Thank You, Red

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_obit_auerbach

I became a diehard Celtics fan at the most opportune time- Bird's first season with us, and damn, were they a blast to watch, or what?! McHale, The Chief, Ainge, D.J,even Boom Boom Kite and listening to Johnny Most scratch out the commentary night after night, and looking at old footage of a very young Cousy and Heinsohn, Russell and Cowens, watching on television as the Garden went dark during a blackout, and hearing that familiar squeaksqueak from that old, beautiful parquet floor.....and all of this was thanks to Red. You had to love the guy, and if not love him, then you had to greatly admire his razor sharp business sense coupled with his ability to truly love the players that he recruited and the way he respected the fans who helped to make it all come together, and create history game after game, making Red a legend, but I really don't think that that is what he was after, legend status. I truly believe that he just wanted to produce a winning and entertaining and profitable enterprise, and do what he loved. And damn if he didn't!
Thank you, Mr. Auerbach. May you rest in peace.