Universal Hub - Red Auerbach

Red Auerbach and the pick

adamg — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:59:49 +0000

Naturally, there's a site that collects tacky tourist photos and, yes, of course, one of the entries involves the Red Auerbach statue and some guy's finger. Guess it beats what Harvard students do to poor John Harvard, though.

Via Jay Fitzgerald.

Red Auerbach tributes

adamg — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 01:02:09 +0000

Tribute compiled by Boston34Celtics:

Jim Sullivan: Auerbach was a one-man civil rights movement:

... Here's what made Auerbach a legendary figure, though. He didn't do any of those things because he felt sorry for black people, out of some sort of white liberal guilt. He did them because they were the right things to do, at those moments, for the success of the Boston Celtics basketball team. In my book, that makes him far greater than someone trying to address a past inequity or whose main purpose is to fill a quota. ...

Dave Bonner: I grew up in a Celtics family:

My grandparents were huge fans, and I still remember running up the stairs to their apartment after dinner to sit and watch the game with them. ...

Red Auerbach's other side

adamg — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:57:43 +0000

Well, even if religion weren't an issue, some people aren't ready to nominate Red Auerbach for sainthood.

Jesse: I met the man several times, and he had the bedside manor of a thumbtack:

... Did all of you forget that he was famous for being a jerk too? He may have been super at what he did, a wonderful coach, a friend, a husband, a father~ I don't know... but I DO know that I am not the only one who has had more than one not-so-nice encounter with the man. ...

Former Herald sportswriter Michael Gee says Auerbach was a genius, no doubt, but he had hs flaws:

... Auerbach flat out lied to the Herald the night Len Bias died so that his buddy Will McDonough could have an exclusive. It was worth it to Red to have yet another big favor in Will's bank. A couple of old pros, those two, something both good and bad in both. ...

But, he adds:

... Hero, liar, racial pioneer, cheapskate, a man I hated in youth and am weeping as I write his obit. Sports and the world are duller and poorer places this morning. ...

Remembering Red Auerbach

adamg — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:27:18 +0000

Passing of a Celtics legend.

Peter N. remembers going to a Celtics game in Hartford during the Bird era when the Celts came from behind at the last minute to beat the Knicks:

... It was a magical moment for players and fans alike, as the Civic Center erupted with an earthquake of cheering. And leave it to my Dad to go over to where Red Auerbach was sitting and hand him a cigar. Red promptly slid off the band and lit up. Right there! ...

Michael Femia: Goodbye, and thanks, Arnold:

... You've made this city a much better place. You've given us a ton of memories. And we'll miss you. I'm going to go buy a cigar now.