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The Celtics family just lost an all time great.

erikthredderikthredd Posts: 8,100 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 25, 2019 7:13PM in Sports Talk

John "Hondo" Havlicek passed away today. 8-0 in NBA championships and the Celtics all time leading scorer. First NBA player to score 1,000 points in 16 straight seasons. I didn't get to see him play but he was my father's favorite player growing up.

Comments

  • BrickBrick Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Oh crap! One of my all time favorites. RIP

    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • CoinstartledCoinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :/

  • DIMEMANDIMEMAN Posts: 22,403 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Man that is sad to hear. :(

  • thisistheshowthisistheshow Posts: 9,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    :'(

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 11,660 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I saw him play in early 1978 during his final year playing in the NBA. He was amazing.

    At 38 years of age he outran and out hustled players in their early 20s. He was constantly moving on both ends of the floor, with a purpose. His constant movement created opportunities for the Celtics, who took advantage of same.

    Truly an all time great. RIP.

  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 9,964 ✭✭✭✭✭

    now I'm hearing Johnny most's voice and I had hoped that part of my life was over :s

  • craig44craig44 Posts: 10,393 ✭✭✭✭✭

    hate to see another great leave us.

    George Brett, Bobby Orr and Terry Bradshaw.

  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 9,964 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 26, 2019 5:41AM

    on a personal note my mother knew John , she worked at a restaurant in coolidge corner in the 60's called jack and marions and all the celtics and bruins would get breakfast there at various times.

    I mentioned it to her this morning and she said that johhny most came in there too and ordered tea and toast for breakfast. He was known as a creepy dwarf that never tipped anyone.

    Apparently when she couldn't get a babysitter I would work there too :D , I don't remember any of it though

  • thisistheshowthisistheshow Posts: 9,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think I told this story on the autograph forum, but Havlicek is the only athlete's autograph I ever got in person. My father had recently passed away. I was about six. My uncle took my Mother and me to a Celtics game at the Garden. It must have been 1982. After the game we went to dinner, and I remember my uncle telling me that one of the guys in the restaurant was a famous basketball player who used to play for the Celtics. We went up to him and he gave me an autograph. It is a great early Celtics memory for me at a tough time in my life.

  • EstilEstil Posts: 6,866 ✭✭✭✭

    I hope he lived a long happy life...he's like the Bobby Thompson of basketball (you know that whole "Havlicek stole the ball!" thing being basketball's equivalent of "The Giants win the pennant!"?).

    WISHLIST
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    Quarters: 61D, 52S, 47S, 46S, 40S, 39S, 38S, 37D+S, 36D+S, 35D, 34D, 32D+S
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  • BrickBrick Posts: 4,923 ✭✭✭✭✭

    One of my favorite keepsakes that aren't worth a dime I got from John. He was signing autographs in Columbus. I mentioned to him I had an autographed team ball from the 62 Buckeyes. He asked about it's condition. I said the autos are still very nice but the ball had a bit of age on it and was not fully inflated. He handed me a package of needles to inflate the ball. How they happened to be right where he was sitting I have no idea.

    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 7,940 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Goodbye to one of the Celtic greats.

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Enjoyed watching him and the Celtics when I grew up. I don't go near the NBA any longer. Different times, different people and I don't see the current group as an improvement

  • hammer1hammer1 Posts: 3,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Long time Laker fan.

    Havilicek was probably the only Celtic- EVER- that I didn't hate

  • thisistheshowthisistheshow Posts: 9,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is a great article. My mother just visited me in Texas and brought this down with her. She saved it for me because she knows I am fan of Havlicek. ( Thanks Mom) I think it is readable the way I have it. I couldn't find an online link.

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