The passing of Bill Russell introduced again a rush of reminiscences of my try to receive the basketball icon’s autograph in a spot the place few die-hard New York Knicks followers would have dared to enter. But I get forward of the story.
It was the spring of 1966. I used to be with just a few mates at a Knicks-Boston Celtics sport on the outdated Madison Square Garden on the west facet of Eighth Ave. between forty ninth and fiftieth Sts. As a childhood autograph hound, I made a decision to attempt for some star basketball participant signatures. I opted for the Celtics, rivals of my residence staff since they first met in 1946.
Near the tip of the sport, I positioned myself on the backside of the walkway off the court docket, a spot the place as we speak’s MSG safety guards would by no means enable followers to breach.
As the sport ended, the gamers rushed by, after which made a left flip down a protracted, dimly lit passageway to their dressing room. I obtained in entrance of Donald Arvid Nelson, the 6′6″ small ahead who went on to later change into one of many winningest coaches in NBA historical past.
He mentioned, ”All proper. Come and see me after I dress.” Then he was gone.
Soon all that was left within the space have been safety personnel. There was a close-by door with the signal, “NY Rangers Uniforms.” I opened it and there have been racks of jerseys in all places. I hid there for what appeared an eternity after which reached into my pocket for some paper.
I headed down the lengthy passageway, folded the paper, approached the MSG guard in entrance of the dressing room door, and mentioned, “I have a telegram for Don Nelson and he asked me to bring it to him.”
When the guard opened the door, I witnessed an unbelievable scene: monumental giants in a state of complete exhaustion, many slumped over, sitting on lengthy benches with out transferring. Some had their gigantic legs in enormous barrels of ice amidst the recent, steamy air. Others have been getting their shoulders, backs and knees massaged by trainers.
I sat down subsequent to Nelson, who was tying his sneakers, and repeated his instruction to me. He politely signed my autograph e book. I seemed up and there have been the nice Ok.C. Jones and Sam Jones, extraordinary gamers. Both Celtic legends signed my e book. John Havlicek was already dressed and on the door.
But then “the single most devastating force in the history of the game,” in accordance with his longtime coach Red Auerbach, emerged from the bathe room. It was William Felton Russell, the Celtics’ heart, who modified the sport along with his superior defensive and team-building abilities. Bill Russell, who later turned the primary Black NBA head coach and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient for his exemplary civil rights work.
At the time, Russell was well-known for his refusal to signal autographs for followers and even for his personal staff members, disdaining such adulation. But there he was, wrapped in only a white towel, standing each bit as tall as his 6′10″ body, with that unbelievable wingspan that blocked so many basketball pictures.
I politely made my request. He seemed down and loudly mentioned, “Who are you with, kid?” For a second I turned to Don Nelson, who had already fulfilled his obligation. He was not about to intervene. The nice basketball legend shouted, “Get the f—k out of here!” I correctly and considerably rapidly complied.
I emerged from the Celtics dressing room with three out of 4 All-Star signatures. Not dangerous for a lifelong Knicks fan who can not look ahead to the day after we return to the playoffs and defeat the Celtics on the way in which to the championship.
Hershenson is a Knicks fan.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com