Fare Thee Well, "Red"
If there was ever anyone who typified basketball, that person would be Arnold 'Red' Auerbach.
He was the true essence of the city game and 'winning.' There are few characters in sports who speak with truth and authority in their professional game.
The Boston Globe did an incredible job honoring 'Red' on Sunday. The tributes to 'Red' from Bob Ryan, Dan O'Shaunessey, and Jackie McMullen from the Boston Globe are phenomeonal.
As Coach/GM, the deals and quirky details are endless: Coached the Celtics to 8 straight NBA titles, Schemed St. Louis and Rochester for Russell, fleeced Chicago for Cousy, drafted Bird in the supplmental draft, robbed GMs through deals such as the Warriors of Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish for Joe Barry Carroll (Check out the details of this one here from the SLC Tribune) and the Suns of Dennis Johnson for Rick Robey, obtained the perfect role players at the perfect times. Legends such as Sam Jones, John Havilcek, Don Nelson, Bill Walton and JoJo White were slotted perfectly.
All of this while he ate Chinese food on every road trip and the fact that during the Bird Era he was not to be disturbed between 4 and 5 in his office because that's when he watched "Hawaii 5-0."
I took these tidbits from Bob Ryan's column on 'Red.' The following 10 items are from Red's 'Basketball for the Player, Coach and the Fan.'
1) You must think of getting along with your teammates, because if you are not well liked, it is easy for them to "freeze you out."
2) Show a desire to block or screen for your teammates so that they will do the same for you.
3) Show your teammates that you will take the good shots. Don't appear too "hungry."
4) Don't hold the ball. Look for men cutting.
5) Dribble with a purpose. Don't just stand there hugging the ball or dribbling aimlessly while your teammates continually cut.
6) Help your teammates on defense. Switch whenever necessary.
7) Don't chide a teammate whose man happens to score. Often, it's the fault of your whole team.
8) Don't be too chummy with one or two players. Avoid obvious cliques.
9) Don't discuss the faults of any teammate with the other members of the team.
10) Don't give the impression that you are always hanging around the coach and discussing your teammates with him, unless, of course, you are the captain and the coach asks your opinion.
11) When scrimmaging, don't loaf or take it easy. This will keep the high respect of your teammates. Remember, "There are no friends on the other team, even in practice."
Red Auerbach used the simplicities of psychology, and team chemistry to master the art of winning. Let's hope that people will never lose the lessons that he offered.
