Word: auerbach
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...Auerbach has this thing about cigars. He never smokes on the bench until his Boston Celtics have the game all wrapped up. Once they do, though, he crams an enormous stogie into his mouth and settles contentedly back wreathed in smiles and smoke. In 20 years-16 of them with the Celtics-Red has won 1,036 games, and performed the ritual countless times. Last week, on the night of his retirement, he lit up one last smoke...
...each Celtic, the victory meant an extra $4,143 in the bank. For Auerbach, it was his ninth N.B.A. championship and the eighth in a row, a record unmatched in any professional sport. Bill Russell, who now takes over from Auerbach as coach, gave the valedictory. "Of all the Celtic teams," said he, "this is the shortest on ability and the longest on heart." Red stood by, puffing away like Vesuvius...
Ever since last spring, when Arnold ("Red") Auerbach, 48, announced that this season would be his last as boss of the world-champion Boston Celtics, pro basketball's No. 1 coaching job had gone begging. Auerbach's first choice as his successor was former Celtics Star Frank Ramsey, but Frank pleaded that he was too busy supervising the nursing homes he owns in Madisonville, Ky. Bob Cousy, who earned the nickname "Mr. Basketball" in 13 years with the Celtics, refused to quit as coach at Boston College. Ex-Celtics Forward Tommy Heinsohn told Red that he preferred...
...Auerbach was getting desperate when Bill Russell, the Celtics' towering (6 ft. 10 in.) center, five times the Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association, walked into his hotel room one day and announced: "Red, you always told me if I've got anything on my mind to get it off. If you still want me, I'd like the job." Sighed Auerbach: "You've got a deal." So, last week, William Felton Russell, 32, became the first Negro head coach of any big-league team in the history of pro sport...
...knee. Center Bill Russell's right leg was so bandaged up that it looked as if he was wearing long Johns under his shorts. Forward Willie Naulls was suffering from a bad attack of the bads; he could not find the basket, which caused Coach Red Auerbach to start John Havlicek in his place. Of such accidents are great coaches made...