A Large Regular

It's been 15-years since the passing of Arnold "Red" Auerbach and I have a new post up on Substack in appreciation of the man.

As always - please Like, subscribe and share. Thanks.

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations. 

Wonder what Division 1 AA football college teams (I refuse the call it FCS) will advertise that they will schedule games against Power 5 teams just for the big paydays of a million dollars plus but that they would split the payday with the players on the roster the day of the game. That would certainly help with recruiting for that team, "Sure we may get humiliated by Alabama but you walk away with $17K in your pocket." You know that day is shortly coming... Another example of why I'm such a big fan of Justice Clarence Thomas... Tom Brady is about to enter his 21st pro season. I wonder if Larry Bird, who played 13 seasons, was able to stretch things to 21 seasons (like Vince Carter) if he too would have changed teams?... Good for GameStop... Was thinking about this act of kindness and class the other day. In 1982 Red Auerbach used the Boston Celtics 10th round selection to pick Indiana's Landon Turner who was paralyzed shortly after Indiana won the NCAA title in 1981. Auerbach made the pick both as a favor to his friend Bobby Knight but also because it was a nice thing to do for a player who was sure to have been a first round selection before tragedy struck...  

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- How to do great things

- Excellent questions when interviewing a potential CEO. Excellent questions period.

- Heartless but true: There's no reason for US troops to be in Somalia. I don't necessarily disagree with this position but in the back of my mind I can't help but think, "These terrorists in Somalia aren't a threat to US interests - until they are."

- This poker fold is unbelievable! What a great read! And what great sportsmanship for the winner to show his hand so she gets to know she made the right move. Just wow!

- 4 cars disappearing this year. I'm going to miss the Impala.

- I miss Red on Roundball. I hope Pistol Pete practices this wearing a cup until he had the drill down.

- Badass helicopter pilot.

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Succulent Pork would either be a good name for a band or a euphemism for a sex act...  Nice Anthony Bourdain appreciation by Alan Sepinwall... All of the Planet of the Apes movies (and TV shows) are based upon the novel by Pierre Boulle but yet he never seems to get any credit. Can you think of any other book that launched as many movies and spin-offs?... I'm going to play Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy in the next five bars I go to that has a jukebox as my own private joke and to watch the reactions... Quote for the day: "Anger is often what pain looks like when it shows itself in public." - Krista Tippett... Dad reflexes to the rescue... As far as the possible Lebron James to the Celtics move this off-season - I keep wondering "What would Red Auerbach do?" I think Red would sign LeBron (as long as the cost wasn't too high...

Dwane Casey was just voted NBA Coach of the Year. No offense to Mr. Casey but he can't carry Brad Stevens jock when it comes to coaching. This award is a joke. But then again all these "Coach of the Year" awards seem to be.

This year's voting immediately reminded me that Red Auerbach (the best coach in NBA history) only won one NBA Coach of the Year award. And that was for the season the Celtics won their eight of nine consecutive championships.

It also reminded me Bill Belichick, despite being the consensus best coach in the league for the past 15 years, has only won 3 NFL Coach of the Year awards. His teams during those 3-years went a combined 44-4 so I guess they kind of had to give him the award those seasons.

Just to emphasize how much of a joke the NBA Coach of the Year is - not only did Brad Stevens not win - he did not receive any votes! Doc Rivers received a vote! (I agree with those who suggest that Doc voted for himself.)

Coach of the Year awards are crap!

Let me be the first to suggest that if the Los Angeles Lakers 2018 first round NBA Draft pick turns out to be a Top 5 pick and the Brooklyn Nets pick does not - then the City of Boston should pay to erect a statue at Faneuil Hall similar to the one already there for Red Auerbach.

The Celtics got the Lakers pick for letting the 76ers pick first in the last draft while the player Boston said they wanted all along, Jayson Tatum was still there for them with the 3rd pick. It was a classic Red move.

Let me first say it is entirely possible to love Isaiah Thomas but also still love the trade for Kyrie Irving. I'm guessing a large number of Celtics fans in Boston feel that way.

Last night the Boston Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets 2018 1st round draft pick for Kyrie Irving. I like this trade very much for Boston but by the same token this may be the rare trade that benefits both teams.

Cleveland needed to trade Kyrie Irving after he publicly asked for a trade and his rift with LeBron James also became public knowledge. I still say Cleveland would have been better off forcing a trade of LeBron to the the Lakers but that ship has sailed. The Cavaliers front office did not want to do a deal with Boston but no other trade with similar value was available. So Kyrie Irving finds himself this morning in Boston.

Make no mistake - this trade was really Kyrie Irving for the Nets 1st round pick. The rest, including Isaiah Thomas, was salary match filler. It is so fitting that Paul Pierce is having his number retired by Boston on a night they play Cleveland next season because this trade could really be called Kyrie Irving for Paul Pierce when you consider where the Celtics assets in this deal came from in the first place.

For Cleveland they get an All-Star caliber point guard to team with LeBron James and Kevin Love for one more run at a title next season before James bolts for the Lakers. Thomas is a proven 4th quarter scorer who would still rather create for others. A very likable human being who will be a fan favorite and who could be a staple in Cleveland for years if the Cavaliers decide to back up the Brinks truck for Thomas after this season. I just wonder how the dynamic with the newly signed Derrick Rose will work out.

Jae Crowder will prove to be a valuable contributor for Cleveland. He's a defensive specialist on a team that really needs such a player. Plus he has one of the most reasonable contracts in the NBA. For Crowder, with the signing of Gordon Haywood, there wasn't room for him in Boston anyway. So he's potentially the happiest player being dealt last night.

On the Boston side - I'm a firm believer of the idea that when you trade a quarter for two dimes and a nickel - the team getting the getting the quarter is almost always the winner. Irving gives Boston a better point guard and a more stable health and salary cap contract situation moving forward.

It is amazing when you consider where the assets on the Boston side in the deal actually came from. The 1st round pick Boston used to acquire Thomas in the first place originally belonged to Cleveland! The Nets pick was a robbery in the best Red Auerbach mode and don't forget that Jae Crowder was basically a throw in to the Rajon Rondo deal.

I'm really sorry to see Isaiah Thomas go but if Boston fans are honest it looks like Danny Ainge traded him at his peak value and many are afraid that between his hip and his age that a max contract was a big, BIG risk that's now no longer the Celtics problem.

As much as I like this deal for the Celtics - the Cavaliers are still the team to beat in the NBA East next season. The season after that? Well that's a different story.

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Yesterday was National Hummus Day. This giving a "day" to each little thing has gotten ridiculous... US States renamed for countries with similar GDP's... Quote of the Day: "Death is my exit strategy," - Craig Newmark founder of Craig's List... Who knew? The Flat Earth Society has members around the globe... I thought they were saying after dinner and the movie and I'm like "Why wait?"... Just a reminder but Red Auerbach won just a single NBA Coach of the Year Award. That was for the season in which the Celtics won their eighth  of nine consecutive championships... The media reacting to Trump be like...

It has been ten years to the day of the passing of Arnold "Red" Auerbach. It is probably impossible to overstate what Red Auerbach was to basketball especially in New England. He was the architect of the Celtics first 16 World Championships. His "Red on Roundball" tutorials and his books probably taught ten times as many people basketball fundamentals than Tom Emansky did for baseball. He was more important as a GM in his sport than Branch Rickey was to his and he was a better coach in his sport than Bear Bryant was in his. One man accomplished all that.

It irks me to no end to see people praise Phil Jackson as the best NBA coach of all-time. Simply put - Phil Jackson couldn't carry Red's jockstrap.

Red was coach of the Celtics for just 16 years but during that time he won 9 championships (including 8 in a row). When it was time for him to step aside - he named Bill Russell as his replacement. It made no difference to Red that he was making history by naming the first black head coach in NBA history. Red named Bill Russell player-coach because Red figured that after he was gone - the only person who could get the best out of Bill Russell was Bill Russell himself.

Because of my age - I knew Red as a GM not as a coach and I would argue that he was not just the best coach of all-time but the best general manager as well. In the 1956 NBA draft, the Rochester Royals had the first pick and the Boston Celtics had the second pick (via a shrewd trade Red made with St. Louis). With the first pick Rochester selected 6'2" Sihugo Green of Duquesne. With the second pick, the Boston Celtics selected Bill Russell of San Francisco. Red drafted Larry Bird as a "junior eligible". He exposed that loophole and the NBA changed the rules because of Red. Dennis Johnson in exchange for Rick Robey? One of the great forgotten trades of all-time. Robert Parish and the third pick (Kevin McHale) in exchange for the first pick of the draft (Joe Barry Carroll) - perhaps the greatest trade of all-time. Taking a third round risk on a mediocre baseball player named Danny Ainge? The list could go on and on.

Speaking of Danny Ainge - it was of no small importance to Boston fans that the first thing he and the new owners did when taking over the Celtics was to reinstate Red as the "President" of the Celtics. Red was stripped of that honorary title by ego-maniac Rick Pitino whose name is now mud in New England.

One of my favorite stories about Red involves the landmark Boston restaurant Legal Seafoods who banned cigar smoking in their establishments years ago with the written exception of Red Auerbach. One day Red was having lunch and after lunch he lit up a cigar. A lady complained (it's always a lady who complains isn't it?). Red asked her to read the asterix on the menu and then told her "I'm Red Auerbach" while blowing a big big cloud of smoke. 

I've heard some people say that they would light up a cigar today in Red Auerbach's honor and that is a fine idea. However, if smoke is not your thing then how about getting some Chinese food? After his wife and kids and basketball - Chinese food was probably Red's greatest joy. I know where I'll be going for lunch today.

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- How Muhammad Ali wanted to be remembered.

- I really want to hear this story too

- Dropbox CEO Drew Houston's advice for new graduates

- Why Brad Stevens wife wants him to smoke an Auerbach victory cigar

- This week marks the anniversary of the Battle of Midway. One of the most important battles in US history.

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Obama and the "know nothing" media... A blonde is a blonde, a brunette is a brunette and a redhead is a redhead. But what do you call a woman with black hair? You don't call her a black and certainly not a blackhead... Heh heh... Just a reminder - Red Auerbach won just a single NBA Coach of the Year award and that was for the season in which the Celtics would win the 8th of eventually 9 consecutive NBA titles... Heh heh... Interesting - animation of immigration to the US since the 1820's. Looks like pretty much every nation on Earth has people in the US now...

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Wise words from Frank Zappa

- Interesting long read on the seriously messed up 1982 draft by the Tampa Bay Bucs

- On the other end of the spectrum - how Red Auerbach assembled the 1986 Celtics starting five. Did not know about the Ralph Sampson angle. There should be a follow up on how Red put together the bench because it was perhaps the greatest bench in NBA history.

- Fantastic look into why daily fantasy sports sites are for suckers

- The "economic bomb" Saudi Arabia faces because of low oil prices

- Heh heh

- John Stuart Mill was a fascinating character (and this review of his biography is so long that reading the book might not be necessary)

- Heh heh - Denmark has had enough of Bernie Sanders

- This picture of Pete Rose cannot be unseen

- Maybe HGH does stand for "head growth hormone"

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) since it is funded by Federal tax dollars really should be called the American Center for Disease Control. Yes I am advocating for a name change to ACDC... I agree that Keith Foulke does not get the credit he deserves for the Red Sox 2004 post season success... My Wu-Tang Clan name is Chris... ACDC - Dirty Diseases Done Dirt Cheap... The US is $40 trillion richer than China. $40 trillion!!... If I ever met Gwyneth Paltrow - I would tell her how much I loved her on Friends just to try and tick her off...  I've said this before but I'd love to see the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy be renamed as the Red Auerbach NBA Championship Trophy... Have to agree that the Vikings look like the real winners in the latest Percy Harvin trade... If you are interested I like Cal getting 7 points at home today vs UCLA... ACDC - For those About to Fight Ebola (We Salute You)...

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I've long held that the original purpose of the White House Correspondent's Dinner has long since been perverted beyond recognition. If I were President canceling my appearance at the dinner would be one of the first things I'd do... Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers at the Kentucky Derby... I hope Boston fans realize how lucky we are to get to watch Zdeno Charra... I agree 100% with Joe Posnaski with who the real villain was in A Few Good Men...  Look for many "Now It Can Be Told" books to come out from MSM types once President Obama leaves office... Classic - Emo Philips interviews himself... A friend listened to all of the secretly recorded Donald Sterling tapes and he says it boils down to Sterling asking his "girlfriend" not to sleep with Magic Johnson and to get him some soup... Oh how I would love to have Larry Ellison scale money... Red Auerbach won just a single NBA Coach of the Year and it was the season for which the Celtics were to win their 8th championship in 9 years....

There isn't a true Red Sox fan out there who wasn't saddened by the passing of Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky. Peter Gammons does a great job explaining why Pesky was so special.

One story I haven't seen told in any of the testimonials since his passing is how Pesky almost quit on the Red Sox in 2003.

It's well known that in 1997 Red Sox GM Dan Duquette told Pesky he was no longer welcome on the Red Sox bench. This was done at the request of clueless manager Jimy Williams. This indignity lingers in the minds of Boston sports fans just one step below Rick Pitino stripping Red Auerbach of his ceremonial title of President of the Celtics. Pesky was able to out-wait Williams and the new John Henry led ownership restored Pesky to his rightful place at Fenway Park and at spring training. Pesky even outlasted Duquette who was fired by John Henry et al. The balance of where Johnny Pesky belonged in the Red Sox world was restored.

Then came the horrible year of 2003 which is recalled by by most Red Sox fans of first Pedro being left in an inning too long by Grady Little and then Aaron Bleeping Boone hitting a season ending HR off Tim Wakefield. But 2003 was also the year Johnny Pesky almost quit the Red Sox.

First came the ruling from Major League Baseball and Bud Selig that Pesky would no longer be allowed on the bench during games. Then the Red Sox traded his favorite player - Shea Hillenbrand. Pesky was so upset by the trade that he wanted to quit on the Red Sox but Hillenbrand talked him out of it.

The fact that Pesky will be eulogized by Selig - the guy who kicked him off the Red Sox bench while the guy who kept him from quitting the team he loved will be mostly forgotten just doesn't seem right to me.

Kobe Bryant - Player Coach?

When Red Auerbach retired from coaching the Boston Celtics he named Bill Russell as his replacement. Red's thinking was that the only person capable of coaching Russell and getting the best out of Russell was Russell himself. Bill Russell took over the Celtics and led them to a 162-83 record and two NBA Championships in his 3 seasons as player coach.

Could the Lakers be in a similar situation as the 1966 Boston Celtics?

What coach can come in and command the necessary respect from Kobe Bryant? Brian Shaw? Come on - how is Brian Shaw going to be able to yell at Kobe at practice or tell him that things will be done the way Shaw wants them done and not the way Kobe wants them done. Rick Adelman? Same problems.

Only Kobe can motivate Kobe at this point. Plus naming him player-coach would light a fire (as if extra motivation is needed in a guy like Kobe) to prove he was the reason for the Lakers success and not Phil Jackson.

Kobe could surround himself with solid bench coaches who could handle much of the practice and in game substitutions. Kobe would be responsible for getting the most out of Kobe and kicking his teammates in the butt if needed.

I really think this would be the best solution for the Lakers coaching search. Making Kobe the coach makes him completely responsible for the success of the team. His will to win won't let him fail.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The Dallas Mavericks were simply the better team - why all the fawning over the Lakers? They lost - get over it. Nobody seems to be giving the Mavericks any credit this morning... In the Sketchers commercial with Wayne Gretzky, I may be wrong but it looks like he misses the open net with his shot. Why would you want guy who can't hit open net to make comeback?... Happy 51st birthday to the classy Tony Gwynn... Never thought of it this way before but Moses may have been the world's first great middleman (in the business sense)... Quote of the Day: "My wife was afraid of the dark - then she saw me naked and now she's afraid of the light." Rodney Dangerfield... For what it's worth - Iraq has a 0 migration rate which means people aren't fleeing or flocking to the country. This is normally an indication of stability. That's something Detroit or the State of Michigan can't claim... As great as Phil Jackson was - he wasn't in the same area code of greatness as Red Auerbach.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The world is a poorer place today with the passing of John Wooden. He was truly a class act. I think it says a lot about the state of college basketball today that a man of Wooden's character probably wouldn't be able to compete against the John Calipari's of the NCAA world if Wooden was to have started his coaching career in this day and age... I find it hard to believe that Clay Buchholz has just 2 career shutouts. I don't find it hard to believe that both of those games came against the Orioles (no hitter on 9/1/07 and last night's 5 hitter)... 5 Hot Wheels/Matchbox Cars Worth Crazy Money... Heh heh - Tweet of the Day: @OldHossRadbourn Hoss would be really quite content if S. Waldman never again mentioned how much she loves N. Swisher "in the 2-hole"... Possible Signs of Methane-Based Life on Saturn's moon Titan... I am so sick of these commercials for the movie Splice but yet oddly curious if the beast breast feeds. Also is there still a 7-Up clone called Splice out there? What's next - a horror movie about a deranged surgeon called Dr Pepper?... I did not know this. According to Mental Floss "In 1946, Boston owner Walter Brown chose the nickname Celtics over Whirlwinds, Olympians & Unicorns." I did know that Red Auerbach's brother is the one who designed Lucky the Leprechaun... The world would have been a much better place if John Wooden started a religion instead of L. Ron Hubbard...

David Carle

A story of class.

A player finds he's got a heart ailment and withdraws his name from the NHL Draft. The kid would have been at least a 2nd round pick. Class move by the kid.

A college that had given him a full scholarship honors the full-ride even though they know the player will never lace up the skates for the university. Class move by University of Denver and head coach George Gwozdecky.

An NHL team knowing that a dream of a kid who wanted more than anything to play in the NHL had been shattered - uses their 7th round pick to make that dream a reality. Tampa Bay drafted David Carle and nobody will ever be able to take that away from the kid. Class move by the Lightning (no matter what the yahoos say).

This reminds me of Red Auerbach using the Celtics 10th round pick to draft Indiana's Landon Turner in 1982. Turner was paralyzed just after Indiana won the NCAA's in 1981. Auerbach made the pick both as a favor to his friend Bobby Knight and also because it was a nice thing to do for a player who was sure to have been a first rounder before tragedy struck.