RIP Red Auerbach

[everlast1986]

WASHINGTON (Oct. 28) - Red Auerbach, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Boston Celtics  to nine NBA championships in the 1950s and 1960s, died Saturday. He was 89.


Auerbach won 938 games with the Celtics and was the winningest coach in NBA history until Lenny Wilkens  overtook him in the 1994-95 season. As general manager, the straight-talking Auerbach, who celebrated victories with a postgame cigar, was also the architect of Celtics teams that won seven more titles in the 1970s and 1980s.

Auerbach's death was announced by the Celtics, for whom he still served as team president. The team said the upcoming season would be dedicated in his honor.

He died of a heart attack near his home in Washington , according to an NBA official, who declined to be identified because the family had not made an official announcement. His last public appearance was on Wednesday, when he received the U.S. Navy's Lone Sailor Award in front of family and friends in ceremonies in Washington.

"Red was a guy who always introduced new things," Steve Pagliuca, a Celtics managing partner, told The Associated Press in an interview this month. "He had some of the first black players in the league and some people didn't like that, but you've got to do what's right for the fans. So I think we tried to do things thoughtfully. We didn't come in here and change everything overnight."

Born Arnold Auerbach in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sept. 20, 1917, Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968.

"I never thought he'd die," said author John Feinstein, who last year collaborated on a book with Auerbach on the coach's reflections of more than 70 years in basketball. "He was a unique personality, a combination of toughness and great, great caring about people. He cared about people much more than it showed in his public face, and that's why people cared about him."

With the Celtics, he made deals that brought Bill Russell , Robert Parish and Kevin McHale  to Boston. He drafted Larry Bird  a year early when the Indiana  State star was a junior to make sure Bird would come to Boston. The jersey No. 2 was retired in Auerbach's honor during the 1984-85 season.

He coached championship teams, including eight straight from 1959 through 1966, that featured players such as Russell, Bob Cousy , Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, K.C. Jones and Sam Jones, all inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Phil Jackson  matched Auerbach's record nine championships when the Los Angeles Lakers  won the title in 2001-02.

After stepping down as general manager in 1984, Auerbach served as president of the Celtics and occasionally attended team practices into the mid-1990s, although his role in the draft and personnel decisions had diminished.

When Rick Pitino became coach in 1997, he also took the president's title and Auerbach became vice chairman of the board. After Pitino resigned on Jan. 8, 2001, Auerbach regained the title of president and remained vice chairman.

The team was sold on Dec. 31, 2002, to a group headed by Wyc Grousbeck and Auerbach stayed on as president.

Through all those titles, Auerbach didn't lose his direct manner of speaking, such as when he discussed the parquet floor of the Boston Garden shortly before the Celtics' longtime home closed in September 1995.

"The whole thing was a myth," Auerbach said. "People thought not only that there were dead spots, but that we knew where every one was and we could play accordingly.

"Now, did you ever watch a ballplayer go up and down the court at that speed and pick out a dead spot?" he asked. "If our players worried about that, thinking that's going to help them win, they're out of their cotton-picking mind. But if the other team thought that: Hey, good for us."

As Celtics president, Auerbach shuttled between Boston and his home in the nation's capital, where he led an active lifestyle that included playing racquetball and tennis into his mid-70s.

Auerbach underwent two procedures in May 1993 to clear blocked arteries. He had been bothered by chest discomfort at various times beginning in 1986.

Auerbach was also hospitalized a year ago, but he was soon active again and attended the Celtics' home opener. Asked that night what his thoughts were, he replied in his usual blunt manner: "What goes through your mind is, 'When the hell are we going to win another one?' I mean, it's as simple as that."

Auerbach had planned to be at the Celtics' 2006-07 opener, in Boston next Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets .

In his 16 seasons as Boston's coach, he berated referees and paced the sideline with a rolled-up program in his clenched fist. The cigar came out when he was sure of another Celtics' victory.

He had a 938-479 regular-season coaching record and a 99-69 playoff mark.

Auerbach had a reputation as a keen judge of talent who always seemed to get the best of trades with fellow NBA coaches and general managers.

In 1956, he traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the Hawks ' first-round pick and ended up with Russell - probably the greatest defensive center of all time and the heart of 11 championship teams.

In 1978, he drafted Bird in the first round even though he would have to wait a year before the forward could become a professional.

Before the 1980 draft, the Celtics traded the top choice to Golden State  for Parish and the third choice. The Warriors  took Joe Barry Carroll. The Celtics chose McHale.

In 1981, Boston chose Brigham Young guard Danny Ainge in the second round. Ainge was playing baseball in the Toronto  Blue Jays organization at the time, but was freed after a court battle to play for the Celtics.

In June 1983, another one-sided deal brought guard Dennis Johnson from Phoenix  for seldom-used backup center Rick Robey.

Auerbach attended Seth Low Junior College in New York  and George Washington University. His playing career was undistinguished. In three seasons at George Washington he scored 334 points in 56 games - a 6.0 average. He would often attend games at GW's Smith Center.

He was an instant coaching success, posting the best record of his career in his first season. He led the Washington Capitols to a 49-11 mark in 1946-47, the NBA's debut season, and took them to the playoff semifinals.

The Capitols had winning records the next two seasons under Auerbach, who moved on to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for one season in 1949-50. They had a 28-29 mark, Auerbach's only losing record in 20 years as an NBA coach.

In the NBA's first four seasons, the Celtics never had a winning record. But Auerbach changed that dramatically when he succeeded Alvin "Doggy" Julian as Boston's coach for the 1950-51 campaign.

They went 39-30 that season, and the Celtics never had a losing record in his 16 seasons as coach. Boston never had a winning percentage below .611 in his last 10 seasons.

His last game as coach was on April 28, 1966, when Boston edged the Lakers  95-93 in Game 7 of the finals to win the NBA title. He was just 48 years old, but ready to move on.

On Feb. 13 of that season, Auerbach was honored at halftime of a loss to Los Angeles  at Boston Garden.

"They say that losing comes easier as you grow older," he said after the game. "But losing keeps getting harder for me. I just can't take it like I used to. It's time for me to step out."

Russell became player-coach the next season, while Auerbach concentrated on his job as general manager. Russell was the first of five Boston coaches who had played for Auerbach.

Auerbach is survived by two daughters, Nancy Auerbach Collins and Randy Auerbach; his granddaughter, Julie Auerbach Flieger, and three great-grandchildren.

RIP to one of the greatest NBA coaches ever. He lived a great life.

[WC Iz Active]

RIP to the greatest NBA coach of all time.

["THE" MoSav]

RIP to the greatest NBA coach of all time.

exactly
Red Auerbach>>>phil Jackson

[Citizen-Y]

RIP to the greatest NBA coach of all time.

exactly
Red Auerbach>>>phil Jackson

No need to do that, Red > *

[Stone Cold is Bout It, Bout It]

Damn, that really sucks, i really wanted him to be alive so he could see Phil win his 10th, 11, 12 tittle the next couple of years    

Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Red

[Antonio_]

Nothing but respect for a man who's made the history of this game. He was an "enemy" of the Lakers and Phil Jackson, but it doesn't matter today. It's just time to celebrate him and his life. R.I.P.

[wcsoldier]

Nothing but respect for a man who's made the history of this game. He was an "enemy" of the Lakers and Phil Jackson, but it doesn't matter today. It's just time to celebrate him and his life. R.I.P.

[WC Iz Active]

Nothing but respect for a man who's made the history of this game. He was an "enemy" of the Lakers and Phil Jackson, but it doesn't matter today. It's just time to celebrate him and his life. R.I.P.

real talk from a mature Laker fan

[Citizen-Y]

Red was tempted to say no hotel, no games. But he remembered the State Department briefing and President Johnson's warning about being patient. So he asked for a schedule which he had not yet been given, for the team. There were games every night. That was fine.
"Don't you want us to do any clinics while we're here?" Red asked the federation head.
We don't need your clinics," he was told. "In the last World Championships, our team finished ahead of the American team."
Red didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The United States had been represented in the World Championships the year before by a group of college players, not even particularly distinguished college players since the event was not considered very important back then. "How do I explain that to this guy?" he said. "How do I tell him those were kids, these are pros, the best players in the world?"
There was really only one way to explain. But before the team could prove their superiority, there was one more glitch.
...
"A flag was found. The game was played. And the Americans made it clear that there's a difference between college kids and pros. Knowing that the Yugoslav team probably thought it was every bit as good as the Americans, Red gave very explicit pregame instructions: "No letting up," he said. "Beat them as badly as you can." Then, turning to Russell, he pointed at the star of the Yugoslav team, a six-eight redhead named Belov. "He scores once and I'll have your head," he said. "I mean it, once."
When the game began, the Yugoslavs went straight to Belov as soon as they got the ball. He made a spin move on Russell, turned, and Russell blocked the shot, starting a fast break the other way. Five times, the Yugoslavs got the ball; five times Russell blocked a shot. The sixth time down, Belov caught the all thirty feet from the basket and, with Russell racing at him, heaved a shot that hit the side of the backboard and bounced away as the crowd hooted. A few seconds later, with the Americans already up twenty, the Yugoslav coach called time.
"Russell," Red screamed, "I'm gonna kill you! You let the guy hit the backboard!"
The next time Belov caught the ball, he tried to go up-and-under Russell, who slammed the ball back at him so hard it hit him in the head and bounced away. Completely exasperated, Belov grabbed the ball, kicked it into the stands, and was promptly ejected.
"Russell runs by the bench, looks at me, and winks," Red remembered.
The Americans won by fifty-five. Red spent most of the second half eating ice cream on the bench, legs crossed just to make it absolutely clear that this game was too easy to even merit his attention. That night, at a postgame banquet, the head of the Yugoslav federation asked Red if perhaps the Americans might do a clinic the next day.
Red's first response was direct: "Tell him," he said to the interpreter, "I got two words for him: no way."
"I am always willing to fogive," Red likes to say, "But I never -- ever -- forget."

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

RIP to the greatest NBA coach of all time.

 

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Damn, that really sucks, i really wanted him to be alive so he could see Phil win his 10th, 11, 12 tittle the next couple of years    

Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Red

^^Exactly my thoughts...Nonetheless, RIP to a great coach...Was never really AS great of a person in my opinion though.

[WC Iz Active]

Damn, that really sucks, i really wanted him to be alive so he could see Phil win his 10th, 11, 12 tittle the next couple of years    

Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Red

^^Exactly my thoughts...Nonetheless, RIP to a great coach...Was never really AS great of a person in my opinion though.

Exactly My Thoughts!?!? You Laker fans act SO PATHETIC some times. The legend and greatest coach ever dies and all you have to say is "I wish he was still alive to watch Phil win 3 more titles" HOW DUMB! First off that could never happen cause Kobe doesnt have Shaq anymore so he probably wont ever win another title although Shaq did.  You Laker fans are a riot, so biased its disgusting.  Damn NIK I expected more out of you, Exactly My Thoughts, lol all you have to say about Red is u wish he could watch Phil win more titles, I hate Shaq and The Heat but now Im kinda happy they won it all cause it put u Laker fans in place, Shaq w/out Kobe 1 Title, Kobe w/out Shaq only 1 trip to playoffs in 2 years, Shaq >Kobe

[Vegasmac25]

RIP Red.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Damn, that really sucks, i really wanted him to be alive so he could see Phil win his 10th, 11, 12 tittle the next couple of years    

Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Red

^^Exactly my thoughts...Nonetheless, RIP to a great coach...Was never really AS great of a person in my opinion though.

Exactly My Thoughts!?!? You Laker fans act SO PATHETIC some times. The legend and greatest coach ever dies and all you have to say is "I wish he was still alive to watch Phil win 3 more titles" HOW DUMB! First off that could never happen cause Kobe doesnt have Shaq anymore so he probably wont ever win another title although Shaq did.  You Laker fans are a riot, so biased its disgusting.  Damn NIK I expected more out of you, Exactly My Thoughts, lol all you have to say about Red is u wish he could watch Phil win more titles, I hate Shaq and The Heat but now Im kinda happy they won it all cause it put u Laker fans in place, Shaq w/out Kobe 1 Title, Kobe w/out Shaq only 1 trip to playoffs in 2 years, Shaq >Kobe

LOL, stop crying like a little bitch. Red Aurebach wasn't the greatest of people, you don't know shit about him. I don't know him, but I know enough about him and the things he's done to believe such. Phil Jackson is a WAY better coach in my and most peoples opinion, and he will no doubt break Red's record by the time he retires... that's what I mostly care about, I don't feel sad for anything, sorry that you can't handle that...Red Aurebach even recently talked mad shit about Phil and has always HATED the Laker organization. He LOVED rubbing shit in the Lakers face, anything to feel on top of them, that's what he made his reputation off of...To say that I'm upset that Phil won't be able to now rub his next title in Aurebach's face is EXTREMELY valid...I mean, sucks for him that he went out, I feel for those close to him and everything, but he meant absolutely NOTHING to me...PeACe

[WC Iz Active]

Damn, that really sucks, i really wanted him to be alive so he could see Phil win his 10th, 11, 12 tittle the next couple of years    

Phil>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Red

^^Exactly my thoughts...Nonetheless, RIP to a great coach...Was never really AS great of a person in my opinion though.

Exactly My Thoughts!?!? You Laker fans act SO PATHETIC some times. The legend and greatest coach ever dies and all you have to say is "I wish he was still alive to watch Phil win 3 more titles" HOW DUMB! First off that could never happen cause Kobe doesnt have Shaq anymore so he probably wont ever win another title although Shaq did.  You Laker fans are a riot, so biased its disgusting.  Damn NIK I expected more out of you, Exactly My Thoughts, lol all you have to say about Red is u wish he could watch Phil win more titles, I hate Shaq and The Heat but now Im kinda happy they won it all cause it put u Laker fans in place, Shaq w/out Kobe 1 Title, Kobe w/out Shaq only 1 trip to playoffs in 2 years, Shaq >Kobe

LOL, stop crying like a little bitch. Red Aurebach wasn't the greatest of people, you don't know shit about him. I don't know him, but I know enough about him and the things he's done to believe such. Phil Jackson is a WAY better coach in my and most peoples opinion, and he will no doubt break Red's record by the time he retires... that's what I mostly care about, I don't feel sad for anything, sorry that you can't handle that...Red Aurebach even recently talked mad shit about Phil and has always HATED the Laker organization. He LOVED rubbing shit in the Lakers face, anything to feel on top of them, that's what he made his reputation off of...To say that I'm upset that Phil won't be able to now rub his next title in Aurebach's face is EXTREMELY valid...I mean, sucks for him that he went out, I feel for those close to him and everything, but he meant absolutely NOTHING to me...PeACe

It's just very lame NIK,  And lol @ me acting like a bitch, I will say it again I like u Nik in fact u are one of my fav posters here and I like talkng ball with you but you're Laker bias is out of hand sometimes.  And when I said Shaq>Kobe of course I didnt mean that but u Laker fans just bring it on yourselves some times.  I dont care that Red wasnt a "good person" Kobe isnt a real good person either but he still cant do any wrong in your eyes, lol at using "not a good person" to discredit Red, is that all you got?