‘Go Celtics Go’: Bill Walton cherished his place in Boston’s lineage of victors

INDIANAPOLIS — There he was, still towering as ever, lurking in the back of Adam Silver’s All-Star Weekend press conference. Bill Walton was in Cleveland to be honored among the NBA’s Top 75 players of all time. He wore a blazer and black undershirt and massive black shoes that looked close to the size of cinder blocks. And this being February 2022, with COVID-19 still in the backdrop of every major gathering, Walton had a large, white N-95 protecting his beak. When this reporter offered him a hand, Walton shook his head and extended his elbow instead.

There was a greater conversation I wanted to have with Walton, to profile his life and perspective on the many intersections of basketball and culture — for Walton specifically, basketball and counterculture. When the timing was right, Walton said, he’d give me all the time in the world. Why don’t I take down his email, Walton went on.

His eventual response was written in the short lines of a poem, something I’d learn was common for Walton’s way of exchanging messages with confidants and strangers alike:

Thanks, for your kindness, and interest,
Please, I’m slammed/overwhelmed with everything,
and busier than ever,
I will consider this,
No promises made or extended,
I’ve got a lot going on,
thanks, BW

The “a lot,” it turns out, was Walton’s quiet battle with cancer, as the NBA announced his passing on Monday at the age of 71. Walton was intentionally vague about his withering condition with friends as well. “He never really fully shared it,” said Jeff Twiss, the Boston Celtics’ longtime public relations chief, who developed a close connection with Walton since the 6-foot-11 center arrived in Boston for training camp in 1985, right around Labor Day.

That day, Walton stuck his giant hand before Twiss and huffed and puffed his greeting of, “Nice to meet you, I’m Bill Walton,” as if anyone in the vicinity of the Celtics wasn’t absolutely sure of who the gigantic, bearded red-head they’d dealt Cedric Maxwell to acquire was. “He just started talking for 8, 10 minutes,” Twiss told Yahoo Sports. “‘Who are you? Where are you…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/go-celtics-go-bill-walton-cherished-his-place-in-bostons-lineage-of-victors-021256708.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-05-28 02:12:56

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