The Wind at Our Backs

Bill Russell made a layup against the defending NBA World Champion Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Garden. During the afternoon affair on January 28, 1968, several Sixers players complained that a cold blast of wind was hitting their bench late in the game. Arena staff said it was in order to cool down the old Garden for a hockey game that night. After leading his team to a 115-103 victory, player-coach Russell denied that he had anything to do with the blowers but said, “I was glad that we had the wind at our backs.”