Re: Tommy Heinsohn (was Cousy)

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

Dan Forant Sr wrote:

> Why would anyone take on Tommy, they'd be crazy.

Thanks, Dan, this had to be said. Through Heinsohn's rookie year 37 point 23
rebound effort in a tense double OT 125-123 win in the 7th game of the 1957
finals (Boston's first NBA championship), Red Auerbach's coaching career went
from being a "close-but-no-cigar" perinnial playoff choker (really!) to a sports
dynasty/mystique that would never even THINK about losing another 7th game of
the finals. Heinsohn later coached two undersized teams to NBA championships #12
and #13 by lighting a fire under three of the most intensely competitive
frontcourt players in history (6-8.5 Cowens, 6-7 Silas, 6-5 Havlicek).

Look folks if Tommy Heinsohn consistently defends Antoine Walker from the fans
and expresses enthusiasm about the Danny Fortson acquisition, maybe this is
because he actually knows a thing or two about winning basketball and playing
the power forward position. For me, the great thing about Heinsohn as an
announcer is that he's STILL filled with passion (mostly against the refs), he's
genuinely modest about his jock and coaching exploits, and he has one of those
big New England hearts that will totally slam bigotry and reward hard work and
effort no matter how it may be superficially packaged (Antoine's wiggles etc.)

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