Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols died today.
I was a soon-to-be teenager, watching basketball for the first time and saw Bill Russell and his Boston Celtics on television. I recall him as a goateed last outpost, standing defiant in the key, protecting the basket from anyone who dared invade his territory. Taking on all challenges, even those of bigger and stronger opponents, like Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed and Nate Thurmond. Running the floor and blocking shots with rare energy. After his basketball years and while all his contemporaries were passing away, it seemed as if he would live forever. I grew to love the game from those earliest years. His older teammate, Bob Cousy, who played in a time before I started watching and dreaming, is still around. I wonder what he is thinking tonight.
And Nichelle Nichols .... the main reason I started watching Star Trek and every syndicated, repeated episode of that original series that I've stumbled across since, on whatever seemingly infinite number of cable channels showing classic programming these past two or three decades. I used to argue with my sister over watching Star Trek or The Mod Squad. (Or maybe it was, Here Come the Brides?) There was only one television in the house and no VCRs back then. No YouTube or complete seasons on dvd, blu-ray, Amazon Prime, etc. You either saw your show on its appointed night or you waited six months for the one replay to come along. There were no visions of a time in the future when you could watch your show on demand or a whim. So, if your sister's favorite show was on at the same time, different channel, well it was a fight. Oh those must have been some tough decisions for my parents .... who to take side with? Maybe this is too much information, but I once had a secret wish that I was a tribble because of Nichelle Nichols.
So I hope it's OK and understood if I'm feeling a little sad tonight.
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