Tag: History

Bob Ryan is happy Los Angeles Lakers legend is headed to the Hall of Fame

Boston’s greatness can’t be appreciated without him!

While he may be an all-time great of the Boston Celtics‘ oldest and greatest rivals, Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper was a critical part of the Celtics’ battles with Los Angeles in the 1980s. And Boston’s greatness can’t be appreciated without him!

So it ought to come as no surprise that Celtics beat writer emeritus Bob Ryan of the CLNS Media “Bob Ryan, Jeff Goodman, and Gary Tanguay” podcast was happy to see Cooper finally get the nod for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame for this year’s induction class.

Cooper, the host of his own CLNS Media pod, was the topic of a recent clip on the “CLNS Media History and Storytellers” YouTube channel. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston Celtics 1984 reunion: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Cedric Maxwell are together again

You know that the title town vibes are high when these guys are in the house.

You know that the title town vibes are high when legendary Boston Celtics alumni Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Cedric Maxwell are in the city of Boston ahead of the Celtics taking on the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

CLNS Media reporters Josue Pavon and Nick Gelso were there in the flesh to provide us with exclusive coverage from the 1984 Celtics reunion featuring Bird, Maxwell, Parish, and McHale. The iconic Celtics players gathered for the grand opening of Dick’s House of Sport at Prudential Center on this past Saturday (April 20).

Take a look at the clip embedded below to see the reunion for yourself.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Kevin Garnett presented with Defensive Player of the Year award; John Bagley born

On this day in Celtics history, Boston guard John Bagley was born, and KG was presented with his 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics point guard John Bagley was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1960. Bagley would play his college ball at Boston College before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1982 NBA draft with the 12th overall pick. He would play with that franchise and the (then) New Jersey (now, Brooklyn) Nets before being traded to the Celtics in 1989.

Bags would play for the Celtics for three seasons between 1989 and 1992 but missed the 1990-91 season entirely due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery. He would average 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in that stretch with the team.

Bagley would sign a deal with the Atlanta Hawks in November 1993, his last stop in the league before retiring.

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Will the NBA ever expand beyond the borders of the United States and Canada?

The NBA is quickly becoming an international league in terms of players, but what about teams?

The NBA is quickly becoming an international league in terms of players, but will it ever expand beyond the borders of the United States of America and Canada? With word from league commissioner Adam Silver that expansion is finally starting to move forward in terms of the league listening to investment groups and cities, we are likely looking at expansion as a “when” issue, not an “if” one.

But with the city of Seattle still without an NBA team and Sin City a popular option, could the likes of Mexico City or further afield make this round of expansion or a future one?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with British Basketball League analyst Josh Coyne to talk it over. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Center Hank Finkel, team’s second owner, Marjorie Brown, born

On this day, former Boston Celtics center Hank Finkel and the franchise’s second owner Marjorie Brown were both born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Boston big man Hank Finkel was born in Union City, New Jersey in 1942. Finkel was traded to the Celtics by the (then) San Diego Rockets (now, Houston) for cash considerations in 1969.

He soon became a regular part of the team’s rotation for some years, eventually winning a championship with Boston in 1974. Finkel averaged 4.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game over his six seasons with the team. He was released by Boston in November 1975. The New Jersey native remained a media presence in Massachusetts for some years to come, broadcasting for the team and SportsChannel.

He also opened his own office furniture store in Woburn.

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Boston’s Sam Hauser on how he ended up choosing the Celtics over Heat, Timberwolves

Sleeping over the decision was simply not an option.

Boston Celtics reserve sharpshooter Sam Hauser very nearly ended up joining the Miami Heat or Minnesota Timberwolves after going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. But a timely offer from the Celtics made up the Virginia alum’s mind in a moment of duress, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Speaking to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach in a recent interview, Hauser opened up on what made up his mind to join Boston. “When I got off the phone, my dad was like, ‘Well, why don’t you just sleep on it?’” said Hauser. “And I told him, ‘We’ve got 10 minutes.’”

“So we all just kind of sat down and talked about the options and came to the conclusion that Boston was probably the best spot for me,” added the Celtics forward.

At present, there is a growing consensus that Hauser may have played his way to a contract so big, Boston may have to let him walk in free agency at the end of his current deal.

And while the Celtics surely don’t want to see him on another roster should that be the case, it’s hard to look at what Hauser and Boston have accomplished together and call it anything less than a success.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston Celtics studying 2008 title squad ahead of the 2024 NBA Playoffs

Sometimes, the coaching staff, players, or executives will tip their hand and let you know a bit about what it is they have on the docket

The Boston Celtics have earned a reputation for running one of the tightest ships in the league in terms of keeping on top of rumors. And they deserve it, as most of the time, we have no idea whatever of what their team building plans might be until the news breaks via a trusted source.

But sometimes, the coaching staff, players, or executives will tip their hand and let you know a bit about what it is they have on the docket. And at a recent Celtics practice, word was shared that the team is studying the 2008 title squad ahead of the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

And while we don’t know exactly what it is they are focusing on, the hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, reflected on the process in a recent pod, and how it might help Boston in the postseason. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Boston Celtics win fifth championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers in 1962; Marcus Smart wins DPOY

On this date, the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-107 in overtime of Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals to win their fifth banner.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team won their fifth NBA Championship, which was for the 1961-62 season. The banner came at the expense of their longtime rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, in Game 7 of their series with the franchise at that time located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Boston won the critical game 110-107 in overtime with 30 points and 40 rebounds from legendary big man Bill Russell, part of an overall Finals series record of 189 total boards that still stands to this day. Iconic Celtics guard Sam Jones would add 27 points and 8 boards to the win as well.

Laker Frank Selvy missed a last-second shot that would have won the game for L.A., but it bounced off the rim, sending the game into the extra period that Boston would use to secure the victory.

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Pair of Michael Jordan game-worn kicks from 1996 NBA Finals Game 5 sells for nearly half-million

It seems that MJ’s old kicks are seen as an increasingly sound investment.

It probably should not surprise that sneakers won in games by the man behind Nike’s Jordan Brand go for a lot of money at auction. But once again, a pair of game-worn kicks that Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Michael Jordan just returned a boatload of cash, per recent reporting from Cllct Media’s Darren Rovell.

A pair of sneakers worn in Game 5 of the Bulls’ 1996 NBA Finals series vs. the Seattle SuperSonics has been reportedly auctioned off by Sotheby’s for a mere $482,600. The phenomena of His Airness’ game-worn kicks getting sold for huge sums is almost so regular as to stop being newsworthy at this point.

Culminating in the sale of a package of game-worn Jordan sneakers that sold for a whopping $8 million, it seems that MJ’s old kicks are seen as an increasingly sound investment.

But then, when it was your transcendent skill on the court and business acumen off it that built the Jordan Brand into what it is today, that his shoes are so valued by collectors and fans alike makes sense.

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Mike Gorman reflects on 43 years as the voice of the Boston Celtics

We have seen quite a bit of love for Hall of Fame Boston Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman for his retirement.

We have seen quite a bit of love for Hall of Fame Boston Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman for his retirement, whether it be countless standing ovations at his last game called, or the many video tributes we saw during it. He even had the Mayor of the City of Boston, Michelle Wu, proclaim that day (Sunday, April 14) to be “Mike Gorman Day”.

But apart from his brief and emotional speech at the halftime of that game, what does the man himself think about the idea of hanging it up after 43 years of service to the wider Celtics community?

Speaking on a recent episode of the NBC Sports Boston “Celtics Talk” podcast, host Chris Forsberg sat down with Gorman to talk about it. Check it out below!

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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