|
|
|
Jewish World Review June 6, 2008 / 3 Sivan, 5768 The Boston Celtics ascend from the abyss By Dave Weinbaum
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
As you read this, the Boston Celtics have completed the first game of the NBA Championship series against arch rival Los Angeles.
I'm in hoops heaven.
I'm a Celtic fan from way back.
As an impressionable seven year old, I remember watching basketball on the tube…no not You Tube, but the ole' black and white in our duplex on the South Side of Chicago. I've been a Boston Celtics nut for all of my 33 years. What? You're laughing? Hey, when you get YOUR column, you can lie your butt off about your age, too. Alright already! Now at the ripe old age of 35 (happy now?), I still hanker for the glory days of the Celtics.
I wasn't sure what I was watching but was fascinated by the fluidity of it all. I couldn't leave the tube while they were playing.
You'll never hear a Jew say, "I broke my hand on the rim when I dunked."
Later, I found out who was responsible for putting Boston on the hoop map. His name was Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach.
Auerbach, a Jew, grew up in the 20's in Brooklyn. He earned his nickname as a kid, playing basketball in Williamsburg with red hair and a temper. While playing college ball at Washington University, he learned the fast break.
It's pretty simple.
You gain the advantage through a quick outlet pass to three guys streaming up the floor against two or one defenders, passing the ball creatively, usually resulting in a wide open lay-up or in these days a slam dunk, the highest percentage shot in sports.
Small of stature Red decided to coach. He floated with smattering success from team to team for nine years until he found his lifelong home as head coach then president of the Boston Celtics, a relationship that lasted for the last 56 years of his life.
You don't have to have a title to be a leader.
Besides installing the fast break as a mantra to his Celtics, Red pioneered much of what you see as good in the NBA:
The most important lesson you can learn from winning is that you can
Combining all these initiatives, Red started collecting world championships. The Boston Celtics dominated, earning nine NBA titles from 1956 to 1966, a record eight in a row. All total the Celtics have earned 16 championships under Auerbach's leadership tenure.
Let's not ignore the heartbreak. The untimely deaths of Len Bias, all American out of Maryland and Reggie Lewis put Boston on long downturns, besides the great loss borne by their families.
Some fans abandoned the Celts.
I didn't. I'm loyal to a team that tries its best.
I even made a side trip to Boston in 1987 to see the parquet floor and watch the Bird led Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons in overtime.
Russell, Cousy, Havlicek, Sanders, Jones (KC and Sam), Johnson, Bird, Parrish, McHale, Ainge, Silas, Howell, Heinsohn, Archibald, Cowen, Walton, Chaney, Maxwell, Ford, Carr, Henderson, Silas, and Howell.
They gave it their all.
I especially thank Red Auerbach, who died in 2006. Red lives in Celtic legend as their "sixth man" for eternity.
Go Boston! Beat LA!!
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Dave Weinbaum, originally from Chicago, is a businessman, writer and part-time stand-up comic. He resides in a Midwest red state. Comment by clicking here.
© 2005, Dave Weinbaum |
Mitch Albom | |||||||||||
