Red Auerbach Interview: Rare Remarks on Current Modern NBA

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/ @nbahistoryclns -~-
12/31/2004
Red Auerbach, former coach of the Boston Celtics, and sportswriter John Feinstein discuss their book, "Let Me Tell You a Story: A Lifetime in the Game."
Courtesy of Charlie Rose Archives.
Charlie Rose: As coach of the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966, he won 938 games and nine NBA titles. He later became the team's general manager and won seven more. His teams include such legends as Bill Russell, Larry Byrd, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. Also joining me is John Feinstein. He is a noted sports writer an columnist. He never played basketball. He is the author of 16 books, including such best-sellers as "Season on the Brink," about basketball. Also, "A Good Walk Spoiled," about golf. Together, they have written a new book, "Let Me Tell You a Story About Basketball, Friendship and Life." I'm pleased to have them at this table. Welcome. It's great to have you back. 00:48 John Feinstein: Thank you, Charlie. It's always good to be back. I finally wrote a book that I knew you'd want to read. 00:55Charlie Rose: He and I used to do a program I did called "Night Watch," and I would entice Red to come over and we would talk about basketball. What is this book about? 01:08 Red Auerbach: Well, we'd have a lunch every Tuesday in Chinatown, and it is a diversified group. Couple of ex-players, ex-coaches, Secret Service guys, lawyers, Hall of Fame high school coach, all those guys. Chris Wallace is one of our regulars, John Feinstein and so forth. And we -- we debate, and we argue, but mostly we tell stories. At least I do. And being I'm the host and I pick up the check, they listen. And in the book are a lot of these stories. Now, they're all true, and they're all very unusual. I'll give you an example. In 1964, I took a team over behind the iron curtain. I had a great team with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy and Oscar Robinson, you know, a great team. So, you know that bit when I used to light a cigar -- 02:13Charlie Rose: When victory was assured. 02:16 Red Auerbach: That's right. I did it over there before the game started. 02:22 John Feinstein: Eight Hall of Famers on the team. 02:24 Red Auerbach: I used to drive those commies crazy. Anyway, we were in Yugoslavia, we're going to play the game, and I asked the guy from the embassy, I said, where's the American flag? He looks at me and says, oh, they won't fly a game with this. I said, they're keeping all the money on the gate receipts, right? I say, we're trying to establish relationships, and it's a meaningful thing. I say, you tell them that if there is no American flag, there's no game. 02:54Charlie Rose: Let me change the subject to -- from stories to today. What do you think of the condition of the NBA today? 03:01 Red Auerbach: Oh, I think it's good. I think it's good. 03:04Charlie Rose: So all the fights and all of that stuff doesn't brother you? One incident -- 03:09 Red Auerbach: No, it doesn't bother me. 03:11Charlie Rose: -- suspend the guys and get on with business? 03:12 Red Auerbach: No, it's an emotional outburst. 03:14Charlie Rose: That's it? 03:16 Red Auerbach: That's it.
FULL TRANSCRIPTS HERE: charlierose.com/videos/2254

[@broadstreet21]

Even at his age, he still has fire and power in his voice.

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

Most powerful man in sports history that no one ever talks about.

[@broadstreet21]

@@NBAHistoryCLNS He is the second most influential person in basketball all time, topped only by James Naismith. But nobody remembers these guys

[@eddiehaskell1957]

@@broadstreet21 Springfield, Massachusetts does.

[@broadstreet21]

@@eddiehaskell1957 At least Massachusetts remembers him.

[@joemacch6284]

Auerbach is a basketball genius, because he took feedback from others and was smart enough to know he needed to keep improving over and over again. The players had no choice but to adopt the same attitude. Ever the wise teacher and moreover the greatest student that pro sports has ever encountered. Simply the best of the best. He preaches attitude, preparation, and fundamentals and then made the fine adjustments as necessary. When greatness comes to the planet and can at the same time bring out the greatness in others, you are witnessing something very rare and special. Unbelievable…

[@jamesbrownjr.5074]

I'm a Lakers fan. I will say this: Red's a class act. Hands down!

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

He was the absolute best but, though in a very diff way, Dr. Buss was his alter ego out west. RIP to both.

[@franagustin3094]

@@NBAHistoryCLNS Both business man that love his teams. Nowadays, business men taught that you have to follow the money and destroy your product when they don't see them redituable

[@stepgios]

13:35 "The success of coaching is one word: communicate...itls not what I say, it's what you hear." - Applies to all teachers , tutors, managers etc.

[@Beofware]

That was just fantastic.

[@charlesbullard4604]

I liked how they gave him his flowers at the end you can tell it meant a lot

[@quiggs111]

The last 4 minutes is a lesson in life.. Better man then coach.

[@Sldumas1983]

Just so much knowledge and respect.

[@petec6727]

Red belongs on the Coaching and GM Mount Rushmore. He was simply the best, and better than ALL the rest!

[@dusk6159]

Damn coaching and GM all timer the great Red is

[@broadstreet21]

The others being James Naismith, John Wooden, and Larry O'Brien.

[@TheLAKERSareGodsTeam]

'He was simply the best'? Put your tampon back in, Tina Turner.

[@manny4552]

Yes he was

[@MarijuanaRecords]

Red Auerbach GOAT

[@gerryschultz7352]

Red was The Man. I have 2 Feinstein books, including this one.

[@Jazz313]

The General of all Basketball Association

[@timothyfitzgerald5459]

The most brilliant minds brake down things in the easiest way

[@LoganNagol]

10:55 you can legit see decades worth of Russell Chamberlain matchup memories hit his brain at that moment

[@gregoryevans8179]

Red was the smartest guy in the league. He swung deals that I couldn’t believe the other teams went for.

[@cindyknudson2715]

Ok- edit - I finished watching to the end and the writer gave Red his due. Kudos for that. 🙂 *** *** BUT The "brilliant" sportswriters didn’t know that Bird had *specified going into the coaching job* with the Pacers that he would only do it for *three years.* He coached three years and retired. 🤦‍♀️

[@kristalmacleod3215]

ResT in Peace Red and ThanK You for Bird'

[@twinwankel]

If Red didn't take Bird in 78, Boston couldn't move up to 1 or 2 in 79 to get him and Bird could have been a Laker or a Bull. If Bird was a Laker, OMG he might have won 8 championships with the talent and athleticism on the Lakers and Riley as coach. If Bird was a Bull, he would have given the Bulls those Celtic rings and MJ would be on a different team. All of basketball history would be changed because one man knew the rules better than anyone.

[@franagustin3094]

Imagine Larry and Mike on the same team

[@nonamewillbegiven9989]

Shutup you delusional m\oron

[@johnpersechini4951]

But the lakers would never have gotten magic if they took bird.

[@zonzos1]

¡AWESOME!

[@broadstreet21]

I wished Auerbach after retiring from Celtics management hosted an NBA equivalent of Coaches' Corner. He is very Don Cherry like in his knowledge of the game, speech ability.

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

Red on Roundball!!! We just launched that channel where it’s all red, all day w TONS of archived training sessions he released in the 70’s and 80’s. Check it out. Just search RED ON ROUNDBALL CLNS and be sure to sub bc we have 100’s of vids to release there. We’ve not even started yet 😉

[@broadstreet21]

@@NBAHistoryCLNS I saw some of those episodes. Just wished it were a live segment on NBC back in the 90s.

[@samuelchampagne5031]

Scottie bowman and toe blake and phil jackson are also heavy weight coaches.

[@dannyhoughton9704]

I met red 2003 in Atlanta city autographs nice person brooklyn !

[@vantablack9535]

Somewhere in a fantasy tournament Bill and Larry are on the same team with Red being the coach

[@broadstreet21]

Bill, Larry, Kevin, John, and Fred.

[@franagustin3094]

@@broadstreet21 And cousy?

[@broadstreet21]

@@franagustin3094 Ahh, I think I got his first name wrong. Not Fred, but Bob.

[@russelljackson171]

Red learned the fast break from the Harlem Rens team facts. Now no disrespect to Red but that's the truth

[@elfabulosoleonordo9344]

Red belongs.on the coaching and boston Celtics y mi

[@jazzsoul6067]

Is Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich on Mount Rushmore too?

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

?

[@ethanennis8]

Red Auerbach, John Wooden, Pat Summit, and then a wildcard of your choice on Mount Rushmore.

[@vincecozzi1112]

Gregg popobitch is an absolute horses ass he’s the definition of overrated bum ignorant man….. been horrible since not having Duncan Ginobili and parker ….. and truly believes people care to hear his ugly ugly faced opinions on politics and life ….. we do not!! Keep trying to coach basketball ugly man

[@jgrodnik]

Not surprising that he was interviewed before his death.

[@johnpersechini4951]

Would have been a bit harder after his death.

[@cindyknudson2715]

True, because it is much easier to do before his death rather than after.

[@garywilliams6109]

Him and Jerry West basketball I Q the best

[@bidensucsbigdickskalmadrin6877]

charlie’s hose

[@sebastianlajos866]

Days before his death lol this was 2004 Red died in 2006

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

It’s doesn’t say “days”

[@sebastianlajos866]

@@NBAHistoryCLNS oh damn wtf I really thought it did my bad

[@anongoingseries13]

RUSSELL IS GOAT! 11 OUT OF 13. RUSSELL RUSSELL RUSSELL!

[@tomgardner8825]

i agree he was an excellent defender. and rebounder. but offensively nada. wilt was better, jabbarwas better, jordan magic, kobe, and lebron.

[@harrymills2770]

Red's the best. Charlie Rose is the worst.

[@yoe91]

why don't you like Charlie Rose lol ?

[@2enchant]

Doc Rivers belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Coaching. Facts!

[@yoe91]

Mount Rushless, more like.

[@acnicodemus4734]

What? Are you smoking crack?

[@Beofware]

Are you serious? Lol

[@2enchant]

@@Beofware How is Doc not a top Coach of all time? He is the ultimate team builder.

[@vincecozzi1112]

When you’re looking for attention people say idiotic moronic statements like this …. Nice man players seem to like him but he has come up short many many times….. try another foolish statement for attention maybe

[@pound7816]

great example of Judaism : feinstein is Caine and Red is Abel . One believes humans are simply motivated by power and money, like him. Red is about humanity and more about individiual spirit , combined with hard work sacrafice teamate etc

[@pound7816]

I DIDNT LEARN ANYTHING other than who thinks who is best. No vituous man would ever ask these querstions. How about, hey Red tell me about that incident when you said…or thought…..and DONT bring Race into it, like typical j

[@cindyknudson2715]

And he didn't let Red finish the story about the game in Russia. Did he force them to fly the US flag?