Only for a franchise as embellished because the Celtics, in a metropolis the place successful has grow to be as frequent a behavior as Boston, might a participant of John Havlicek’s caliber go missed.
If you talked about “Hondo” round Celtics followers within the final decade or so, they had been prone to suppose you had been cracking a joke at Tom Menino’s expense reasonably than referencing Havlicek’s nickname. His most iconic second — “Havlicek stole the ball!” — is confused with the legendary Larry-Bird-passes-underneath-to-D.J. second as typically as it’s recalled appropriately.
All of which is unbelievable, as a result of practically wherever else, Havlicek, who died Thursday at age 79, wouldn’t merely be on the town’s Mount Rushmore. He could be its Colossus of Rhodes.
An eight-time NBA champion, a 13-time All-Star and an eight-time defensive staff decide, Havlicek scored essentially the most profession factors for a franchise that boasts Bird and Paul Pierce in its roll name. He not solely took the reins from Frank Ramsey, the league’s first vaunted “sixth man,” however someway improved on the idea.
For as a lot as Red Auerbach lauded Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and others later, the workmanlike Havlicek may need match the Hall of Fame coach and govt’s mildew higher than every other participant.
“(Havlicek) exemplified (Auerbach’s) ideal,” creator Aram Goudsouzian wrote in “King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution.” “A three-sport star from small-town Ohio, Havlicek won an NCAA championship and reached two other title games at Ohio State. Yet he operated in the shadow of teammate Jerry Lucas. Havlicek had a tiny ego and a huge work ethic. He possessed incredible stamina, scored on rebounds and fast breaks, and excelled at defense. The Cleveland Browns drafted him as a wide receiver, and he almost made the NFL despite never playing college football.”
How many guys can say they bailed out Russell, the best winner in American skilled sports activities, for crying out loud?
But if Havlicek left Boston’s sports activities psyche in reminiscence, he by no means left in spirit. He was a standard, if unassuming, presence at fundraising occasions and in native documentary items about his extra revered teammates. I met him as soon as and bought his autograph on the Boston Home Show. No massive deal, simply the main scorer in Celtics historical past chilling by a show for pool provides.
It’s probably Havlicek was a sufferer of the historic success he helped the Celtics obtain. For a franchise that has retired the numbers of Jim Loscutoff and Don Nelson, some followers most likely assumed Havlicek was simply one other Very Good Celtic who was honored with a spot on the banners.
But Havlicek wasn’t simply one other Celtic. He was a legend in his personal proper who measured as much as and typically past each one among his friends within the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Still, the best way he left us was becoming. He was most well-known for one traditional steal and being overshadowed, and as his final act he stole off into the evening whereas the eye of Boston sports activities followers was targeted on a Bruins playoff sport and the glorified listing present generally known as the NFL draft. Almost as if he didn’t need us to make a fuss.
A fuss is what he deserves, although. In the story of how Boston constructed its fame as a metropolis of winners, Havlicek’s contributions should not only a footnote. They are a lead chapter, on a tier that few athletes — even in Boston — can match.
Thumbnail picture by way of Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images