Go Up for Glory

by Bill Russell, William Mcsweeny

Overview

Back in print for the first time in decades, Go Up for Glory is the classic 1968 basketball memoir by NBA legend Bill Russell, with a new foreword from the author.

From NBA legend Bill Russell, Go Up for Glory is a basketball memoir that transcends time. First published in 1965, this narrative traces Russell's childhood in segregated America and details the challenges he faced as a Black man, even when he was a celebrated NBA star. And while some progress has been made, this book serves as an urgent reminder of how far we still have to go in the fight for human rights and equality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593184226
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/17/2020
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	74,236
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Bill Russell was a former Boston Celtics center who played from 1956 to 1969, on eleven championship teams. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he was a five-time NBA MVP and an All Star in twelve of the thirteen years he played; many regard him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Russell was the Celtics’ player-coach for three years, becoming the first Black coach in professional North American sports, and the first to win a championship. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the Civil Rights Movement. Russell is one of seven players in history to win an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship, and an Olympic gold medal.

Bill McSweeny is a journalist, Korean War combat infantryman, corporate executive, and lifelong humanitarian and activist for civil and human rights. He is the author of three books, including Go Up for Glory, which he wrote with Celtics star Bill Russell in 1965.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the 2020 Edition xi

Foreword xxi

Chapter I The Kid 1

Chapter II National Champions 20

Chapter III The Olympics 40

Chapter IV Cast of Characters 53

Chapter V Auerbach and Me 89

Chapter VI "It" 102

Chapter VII The Psychology 109

Chapter VIII The Championships 135

Chapter IX Felton X 182

Chapter X Human Rights 189

Chapter XI The Battleground 202

Epilogue 207

Acknowledgments 211

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Go Up for Glory: 
"A half-century after its first publication, Glory remains one of the best books of its ilk, an enthralling snapshot of its era that serves as a reminder of not only how much basketball has changed, but also how much the rest of the world hasn't. Russell was unflinching in his description of the racism he encountered growing up in Louisiana and Oakland...Still, [he] found a measure of hope."—Sports Illustrated

From the Publisher

The reissue of basketball star Bill Russell’s memoir on audio will remind listeners that he was a champion of racial justice when few discussed the topic, and certainly not with his candor. Narrated by JD Jackson, who sounds like Russell, even down to his uniquely patient style of speaking, the book is as timely now as when it was first released in 1968. Whether addressing the racism he initially faced as the lone Black on the Boston Celtics or the difficulties he encountered in college and as a sports pro, Russell confirms that he was a game changer, and Jackson’s performance highlights the traits that made him so. Listeners will believe they are hearing Russell himself because of his timeless insights and Jackson’s genuineness. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile

The reissue of basketball star Bill Russell’s memoir on audio will remind listeners that he was a champion of racial justice when few discussed the topic, and certainly not with his candor. Narrated by JD Jackson, who sounds like Russell, even down to his uniquely patient style of speaking, the book is as timely now as when it was first released in 1968. Whether addressing the racism he initially faced as the lone Black on the Boston Celtics or the difficulties he encountered in college and as a sports pro, Russell confirms that he was a game changer, and Jackson’s performance highlights the traits that made him so. Listeners will believe they are hearing Russell himself because of his timeless insights and Jackson’s genuineness. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2021 - AudioFile