Bill Russell statue unveiling CANCELLED

[tommyvon]

This is not a joke apparently, several on twitter including the "noftify boston" twitter account have reported that due to high winds the ceremony is off.  They have moved it indoors to a private location.  The statue will be able to be viewed this afternoon.

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/11/01/formal-unveiling-bill-russell-statue-boston-canceled-due-threat-high-winds/6uhhldXt5RKQpWned8hvcK/story.html

This is a HUGE embarrassment to the city of Boston and the Celtics organization.  They have messed up recognizing Bill for far too long, it took the president to kick their ass in gear to get this done.. now this.  so sad.



edit - no offensive language - wdleehi

[timobusa]

How is this a huge embarrassment for the city of Boston?
They can't accurately predict mother nature.

It's not like the city of Boston deliberately scheduled this unveiling on a day when they're having bad weather.

I'm glad they're still doing it even with the horrid weather, albeit being private.

[tommyvon]

I just get the feeling they planned on moving it indoors anyway.. After they showboated about how they finally "got it done" and planned this big ceremony.  Now its indoors at a private ceremony. Why not have this ceremony pre-game tonight if its really the weather? 

[Snakehead]

ughhh.....

Almost as big of a part as the statue, to me, was Russell being there for the public.  This sucks.

[hwangjini_1]

I just get the feeling they planned on moving it indoors anyway.. After they showboated about how they finally "got it done" and planned this big ceremony.  Now its indoors at a private ceremony. Why not have this ceremony pre-game tonight if its really the weather?

i dont see how the celtics are to be chagrinned due to bad weather. they have control over that, no more than baseball has over rainouts.

as for the indoor planning, of course they had contingency plans incase of bad weather. they would be idiots if they did not. my program runs a LOT of events and we regularly have a "plan b" should a venue not work out or the weather be bad.

cancelation and moving do not automatically mean some one is some how disparaging russell. they did, after all, create a statue for the man.

i think it will all turn out just fine, which is a good thing. 

[D.o.s.]

Yup. I'd rather have them respect Russ's health problems than force him outside when it's miserable.

[kozlodoev]

Yup. I'd rather have them respect Russ's health problems than force him outside when it's miserable.

Yup. The weather has been pretty pitiful all day.

[Snakehead]

Yup. I'd rather have them respect Russ's health problems than force him outside when it's miserable.

Yup. The weather has been pretty pitiful all day.

This is true but it's very unfortunate.

[PierceMVP08]

What a freaking disgrace.  Bill Russell deserves better from the City of Boston.  Not really sure what Bill Russell's health conditions are, but even for the faint of heart, the weather is no big deal.  Im at government center right now, and there is nothing that should be preventing this from happening.

[Snakehead]

What a freaking disgrace.  Bill Russell deserves better from the City of Boston.  Not really sure what Bill Russell's health conditions are, but even for the faint of heart, the weather is no big deal.  Im at government center right now, and there is nothing that should be preventing this from happening.

Just read Bill Simmons article on Ortiz and Russell as Boston figures.  In that he talks about his interview with Russell and there was a moment, after Russell had been on his feet for like an hour, where he couldn't speak and his eyes went glossy and Simmons was worried he was seriously about to die.  Then he sat down and regained his ability to speak after a few minutes.

[mgent]

Yup. I'd rather have them respect Russ's health problems than force him outside when it's miserable.

I remember feeling bad for Russell when I saw him 15 years younger than he is now.  He looked so old and fragile then, and they made him bend over so far to read his speech off the podium! 

Winds at over 40mph down here in New Bedford.

[Lucky17]

What a freaking disgrace.  Bill Russell deserves better from the City of Boston.  Not really sure what Bill Russell's health conditions are, but even for the faint of heart, the weather is no big deal.  Im at government center right now, and there is nothing that should be preventing this from happening.

Pun intended?

Sarcasm aside, I hope that there is a very public and very well attended ceremony to honor Bill Russell someday, and that he is able to attend and receive the rightful respect and admiration he richly deserves.

[D.o.s.]

Yup. I'd rather have them respect Russ's health problems than force him outside when it's miserable.

I remember feeling bad for Russell when I saw him 15 years younger than he is now.  He looked so old and fragile then, and they made him bend over so far to read his speech off the podium!

Also, and this isn't fair to the residents and Celtics fans of today, but the city didn't exactly welcome him with open arms when he was bringing us all of those titles. It'd be way worse, IMO, to force him to stand out in the rain for 1-2 hours.

[kozlodoev]

What a freaking disgrace.  Bill Russell deserves better from the City of Boston.  Not really sure what Bill Russell's health conditions are, but even for the faint of heart, the weather is no big deal.  Im at government center right now, and there is nothing that should be preventing this from happening.

He had two heart procedures last summer. So maybe he's a little more "faint of heart" than you think he is.

Also, why are you assuming that the City of Boston decided this and Russel had no say in it? The weather forecast shows expected gale (~40 mph wind) in the afternoon, and based on what I've observed all day (especially in the morning around Copley Sq), this sounds about par.

[mgent]

What a freaking disgrace.  Bill Russell deserves better from the City of Boston.  Not really sure what Bill Russell's health conditions are, but even for the faint of heart, the weather is no big deal.  Im at government center right now, and there is nothing that should be preventing this from happening.

You really don't understand how disruptive extreme gusting winds are?  I couldn't hear a person talking 20 feet away from me right now, forget the feedback it would cause on a microphone.