Liverpool and Real Madrid meet again in the Champions League

By JAMES ROBSON AP Soccer Writer

Auerbach suggested he meet the player then known as Lew Alcindor.

SALT LAKE CITY

(AP) — This was the first All-Star weekend since the death of 11-time champion, Hall of Fame player and Hall of Fame coach Bill Russell.

He was not forgotten.

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer BILL RUSSELL

The entire season has been a tribute to Russell, with all teams putting his No. 6 at midcourt and all players wearing it on their jerseys.

And at Sunday’s Legends Brunch — one of the best events of All-Star weekend, not to mention one of the toughest tickets to secure — Russell was honoured with remarks from Boston All-Star Jaylen Brown, former oncourt rivals Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hall of Famer Grant Hill.

Abdul-Jabbar called Russell “my friend, my mentor, my role model.” He was 14 when he first met Russell and the initial greeting wasn’t overly friendly; the Celtics were using the gym at Power Memorial in New York, Abdul-Jabbar’s high school, for practice.

Russell was reading The New York Times, and Celtics coach Red

How Abdul-Jabbar remembered Russell’s response: “I’m not getting up to meet some kid.”

They met anyway, and became very close over the years, with Russell — notorious for disliking autographs — even signing a Celtics jersey for Abdul-Jabbar a few years ago. And that day, just as he did in that high school gym a half-century earlier, Russell called Abdul-Jabbar “kid.”

“There’s a whole lot more truth and love and respect for my 60-year relationship with Bill Russell,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “Not just as one of the greatest basketball players to ever live, but as the man who taught me how

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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Champions League royalty go head-tohead today when Liverpool hosts holder Real Madrid at Anfield.

The two giants of European soccer meet in a repeat of last year’s final and the standout match of the round of 16.

While Liverpool and Real Madrid share 20 Champions League titles between them, Manchester City continues its quest to win the trophy for the first time and Napoli has emerged as a surprise contender after an outstanding start to the season.

LIVERPOOL’S REVENGE MISSION

Liverpool has the chance to avenge the 1-0 loss to Real in the final in Paris last May and goes into the first leg in much-improved form after back-to-back wins against Everton and Newcastle in the Premier League.

It has been a season of struggle for a team that was competing for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last year. So much so that, up until the past week, winning the Champions League looked like its best chance of qualifying for next season’s competition.

But there have been encouraging signs in those morale-boosting wins that leave Jurgen Klopp’s team just six points off the top four and a Champions League-qualifying spot.

Real is aiming to be crowned champion of Europe for a record extending 15th time and is fresh from winning the Club World Cup earlier this month.

But it faces a fight to hold onto its Spanish league title, with Barcelona leading the way at the top of the standings.

MAN CITY’S YEAR?

The Champions League is the one major trophy City has failed to win since being taken over by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family in 2008. While the arrival of Erling Haaland last summer looked like a potential game-changer in Europe, question marks hang over Pep Guardiola’s team in the Premier League. A 1-1 draw with Nottingham

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