Auerbach's Daughter: "In a way, I'm glad my father is not around to see this."

[eddies2010]

Wow, Randy Auerbach kinda let the Celtics have it in a convo with Larry H. Russell.  Still very upset at how the Celtics seem to be pushing her to the backburner over the years and how the team is constantly gearing itself away from its proud traditions.  Said even the old Celtics think its "ridiculous" but it almost seems covered up in a way.  DEFINITELY worth the read.  Pretty sad that she's upset either way.  She is an Auerbach and we will never forget Red!

http://clnsradio.com/boston-celtics-news/item/13187-boston-celtics-2-0-the-real-selling-of-the-green

[Eja117]

And I'm still annoyed Red fought to draft Joseph Forte over Tony Parker and Gerald Wallace but here we are.

I agree the dancers are a tad adultish, but it's not my decision

[Donoghus]

Seems to scream "back in my day, things were better" a bit. 

Look, things are different.  That reflects the way society is now these days.  Its commonplace to find in game entertainment at all these arenas & stadiums now.  Trying to keep peoples' attention. 

A lot of it is nonsense, IMO.  However, you just have to expect it these days.  There are a TON of things vying for the public's money.  When it boils down to it, its still a sporting event at the heart of it.  You just have other stuff going out during timeouts or halftime or pregame. 

The old guard who were going to games in the 60s/70s/80s aren't going to like it and I'm sure fifty years from now in 2056, we'll be yearning for how things were at the arena in the 2000s & 2010s when there are holgrams and lasers and robots doing all sorts of crap.

[LHR]

And I'm still annoyed Red fought to draft Joseph Forte over Tony Parker and Gerald Wallace but here we are.

I agree the dancers are a tad adultish, but it's not my decision

Thanks to OP for enjoying piece. Anyways, this is simply not true. Not to shamelessly promote my book, but I do give it away for free and don't get anything out of it - www.clnsradio.com/LHRbook ! - but this was an easy story to sell.  Talked to many in the front office - yes, Dean Smith may have passed on some kind words to his good friend Red Auerbach about Joe Forte - but this story that has gotten out there that a sick Red Auerbach was banging down the door and forcing the Celtics to pick Joe Forte in that draft is a fallacy of biblical proportions.  And even if that were the case (which it is not I can tell you that point blank), I think this is hardly a way anyone should remember the greatest front office exec in NBA history!

Anyways...

The biggest proponent of Forte was Jim O'Brien who wanted to add three point shooting. To make this short, the Celtics had three first rounders in that draft and in an equitable way to make everyone happy, Papile, Wallace and O'Brien all got one pick.  Papile-JJ. Wallace-Kedrick. O'Brien-Forte.  There's an entire chapter dedicated to the 2001 Draft in above book.

Thanks for the time and best wishes and good health - LHR

[Future Celtics Owner]

The C's will always make money from the die-hard fan-base. Even when we were losing we would make money. Also the price of the team is probably 2billion (conservatively) which is far far far more than wyc's dad and Steve bought it for.

Anyways I see the legacy of winning championships changing into entertainment and perpetual playoff appearances.....soon we will not be the winning-est basketball franchise in the World, which is what I always think of with the C's.

[Ed Hollison]

I'm sure fifty years from now in 2056, we'll be yearning for how things were at the arena in the 2000s & 2010s when there are holgrams and lasers and robots doing all sorts of crap.

Without a doubt this was one of the great sentences written in the history of this blog.

[Donoghus]

I'm sure fifty years from now in 2056, we'll be yearning for how things were at the arena in the 2000s & 2010s when there are holgrams and lasers and robots doing all sorts of crap.

Without a doubt this was one of the great sentences written in the history of this blog.

Thanks.  I just hope there is a robot Red Panda to entertain the masses for eternity.

[Moranis]

I'm sure fifty years from now in 2056, we'll be yearning for how things were at the arena in the 2000s & 2010s when there are holgrams and lasers and robots doing all sorts of crap.

Without a doubt this was one of the great sentences written in the history of this blog.

Thanks.  I just hope there is a robot Red Panda to entertain the masses for eternity.

50 years from now is 2066

[Donoghus]

I'm sure fifty years from now in 2056, we'll be yearning for how things were at the arena in the 2000s & 2010s when there are holgrams and lasers and robots doing all sorts of crap.

Without a doubt this was one of the great sentences written in the history of this blog.

Thanks.  I just hope there is a robot Red Panda to entertain the masses for eternity.

50 years from now is 2066

Good for you.

[fairweatherfan]

It is kinda funny that I've been an NBA fan long enough that my early years are now "the good old days", even though I can still remember that at the time the "good old days" were inexplicably 20 years before that.  So it goes.

[Forza Juventus]

I'm 22 years old. I don't like the pumped in noise. I actually think a lot of the music they play is too old. But I think it's a fun atmosphere. I remember when I was little at Fenway Park and was scared when dudes called my female cousin the c word. My uncle stood up to them. Go ahead hate me, hate my generation. We don't like you much either.

[straightouttabahstun]

To an extent- I agree. I'm not into the whole "Go to the Celtics to take a quick selfie and drink some expensive beer while wearing a Paul Pierce T Shirt" situation. But I think there will always be diehard fans that want to see the team win and carry on tradition. This is Boston. We're more into sports than most cities and the fans are generally knowledgable about the team and where it stands. That said, the Spurs play awesome music. I wish we had their music choice dude. I mean that guy plays freaking Dream Theater in the middle of plays and then Zeppelin.

[mef730]

Oh puh-leeze. Red also had to walk uphill, both ways in the snow to get to school. Without shoes.

I grew up a Celtics fan in the 80s. I remember what the Garden was like. It was fun.

I have season tickets now. It's still fun. Yes, the dancers are obnoxious (and don't even get me started on Lil Phunk), but it is a game "experience," whether Bob Ryan likes it or not (and with the recent death of Andy Rooney, I hereby crown Ryan "crankiest person alive."). Yes, fans look at their cell phones. Big deal. You think they wouldn't if all the music went away?

Ya know what I like? I like that I can take my kid to a Celtics game and know that he's going to be thoroughly entertained. I don't have to worry that some drunk will spill beer on him. He likes being on the Jumbotron - I don't see what's wrong with that. Want to develop fans? Good, come up with an experience that they'll enjoy.

Sorry, maybe I'm one of these people that Red and his daughter so clearly dislike but, as long as I shell out money for season tickets, they'll have to deal.

Mike

[slamtheking]

I could do without the dancers and Lil Phunk as well.  A lot of extra things thrown in to keep some people occupied during the game (my wife would be that target audience) that I could do without.

the thing is, while I do see a number of people there that I cannot fathom why they're there because they're not paying attention to the game, they make up a small portion of the crowd from what I've experienced.  I'm not sure that adding all these extras has brought in that much of the 'casual crowd' into the games.  the tickets aren't cheap so I would think people that don't follow the team would find other ways to spend their money that's more along the lines of what really interests them.

[Chris22]

Some people will always hate progress.
And the cheerleaders are the best athletes on the floor.