Re: Bill Russell

[Douglas342@AOL.com]

Dan said:
The Celtic organization has more going for it than just banners. It has
spawned generations of fans and successful sportsmen and businessmen. Witness
the number of coaches around the League and the mixed ages of past players
attending games.
-------Seems to me there are several reasons for this.  First, the history of 
labor relations is such that the glory teams of the Russell era had players 
who had little chance to change teams absent a trade concocted by the owners, 
so folk like Russell, Cousy, Havlicek etc. were forced to/allowed to stay in 
Boston for their entire careers, thus strengthening their identities with the 
team.  Second, while my memory is hazy, I think back to the year the Celtics 
first won a title (1957) and I think the only two teams playing under the 
same name in the same city are the Celtics and Knicks.  That continuity helps 
build a history.  Do you think the folks in Sacramento know or care about the 
Cincinnati Royals?  The Lakers had a pathetic ceremony hoisting some banners 
for the Minneapolis Lakers THIS YEAR.  Third is the presence, in various 
degrees of activity, or Red Auerbach through all ot it.  When Pitino came in 
(and I figured he was as good a choice as any to take the reins - I was 
wrong), what ticked me off the most was that he fired everyone who had 
historical ties to the team, from Red (maybe exiled more than fired in Red's 
case) on down to locker room guys.  This flew in the face of the tradition of 
which Dan speaks, of which Russell speaks, and of which even folk like Walker 
are beginning to speak.  Finally, there is Russell himself, ho has carved out 
an enigmatic and massive presence in Celtic history.  I assume you all saw 
the bit last night when Cheryl Miller interviewed him?  She said something 
like, "I'm a reporter and I have never been nervous about an interview, but 
now my hands are shaking."  or some such, at which point she spent a minute 
with Russell.  He has that effect.