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Passing of a Celtics legend
Boston Globe ^ | October 28, 2006 | Peter May

Posted on 10/28/2006 6:10:57 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement

Arnold Red Auerbach, named the greatest coach in the history of the National Basketball Association and, for more than half a century, the combative, competitive and occasionally abrasive personification of pro basketballs greatest dynasty, the Boston Celtics, has died at age 89.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: auerbach; basketball; nba; obituary; redauerbach
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To: gate2wire

You're not alone, brother. Seattle's only sports championship was the 1979 Sonics, which was really a team of non-egos led by Fred Brown controlling Dennis Johnson, with the perfect supporting cast and bruising big men.

I haven't watched a full NBA game since Jordan hung it up, and, even then, the differential officiating ticked me off.

They have some soul searching to do.


41 posted on 10/28/2006 7:14:58 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: IslandJeff; Skooz

Funny that you should mention Jordan.
Magic, Bias, Jordan.
Unbelievable players...but...the reasons I don't watch could start with these three men.
Magic-dribbled so high, almost to his shoulder, should have been called for carrying the ball every time he came up court.
Bias-first guy to dunk, hold on to the rim, and spread his legs.
Jordan-Travelled every other time he touched the ball.

As great as they were, no one ever called their infractions.
Look what the game has become.


42 posted on 10/28/2006 7:25:11 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: gate2wire

No argument from me. Magic, in particular, was so blatant with his ball handling I would curse him under my breath.

Still, him and Bird brought the game into legitimacy.


43 posted on 10/28/2006 7:33:02 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: IslandJeff

They were fun to watch.
And, they both seemed to enjoy playing. :-)
Magic in particular, brought so much joy to the game.


44 posted on 10/28/2006 7:36:10 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: gate2wire

There's still good roundball out there - the Tournament (arguably more entertaining than the NBA), the CBA, and the new ABA incarnation.

What would you alter in the current NBA, which is pretty much back-your-man-down and dunk?


45 posted on 10/28/2006 7:39:37 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: MassRepublicanFlyersFan
Only 35? I remember when he'd push through something like 50 calls, so many, "Sandy" would complain her hand was

sore from writing down all the contact info.

46 posted on 10/28/2006 7:44:11 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: IslandJeff

I would call more fouls. I like physical play but enough is enough.
I would call technicals when they hang on the rim.
Most of all, I would call travelling and carrying.


47 posted on 10/28/2006 7:46:15 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: MassRepublicanFlyersFan

Here's to you, Red. You were the best.


48 posted on 10/28/2006 7:46:49 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: gate2wire

A fellow traveler, pardon the pun.

Good team defense should be rewarded - I don't care how high a guy can leap.


49 posted on 10/28/2006 7:48:27 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: IslandJeff

I agree.
Speaking of defense, if you box out, leaping ability means nothing.


50 posted on 10/28/2006 7:50:55 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: Calvin Locke

He had a scheduled guest for the second half hour, Dick Morris IIRC.


51 posted on 10/28/2006 7:51:49 PM PDT by ConservativeStatement
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To: gate2wire

Looks like, in our shared Optimum Basketball World, our first All Star would be someone like a Gary Payton - an aggressive defensive point guard.

Sonics ain't been the same since he left town here.


52 posted on 10/28/2006 7:54:09 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: MassRepublicanFlyersFan

He OWNED the rest of the NBA for nearly a decade. Phil Jackson can't hold his jock.

Red was the best pro basketball coach of all time.


53 posted on 10/28/2006 7:55:49 PM PDT by Tall_Texan ("Journalislam" - reporting about murderous extremists as if they are moral equivalents.)
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To: IslandJeff

Payton was great, but...
although I criticized Earvin Johnson's high dribble, I contend he was the best player ever.
Point guard, power forward, center. Passer, scorer, low-post defender, rebounder.
Magic could do it all.


54 posted on 10/28/2006 7:58:35 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: SevenofNine
I remember Joe Neikro well. I was at the Angels/Twins game in 1987 when he was caught with an emery board while on the mound. It was hilarious.
55 posted on 10/28/2006 8:00:32 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS Is A Slap In The Face To The USBP!!)
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To: Tall_Texan

I agree with you. And I'm a Laker fan. He had 8 in a row. 9 out of 10. And his teams did not blow big leads the way others did.


56 posted on 10/28/2006 8:02:53 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: gate2wire

The NBA's only "point-forward". For a brief interval, everyone in the Western Conference drafted huge guys who could dribble. Only Nate McMillan made the transition, and he did it on the defensive end.

Nate was great, though, obviously, not an offensive player.


57 posted on 10/28/2006 8:03:04 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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To: IslandJeff

Did we hijack this thread? :-)


58 posted on 10/28/2006 8:05:51 PM PDT by gate2wire (Please Lord, look after 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
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To: South40; All

OMG I remember that ROFL LOL!

Can you say busted ittttt


59 posted on 10/28/2006 8:08:49 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("Step aside Jefe"=Det Lennie Briscoe)
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To: gate2wire


It's late and a weekend night on the Eastern Seaboard.

GOD BLESS YOU, RED! THANK YOU FOR MODERN PRO BASKETBALL.


60 posted on 10/28/2006 8:09:15 PM PDT by IslandJeff (Lynne Cheney 2008)
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