The NBA has named its annual most valuable player award for the playoff finals after Boston Celtics great Bill Russell beginning this season. Commissioner David Stern made the announcement in Phoenix, the site of this year's all-star contest. Who better to name this prestigious award for than one of the greatest players of all time and the ultimate champion? Stern asked during a news conference Saturday.

The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award will permanently be named after Hall of Fame Celtics center and Coach Bill Russell, the league announced in Phoenix. Commissioner David Stern made the announcement Saturday in Phoenix during the league's All-Star festivities. Russell, 75, led the Celtics to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons as player and coach.

By Jon Saraceno BOSTON -- Somewhere upstairs, the ol' Redster wore a green robe, an unlit cigar clenched in his mouth. No doubt Red Auerbach, late architect of the original Boston dynasty, was joyful: His beloved Celtics have returned from pro basketball's dead.

On a new parquet floor below aging championship banners, the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA title and a first one - at last - for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen - their Big Three for a new generation.

Sylantro Systems Corp., the leading supplier of feature servers for hosted VoIP services in carrier networks, today announced that Bill Russell, a Hewlett Packard and enterprise software industry veteran, has been appointed the company's non-executive Chairman of the Board.