Michael D. McClellan - The Boston Celtics: Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Red Auerbach, and Other Legends Recall Great Moments in Celtics History

Copyright 2018 by Michael D. McClellan

Foreword Copyright 2018 by Jan Volk

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Jacket design by Tom Lau

Jacket photographs by AP Photos and Steve Lipofsky

ISBN: 978-1-683581-97-0

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-683581-98-7

Printed in the United States of America

To my family: My mother, who is my best friend and who never stopped believing in me; my son, Graham, who encouraged me to write this book; my wife, Melanie, who has lived in a green-and-white world from the moment I came on the scene. You, me, Parish... were a team.

To Jeff Twiss, Boston Celtics Vice President of Media Services and Alumni Relations. You are the best in the biz. Your support for this project is a blessing. Thank you, my friend.

To Steve Curley, Director at the Red Auerbach Basketball School. Thank you for taking a chance on me all those years ago.

To Steve Lipofsky. An amazing photographer whose work appears throughout.

In memory of my father. I love you, Pops.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

By Jan Volk

S ome were superstars, and some were not, but from the moment they each first wore the simple Kelly-green-and-white Celtics uniform, they became part of something quite special, part of a winning tradition unique in all of sports. Red Auerbach, first as coach, then as general manager, and finally as team president, fostered an environment where success was measured by collective achievement, not by individual statistics and accolades. He sought out and found exceptional athletes willing to subordinate their elite skills within a team setting to attain collective success. In so doing, he created teams that won eight straight NBA titles, nine titles in 10 years, 11 in 13 years, and 16 overallan accomplishment that is not likely to be approached again.

While many players played their entire NBA careers for the Celtics, some played only a portion of theirs. Nonetheless, no matter how long or short their tenure, nearly everyone who played in a Celtics uniform understood the legacy and experienced a bond with those who preceded them and with those who were to follow in their path. They defined themselves as Celtics even if the bulk of their careers were played somewhere else. Once a Celtic, always a Celtic!

For those of us lucky enough to be part of this extraordinary organization, as I was for 26 years, there was a clear understanding that we were more than mere caretakers of this dynasty, we were, in fact, solemn keepers of a public trust. And that was a role we took very seriously.

In this book, Michael McClellan highlights the essence of this special relationship as he weaves his way through Celtics history, viewing that history through the eyes of so many players who wore the Celtics colors in basketball battle, as legendary Celtics announcer Johnny Most characterized every NBA game. This is essentially an oral chronicle of this remarkable organization, told by those who created the pride and tradition and by those who lived up to its standards. From Bob Brannum, Easy Ed Macauley, and Bob Cousy to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, and so many players in between, McClellan has recounted their amazing stories of success, and sometimes failure.

Despite my working relationship with many of these players over many years and a thorough knowledge of Celtics history in general, I was surprised to learn important facts about virtually all of these Celtics that I simply didnt know and which I found absolutely fascinating. Few of them achieved success as a basketball player without having to overcome serious obstacles, whether on or off the court. Basketball fans in general, and Celtics fans in particular, will find this book to be an excellent and informative read, filled with insights. Even the most ardent Celtics fan will learn a lot about their favorite team.

PREFACE

Two words: Jeff Twiss

W hen I started writing this book, it wasnt a book at all. It was one interview, a sit-down with Celtics legend K. C. Jones conducted more than 20 years ago. One interview became two, two became three, and before you know it, a mosaic began to form, stories told by players and coaches of varying prominence and different eras, all of them breathing new life into the NBAs most decorated franchise. There was never serious thought given to putting these stories together in one volume. Occasionally, a player would suggest itEasy Ed Macauley, Gene Conley, and Bill Sharman come to mindbut life has a way of getting in the way. I had a child to raise. My father passed away. Responsibilities piled up. Through it all I kept conducting interviews, whether via a series of legal pad exchanges with Sharman (whose damaged vocal chords prevented him from speaking to me in the conventional way), or by hanging with players on their home turf (e.g., meeting up with Xavier McDaniel for an entertaining afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina), or by balling with some of the NBAs greatest players at Bill Russells fantasy camp in Vegas.

Its during the Vegas trip that I had the honor and privilege of conversing with Mr. Russell and sitting down with Sam Jones. Havlicek, too. In each case, I would ask a question about Jeff, who has spent more than 35 years with the Celtics, and I was struck (but not surprised) by the love, respect, and admiration that these legends have for teams VP of media services and alumni relations. As I continued interviewing players, I made it a point to ask a Twiss questiona favorite story or a fond memoryand I was always impressed with how highly everyone spoke of him. It didnt matter if I asked the Twiss question to legendary players like Russell or Larry Bird, or to role players like a Mark Acres or a Greg Kite. I learned that Jeff treated them all the same.

Fast forward to November 2016. My son, who is home from college on Thanksgiving break, suggests that I do something with the 75-plus interviews Ive conducted with former Celtics of all eras. Why dont you put them together and share them with the world? he asks.

The question comes as Im interviewing Grammy-winning singers Al Jarreau, Melissa Manchester, Ne-Yo, Keb Mo, and Big Daddy Kane for a different project. The resulting epiphany knocks me on my ass. Why not organize the interviews by decade, and then get out of the way and let the players tell the story? Better yet, why not incorporate music as the backdrop? Ask hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane, who grew up not far from the Patterson houses that produced Nate Archibald, to lend his creative juices to the book. Take the reader on a fresh journey of Boston Celtics history, through the players own words.