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SPORTS Friday 12 august 2022
Russell’s No. 6 being retired across NBA, a 1st for league

By TIM REYNOLDS well. Rachel Robinson, his
AP Basketball Writer widow, asked Russell to be
Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey is a pallbearer at her hus-
being retired across the band’s funeral in 1972.
NBA, a first for the league. “This is a momentous hon-
The NBA and the National or reserved for one of the
Basketball Players Associa- greatest champions to
tion announced Thursday ever play the game,” NBPA
that the number worn by Executive Director Tamika
the 11-time champion, Tremaglio said. “Bill’s ac-
civil rights activist and per- tions on and off the court
son good enough to be throughout the course of
enshrined in the Basket- his life helped to shape
ball Hall of Fame as both generations of players for
a player and a coach was the better and for that,
being permanently retired we are forever grateful.
by all 30 teams. We are proud to continue
“Bill Russell’s unparalleled the celebration of his life
success on the court and and legacy alongside the
pioneering civil rights activ- league.”
ism deserve to be honored There have been more
in a unique and historic than 250 players in NBA his-
way,” NBA Commissioner tory to wear a No. 6 jersey,
Adam Silver said. “Per- The 1969 game worn jersey of Boston Celtics’ legend Bill Russell is displayed along with other including 24 who did so
manently retiring his No. memorabilia set to go up for auction, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Boston. Associated Press in at least one game last
6 across every NBA team season — most notably,
ensures that Bill’s transcen- The Boston Celtics have the Presidential Medal of nal season in 2013. The NHL, James, who has alternated
dent career will always be “separate and unique rec- Freedom from President upon Wayne Gretzky’s re- between 6 and 23 through-
recognized.” ognition for him on their Barack Obama. tirement in 1999, said his out his NBA career.
Players who currently wear uniforms” planned, the And having his number re- No. 99 would be retired Nobody has worn No. 6 for
No. 6 — including the Los NBA said. Russell died on tired leaguewide puts him leaguewide in honor of the Celtics since Russell’s fi-
Angeles Lakers’ LeBron July 31 at the age of 88. He in a very exclusive club. that sport’s all-time scoring nal season, 1968-69.
James — may continue do- was the most prolific winner Major League Baseball per- leader. And now, Russell Russell is one of 12 players
ing so. But the number can- in NBA history, an 11-time manently retired No. 42 — in gets the same treatment. currently enshrined in the
not be issued again, the champion during a 13-year honor of Jackie Robinson, It also seems fitting that he Basketball Hall of Fame who
league said. career — winning the last who broke the big league’s and Robinson — both bar- wore No. 6 at at least some
All NBA players will wear a two of those titles as a play- color barrier — with the un- rier-breakers — are linked point in their careers. The
patch on the right shoulder er-coach — and the first derstanding that those who again. Russell called Rob- others: Julius Erving, Patrick
of their jerseys this season, Black coach in any of the were wearing that number inson a hero, once saying Ewing, Ben Wallace, Don
the league said, and every major U.S. pro sports to win could continue to do so. that “he showed me the Barksdale, Chuck Cooper,
NBA court will display a clo- a championship. Mariano Rivera of the New way to be a man in profes- Larry Costello, Tom Gola,
ver-shaped logo with the He marched with Martin Lu- York Yankees was the last sional sports.” Cliff Hagan, Alex Hannum,
No. 6 on the sideline near ther King Jr., stood with Mu- in the majors to wear No. Robinson, clearly, held Buddy Jeanette and Neil
the scorer’s table. hammad Ali and received 42, doing so through his fi- Russell in high esteem as Johnston.q

Nick Kyrgios beats top-ranked Daniil

Medvedev in Montreal

MONTREAL (AP) — Nick Kyr- well, so hopefully I can just “I felt the pressure of be-
gios beat top-ranked de- keep this rolling.” ing the second seed in this
fending champion Daniil Kyrgios is 3-1 against Med- tournament and world No.
Medvedev 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2 vedev and has won 14 of 4,” Alcaraz said. “It’s the
on Wednesday in the Na- 15 matches, with the loss first time I’ve felt this pres-
tional Bank Open. coming to Novak Djokovic sure and I couldn’t handle
Krygios, the Australian in the Wimbledon final. it.” In the late match, Aus-
ranked 37th, won last week “He played very well,” tralia’s Jack Draper beat
in Washington for his sev- Medvedev said. “The only third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsi-
enth ATP Tour title. Medve- thing that was a shame for pas of Greece 7-5, 7-6 (4).
dev won last week in Los me is that I played him so Also, fourth-seeded Casper
Cabos, Mexico. early because he is fit. He’s Ruud of Norway beat Alex
“Today I had a very clean among the top 10 or 15 Molcan of Slovakia 7-6 (3),
objective of how I was go- players, so he will soon be a 6-3; sixth-seeded Montre-
ing to play, a lot of serve- seeded player. It’s a shame aler Felix Auger-Aliassime Nick Kyrgios of Australia serves to Daniil Medvedev during
and-volley, a lot of aggres- to have such a player as edged Japan’s Yoshihito second round play at the National Bank Open tennis tournament
sive play from the back,” an opponent in the first Nishioka 7-6 (6), 6-4; No. Wednesday Aug. 10, 2022 in Montreal.
Kyrgios said. “I executed (match).” 7 Jannik Sinner of Italy Associated Press
better than he did, that’s all Earlier, American Tommy topped Adrian Mannarino of Finland 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2. erlands 6-1, 6-2, and 10th-
it comes down to. He won Paul beat second-seeded of France 2-6, 6-4, 6-2; and No. 9 Cameron Norrie of seeded Taylor Fritz beat
the first set and I feel like I Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 6-7 No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz of Po- Britain beat Botic van de fellow American Frances
had opportunities there as (4), 7-6 (7), 6-3. land beat Emil Ruusuvuori Zandschulp of the Neth- Tiafoe 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.q