Boston Celtic Legend Arnold Red Auerbach Passes Away

"Red and I share our passion for the game, our drive to master and our philosophy of whatever it takes to win. It would have been a blast playing for him. Red created a constant level of excellence in the NBA and then showed everybody else how it was done." - Larry Bird

Arnold 'Red' Auerbach Photo courtesy: NBA

BOSTON - The Boston Celtics regretfully announce the passing of President Arnold 'Red' Auerbach. Auerbach, 89 and who was born on September 20, 1917, passed away suddenly Sunday in Washington, DC.

Red was responsible for 16 World Championships, was known as the greatest coach ever to have lived and the Celtics are dedicating this upcoming season in his honor.

Auerbach is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Auerbach Collins and Randy Auerbach; his granddaughter, Julie Auerbach Flieger and three great-grandchildren.

On Wednesday, October 25th, in his last public appearance, Auerbach proudly received the U.S. Navy's Lone Sailor Award in front of family and friends at ceremonies in Washington, DC.

Statements on the passing of Red Auerbach:

John Havlicek: "I've seen him laugh, I've seen him cry, I've seen him angry, I've seen him celebrate and there's only been one guy with the Boston Celtics who has been there for every championship and that is Red Auerbach."

K.C. Jones: "Although I can't give you a clear definition, that thing called Celtics Pride does exist. If I tried to express it in a few words, I think it would sound corny. It's much easier for me to tell you who created Celtics Pride. Like the creation of a life it took two people - Red Auerbach and Bill Russell."

Frank Ramsey: "He fights for his team, he fights for the league, he fights for his players and he just fought sometimes."

Paul Silas: "Most of Red's players were intelligent players. It just kind of naturally followed that you stayed in something you loved. It was easy for most Celtics players to become coaches because of that tutelage and the way Red put things together."

Satch Sanders: "A lot of things that Auerbach put in place contributed to the Celtics tradition. That only tells you that smart people realize what is successful. As the old saying goes, if it isn't broke..."

Jan Volk: "He understood two things that players - particularly intelligent players that he had - see the game on the floor differently than he did. It was five sets of eyes above and beyond his. It was also important for the players to buy into it and that they had input. That stimulates creative thinking."

Jan Volk: "There was a message there that tells everyone that you are part of a team and you have to conform to what I am doing, and not me to you. But Red really did understand that everybody was different and that people respond differently to the same stimuli. Red was a very quick read on who needed what to get the most out of their ability."

Don Nelson: "I was out of the league. The Lakers had waived me in 1965 and I thought my career was finished. No one wanted me. Red is the reason I am what I am today as far as my basketball life goes, and even some of what I am away from the court."

Danny Ainge: "It is incredible that (the Celtics dynasty) lasted as long as it did, and Red was probably the single biggest factor in that carrying forward. You cannot take away from Russell, Cowens, Bird and those guys, but Red was the one constant throughout."

Wayne Embry: "Red was the ultimate team builder. He was a great motivator because he made an attempt to know and understand people. He knew the needs of his players emotionally and mentally. He respected you and your family and made us all welcome to the Celtics family. He had great compassion and created a family environment."

Don Chaney: "We were different. We were the only team at the time that had a dress code. We had to travel with shirts and ties. Red made sure the Celtics were different and remained different."

Rick Carlisle: "Winning certainly makes things more fun, and the more fun you are having the more you want to stay with something. So a lot of us have gone on to have a higher education in basketball because of the success of the franchise, ultimately because of Red Auerbach."

M.L. Carr: "That Red could take people from such a diverse background and blend them to the point of getting them to success night in and night out, for many years, is amazing in any setting. He always knew he had to pick his spots. He was a coach, a psychologist, a baby sitter, a tough guy, a boss and he was successful at doing them all."

Paul Westphal: "I think that Red was a positive motivator. That wasn't necessarily his image, because he was always all over the officials, but he really would instill confidence in his players. I think players were not afraid to make mistakes because they knew that red knew they might make mistakes once in a while. I also think he looked for players that had been on winning teams. I think he realized before most people that having a knack for winning is the greatest talent someone could have."

Bill Russell: "He never made any pretensions about treating players the same. In fact, he treated everybody very differently. Basically, Red treats people as they perceive themselves. What he did best was to create a forum, but one where individuals wouldn't be confined by the system. And he understood the chemistry of a team. People tend to think teamwork is some mysterious force. It isn't. It can, really, be manufactured, and he knew how to do that, to serve each player's needs. And, people always say you need to know how to win. But that's not enough if you want to keep winning. You also have to know why you win. Red always knew that, too."

Charlie Scott: "Celtics pride begins at the top. You see, Red is the Celtics. And in order to become a real Celtic, you've got to have that first real talk with him."

John Thompson: "I've never been around a man who managed men in my life any better than Red Auerbach. Particularly, the egos he had to deal with, the cross cultures he had to deal with and all the variations in the kinds of people that I saw him be associated with."

He was the best coach that i have ever seen.

I loved him

He was my favorite coach.

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