A Vision Passes

Arnold "Red" Auerbach is dead at 89. And, although he has passed on, his vision lives. His vision of selfless team play, the extra pass, the sixth-man off the bench. Sometimes it's hard to recognize those ideals in the NBA of the 21st Century. But, Red turned them into the most stunning dominance in sports history. Eight straight world championships; nine in ten years. Kind of makes the Yankees look like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, doesn't it?

As a kid growing up in Boston in the 1950s, there was really only one prideful sports team in Boston--the glorious Celtics. And, they were every bit Red as they were Russell, Cousy, Sharman, and the Joneses. He was the elemental force that moved them forward--as a collective whole far greater than the sum of its parts. We didn't fully appreciate what Red gave us, the old Garden was never even half filled to its capacity in those wonder years. So, kids like me could get in on game days for cheap money and watch up close as our heroes brought home yet another banner--year in and year out.

Thank you, Red.