Sanders Hall election a nod to working man

Sanders Hall election a nod to working man

By Bob Ryan
Globe Columnist / April 5, 2011


Thomas “Satch’’ Sanders, The Coolest Man In the World.

Talk about a mismatch.

Satch, as always, exuded class. He had on a dark suit, and he was wearing his trademark bow tie. It goes without saying that, at 72, he looks as if he could step on the court tonight and hold Kevin Durant to 10.

FULL STORY HERE
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2011/04/05/hall_election_of_ex_celtic_sanders_a_nod_to_the_working_man/

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Ray Allen Delivers a New Computer Lab to Students

Ray Allen Delivers a New Computer Lab to Students

Ray Allen at the Tobin K-8 in Roxbury

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Bill Russell Statue? The Perfect Woman For The Job!

BLACKSTONIAN EXCLUSIVE!

As the Blackstonian Family knows we have been working on the idea of a Bill Russell Statue for some time now. Most recently, after the issue came up in the news again after an article calling for the long-deserved statue to happen, we began flying the idea around several key people.  I spoke with Boston City Councillor Ayanna Pressley who just this week authored a Resolution (click for article) along with City Councillor John Connolly.

I spoke with Boston Athletics Godfather Charlie Titus who got us in touch with Bill Russell's camp. At the time, before Bill Russell's Birthday on Feb. 12th (conveniently in Black History Month) we were alerted that Mr. Russell was soon to travel to DC to receive an award from President Obama.  On Feb. 15th, the world watched the iconic scene of President Barack Obama placing the Presidential Medal of Freedom (US highest civilian honor) around the neck of our beloved Bill Russell. Pres. Obama called for a statue in Boston and the wheels started turning... media across the country picked up the story, Mayor Menino jumped on board, Gov. Patrick jumped on board, Boston Celtics jumped on board and the fans have always known the right thing to do (in this case).

The Blackstonian now focuses attention on who will build this statue? Well, considering the circumstances and the history, what if I told you we had a local artist, and that they were from the community, and that SHE is a Black Woman and world reknown to get down? Are you on board?

THE ONLY AND THE BEST ARTIST SUITED TO DO THE BILL RUSSELL STATUE IS...
FERN CUNNINGHAM.

Fern Cunningham Website for all works, images, bio, etc.

http://www.cunninghamsculpture.com/

Basic Black Feature on Fern Cunningham here

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Hub builds on prez idea for Bill Russell statue

Blackstonian Editor's Note: We are glad to see that President Obama has come around to the long held idea that Bill Russell deserves a statue in Boston, the Blackstonian has been working on a statue and honoring Bill Russell in Boston for some time. We suggested an Official City of Boston "Day" as well as a State of Mass "Day" honoring Mr. Russell.. we suggested his birthday of Feb. 12th. In addition, the ONLY person who should do this statue is Fern Cunningham, the Black Woman who also made the Harriet Tubman statues and the work in Forest Hills Cemetary.
See Basic Black Feature on Fern Cunningham here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNcrUsC63SI
The Blackstonian hopes that when our dream comes to fruition, we at least get invited ;)

Hub builds on prez idea for Bill Russell statue

By O’Ryan Johnson  |   Friday, February 18, 2011  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Two days after President Obama said he hopes Boston will build a statue honoring Celtics [team stats] legend Bill Russell, plans are under way between city officials and the Celtics front office to make that happen.

Support for the idea is pouring in from across the Hub, with the Rev. Bruce Wall in Dorcehster, congressman Michael Capuano as well as several Celtics who are on record saying it should be built.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino said the battle is not being fought over whether to build the statue, but where to build it.

“Where is the most appropriate place to put the statue for the consideration and respect due Bill Russell?” said Menino, who considers Russell a friend. “He’s a very deep person who has a big laugh, but is very serious.”

He said that was the subject of the phone call between the city and Celtics front office Wednesday, and he said both sides are looking at that issue now. While Causeway Street seems like an obvious choice, Menino pointed out that Celtics coach Red Auerbach’s statue is in Faneuil Hall.

In Dorchester, the Rev. Bruce Wall said a Russell statue should be in a place where all who visit Boston can enjoy it.

“He was not just a figure for the black community. He is a world-renowned figure,” Wall said. “Everyone recognized him. Put the statue in a place where people visiting Boston from all over can pay tribute. I would support having it downtown.”

Capuano (D-Somerville), whose district includes the North End, said a statue for Russell — who won 11 NBA championships, two as player coach — should have happened years ago.

A Bill Russell statue is long overdue, Capuano said. “He is a Boston legend, a quintessential Celtic and a true champion — as a coach and a player.”

But Menino said one hang-up remains, no one has talked to Russell.

“We want to connect with Bill Russell ourselves first,” said Menino, to make sure he wants a statue, before plans get too far ahead.

Kilbert Pierce Jr, the boxer-turned-blogger who proposed the idea of a statue more than three years ago, said in addition to a lack of funding, there seemed to be little interest in raising a statue to Russell at the time.

“It makes me feel so good that people are now coming around and showing interest. I think it’s great. Obama has pushed this to a new level. For (Celtics Ray) Allen to say something, for (Coach Doc) Rivers to say something. That’s beautiful. That’s all I ever wanted,” Pierce said.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1317640

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An Open Letter to Shaquille O'Neal

by: Blackstonian Editor, Jamarhl Crawford

To The Grand Shaqti, Shaqadamus Shaquintius, His Shaqadociousness, Shaqavelli ok you get the point.

Now that you have made your arrival in Boston I thought it would be good for a brother to put you on to game. As far as Basketball you have that on lock and I know nothing, I am far from an avid fan but I have witnessed the Boston sports scene from my youth in the 70’s and remember a time when the Celtics represented something very different for Black people in the city. This was a time when the only ones little Black Boys had to look up to were “Satch” Saunders, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, M.L. Carr, Robert Parrish, Dennis “D.J.” Jones, Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell and of course before that the legend of the immortal Bill Russell.  At that time in Boston, the Boston Garden and surrounding areas were not such friendly places for Black people to travel.

The Celtics as the only team in the league which has a logo that represents a culture, brought out the most fervent support of Boston’s Irish community who were embattled with the Black community at that time over the issue of bussing.  Boston Sports have always been a little tenuous for Black People, from the treatment of the Black Athletes that may come here, to the overall unwelcome feeling at Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics games. Notice I didn’t even bother mentioning the Bruins.  You should give Bill Russell a call and take him to dinner, he can tell you a thing or two about the racially volatile and toxic atmosphere of the time. Sadly, to date this city has never recognized him for his championship contributions.

Nowadays in “Post Racial” America much has changed. Hasn’t it? Here in Boston, Massachusetts, we have a Black President, a Black Governor, a Black Superintendent of Public Schools, a Black Commissioner of the Department of Corrections (just resigned 10/8/10) and about a dozen Black Elected State & Local Officials.  Apparently and unfortunately this is not enough.

Your career has led you through cities from Orlando, Los Angeles and Miami. Spoiler alert: Boston is not like any of those cities and I don’t just mean the weather. In Los Angeles and Miami I am sure you became aware of the violence and crime that plague those cities and the lives it leaves devastated. Here in Boston, a city a small fraction of the size of either of those, the violence is concentrated and potent.  Unfortunately, even your new team mate Paul Pierce was affected by violence in Boston, despite his celebrity status.  As a Global personality and a man about town, you will also notice blaring differences in Boston’s nightlife. You will see little to no Black or Latino ownership and an overall absence of our culture from the city landscape.

So why write an open letter to Shaq? Because you can use your celebrity to call attention to local issues and do some good in the hood. What can Shaquille O’Neal do? Visit schools, visit juvenile detention, come to the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan and encourage your teammates to do the same. There are also many Historical sites in this city that could use your help; The Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts, The Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists and The Malcolm X House.

Shaquille O’Neal has always been a gentle giant and a man of the people. Whether rocking rhymes as Shaq-Fu and subsequent platinum album Shaq Diesel or starring in riveting roles like Kazaam, there has always been an overwhelming sense of goodness and fun. We have also witnessed Shaq publicly with his own family and friends (Kobe not included) and you can clearly see a man who has achieved a dream but is caring and about giving back.

So while you are here in Boston, much like the title of your TV show, I would love to see Shaq versus all the issues our children face. Many kids in this city are not experiencing the family and the fun due to extreme circumstances. We could sure use you down here in the paint, boxing out the other team and making sure our kids rebound and score.  I know you are a big enough man to do it. Making a difference may prove easier and more rewarding than making freethrows.

One Love,

The Hood

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Shaquille O’Neal stands tall in Harvard Square today

Shaquille O’Neal stands tall in Harvard Square today
By Joe Dwinell  |   Thursday, October 21, 2010  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Coverage

Photo by Matt Stone
Shaquille O’Neal, living up to all of his 7-foot, 1-inch hype, is heading over to Harvard Square now to pose like a statue — as promised.

The Celtics [team stats] center just Tweeted “on my way to harvard square lol dam I phone my fingers r to big statue time.’’

Shamroq, as he would now like to be called, said two weeks ago there’s “no conversation.” Just sitting and snapping of pics for an hour.

If you want your photo taken with Shaq, better get running. We are.

If you do pose with the imposing big guy, send your photo to us at heraldsquare@bostonherald.com ... where you can send any cool photo. Who knows, we may run some of your shots in tomorrow’s Herald and always online at bostonherald.com.

As for Shaq, he’ll start the season at center when the Celtics open Tuesday night at the TD Garden vs. the Miami Heat — who are a “loaded baked potato,” as the Herald’s Steve Bulpett writes today, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh hoping to bounce the Heat to the NBA championship.

Today, Shaq stands ... or sits ... above them all in Harvard Square.

Shaq did Tweet at about 1 p.m. “on my way to Barbara square it’s statue time.” He then quickly corrected himself tapping out “I mean on my way to harvard square ...”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1290488

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