Red Auerbach, who hired the NBA's first black coach and fielded its first all-black starting five, defended Boston after Nets coach Byron Scott said the city is unwelcoming to minorities.
Responding to Scott's comments on a New York radio show calling some Boston fans "cruel" and implying they're racist, the longtime Celtics leader said, "What the hell does he know?"
"It's just a stupid remark," Auerbach said Friday. "It's as simple as that.''
Anticipating a return of the animosity from last year's Eastern Conference finals, Scott told WFAN radio earlier in the week that Celtics fans were "very cruel and they can be crazy."
"They've had their share of beers already before the game has started," Scott said. "They're not very good fans. You can have a great tradition and have a great fan without being crazy and hostile."
Scott also revived the complaint that Boston is hostile to black players.
"I don't think we're way past that," he said. "I don't think you are out of line for saying that. A lot of black players feel that way. We did in the 1980s. And I know in the 1980s, at least some of their black players still couldn't go to certain places. And that was their own players.
"Some cities or organizations or whatever you want to say haven't caught up to the year 2000 yet."
Former Celtics such as Bill Russell and Dee Brown did complain during their playing days that Boston was not the most welcoming city.
When he played for Boston in the 1990s, Brown was manhandled by suburban police looking for a bank robber.
"But I don't think any of them were unhappy they played here," Auerbach said. "They were never sorry they played here."
All in bad taste
Although Nets star Jason Kidd was booed in Friday night's game, the crowd booed loudest in the introductions for Scott. Still, there was no sign of the tastelessness prevalent on both sides in last year's playoffs, when Kidd was heckled as a "wife-beater" and a fan in New Jersey held up a sign that said, "Will someone please stab Paul Pierce."
Kidd was charged with striking his wife in 2001; the charges were dropped when Kidd underwent anger counseling and paid a fine.
Pierce was stabbed multiple times in his face, neck and back at a nightclub in 2000.
As he did last year in Game 6, Kidd decided not to bring his wife and their 3-year-old child to the game.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care