I had endured six years of frustration so I think winning it all meant more to me than most of the others on the team.

Race wasn't an issue. My family was French, but Yorkville was a melting pot of races and cultures.

I grew up in the heart of the Depression.

But as a coach I wanted to keep things from being too complicated.

We lived in Yorkville, which is located on the East End of Manhattan. It's further east than Hell's Kitchen, and back then it was the kind of place where the roaches and cockroaches were big enough to carry away small children.

We hung out on the streets, played stickball, and did all of the things that other kids did.

Russell joined the team in December, 1956, following the Olympics.