PG – Steve Nash
SG – Sidney Moncrief (Mitch Richmond a close second)
SF – Marques Johnson (with Chris Mullin a close second)
PF – Dirk Nowitzki
C – Bob Lanier (on one leg)

Best player that Nellie ever coached: Nash

I am always baffled by the city of Oakland’s constant failure to recognize our hometown hero’s.. Our hometown has been fighting (and mostly losing) the battle with its public image – yet for reasons unknown always whiff on opportunities to honer people from our community who have gone on to accomplish positive things.

From McClymonds’ perfect 32-0 season in 2008, to Van Jones, to Ashton Purvis the biggest Highschool track star in the country (while at St. Liz an East Oakland school with no track) — it seems that Oakland would much rather spend their time villainizing and disenfranchising the youth of our community, than encouraging us to strive to make a positive change by giving due credit to the one’s who have done just that..

Although it will be nearly impossible for someone to accomplish as much as Russell off the court – simply because now a days it is impossible to accomplish what Russell did on the court.. Here are some local athletes I draw strength from:

Kevin Johnson
Leon Powe
Nnamdi Asomugha
Kirk Morrison
Brian Shaw
Lorenzo Alexander (St. Marys/Cal/Redskins)

Although they may not have the resume as Russell (no one from anywhere will ever again) these people have given back to our community in the best way they can.. Having competed against these athletes on the local playing fields and growing up attending camps like Shaw’s every summer I know for a fact that these local athletes would give just as much, if not more back to the community as Russell if they had the financial resources Russell has..

At Shaw’s camp as a kid I got opportunity to meet Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Smith to many to name.. I have a picture with Kareem Abdul Jabbar that hangs on my wall till this day, who I meet at a camp at Skyline High.

So the local hero’s and role models are there, you just have to look a little harder.. MT, as a young African American male we both understand and are well aware of the fact that the Ray Allen’s, David Robinson’s, Brandon Roy’s, Grant Hill’s of the world will never receive the off court publicity of the Plaxico Burress’ and Mick Vick’s.. Thats just the way it is.

Props to you and Monte for recognizing and bringing light to this issue. Hopefully our local media will do a better job at honoring those who have excelled in their field that we should all be proud of.. You yourself are an inspiration and positive role model to many young African Americans from Oakland such as myself, in every word and every article you write.. So keep up the good work my friend, because like Russell while the loud minority criticizes — the silent masses learns..

Also, DW, here’s a tip. You can help Bill Russell cause by just volunteering as a tutor at a local low-income community center. Glad I could help you.

RUSSELL: “The reason I’m here is so we can start on accelerating a plan to make a graduation rate from 30 percent to 60 percent. I think I might not be here to see it.”

If anyone would do something good but unpopular consequences be damned, I would have to say Ron Artest believe it or not. Maybe you have to be a little crazy to take a stand these days.