R.I.P. Red Auerbach

[Bloodline666]

I didn't find this out until just today.

Arnold "Red" Auerbach, legendary coach and executive of the Boston Celtics, and arguably one of the greatest coaches of all time, passed away this past Friday of a heart attack. He had only turned 89 five weeks prior.

Needless to say, Auerbach was essentially the architect of the Boston Celtics. Under his watch, the Celtics have won 16 NBA championships, including their 1960's dynasty in which they won 11 NBA titles in 13 years (including 8 in a row, a NBA record for consecutive championships that still stands today). Auerbach was the head coach of the Celtics for the first 9 championships before stepping down and handing his head coach position to then-player Bill Russell (no player-coach in the NBA has been both a player and head coach simultaneously since Bill Russell). For the latter 7 NBA Championships, Auerbach was the Celtics' General Manager for six of them, and their President of Basketball Operations for the last 5 of them.

Auerbach was famous for lighting a victory cigar when the Celtics won games, especially championship-clinching ones.

Not only will the Celtics be dedicating this season to Auerbach, but they will also be wearing a black clover leaf on their uniforms in his honor this season.

Arnold "Red" Auerbach
September 20, 1917 - October 28, 2006
Rest In Peace, Red

[Kirobaito]

Red Auerbach is a lot more than the architect of the Celtics; he's the architect of the entire NBA. The first executive to draft a black player, start five black players, and hire a black coach.

He'll certainly be missed.

[Bloodline666]

Red Auerbach is a lot more than the architect of the Celtics; he's the architect of the entire NBA. The first executive to draft a black player, start five black players, and hire a black coach.

He'll certainly be missed.

Thanks for bringing that up. And that black coach he hired to break that barrier...just happened to be Bill Russell.