an emergency is life threatening. This was not life threatening.
They took the valve out and replaced it. It only took a couple of hours to do that. I talked to the doctors after and they said they were pleased with the procedure. They said I would be sore after a while and after that, they said I would feel better than I ever did at this point.
The most I can do now is walk but the two things I enjoy the most, I can’t do this summer. Drive my car, which every summer I drive across the country at least twice, and play golf every day. I can’t do either one of those for a while.
So, most of the summer I get to be a grouch.
NBA.com: You sound good. You’re feeling fine?
Russell: Yes. It’s all rehab basically. There was never ever any danger. The reason this was routine was because I was living a clean lifestyle. No drinking, smoking, etc. I’m in good shape.
NBA.com: Q & A with Bill Russell (via ESPN Boston)
Bill Russell is a bad man. They crack his chest open to operate on him at almost 80 years old and he is trying to tell us that it’s no big deal.
Oh… ho hum… they just opened up my chest cavity, cut a piece out of a vital organ, and replaced it.
The man continues to amaze me.
Some other tidbits:
- The Celtics invited Rob Kurz to camp. I’d be surprised if he makes the team… but I’ve said that before about other players.
- Doc Rivers is a big fan of the ABCD fundraiser.
- The Celtics are hoping to see a boost in interior scoring.
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