To many of the fans, these guys are just numbers in the rafters.
Thanks for the memories, John.
______________
... one more time.
******
Posted on 04/25/2019 6:36:08 PM PDT by massmike
BOSTON -- “Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball! It’s all over!”
One of the most iconic moments in Boston Celtics lore, no one will ever forget the call in the 1965 NBA Eastern Conference Finals made by announcer Johnny Most or the player who made a play for the ages, John Havlicek.
Havlicek, the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer (26,395 points) and one of the most decorated players to ever don a Celtics uniform, passed away on Thursday. He was 79.
The Celtics released the following statement upon announcing Havlicek's passing:
John Havlicek is one of the most accomplished players in Boston Celtics history, and the face of many of the franchise’s signature moments. He was a great champion both on the court and in the community, winning 8 NBA championships and an NBA Finals MVP, while holding Celtics career records for points scored and games played. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, he is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and his retired #17 hangs in the Garden rafters. His defining traits as a player were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self. He was extraordinarily thoughtful and generous, both on a personal level and for those in need, as illustrated by his commitment to raising money for The Genesis Foundation for Children for over three decades through his fishing tournament. John was kind and considerate, humble and gracious. He was a champion in every sense, and as we join his family, friends, and fans in mourning his loss, we are thankful for all the joy and inspiration he brought to us.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcsports.com ...
Once heard that Hondo would play a full NBA game then go play handball for a couple of hours!
He was a basketball player.
God rest his soul.
To many of the fans, these guys are just numbers in the rafters.
Thanks for the memories, John.
______________
... one more time.
******
According to Wiki, he got chopped down by Parkinson's Disease.
Prayers to Hondo and his family. God drafted him for HIS team. You were a great player.
I live in the Midwest.
I distinctly remember a shot in S-I — I think in 1986 — of Kevin McHale going up for a rebound and all 5 of the Celtic players on the floor were in the shot and they were all white. My college roommate said, “that will probably be the last time you’ll see that.” And I think no team since has even had 5 white players on the 12-man roster.
Tennis to Pickle Ball is a rite of passage at this age. A milestone I guess. Heard Havlicek died of Parkinson’s; an insidious disease that is taking a good friend of mine too.
It sounds like you saw the San Diego Rockets playing the Celtics back.in those days. Brings back memories.
Hondo!
Those were the great days of Celtics basketball——a very classy bunch of guys.
.
Cowens had a temper. One time he was playing the Rockets and he was mad about having four fouls he considered ticky-tack. So the next time Mike Newlin drove down the lane, Cowens grabbed him and slammed him to the floor.
He then spun toward the referee and yelled “NOW THAT’S A FOUL!!”. He got ejected and I think Newlin was out for a week.
Maybe next to the late Burt Reynolds, Cowens is my favorite FSU alum.
Loved to watch him play.
RIP Hondo
Huh? If anything, the Celtics were the least racist teams of the day. They had such great honky players in the 60s as Bill Russell, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones and K.C. Jones. One thing about Red Auerbach, he didn't care if you were black, white, red, green, whatever. If you could play his brand of basketball, he wanted you on the Celtics.
An amazing feat, considering the racial tenor of Boston in those days...
Which explains why even when the Celtics were winning those titles, the Bruins were more popular amongst Boston whites.
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