WATCH: Red Auerbach’s Celtics victory cigar-smoking ritual origin story

The story of how the cigar-smoking, end-of-game ritual got started, told by the man himself.

Ever wonder where the famous ritual of Red Auerbach smoking a cigar at the end of a game came from?

The iconic Boston Celtics team president and coach actually shared the origin story of the Celtics’ “Gino Time” moment prototype, when Auerbach would spark a stogie to demonstrated to foes and fans alike that he believed the game was finally out of reach for the Celtics’ opponents. Always gravitating to the demonstrative, Red decided to turn a negative situation with the league office into an opportunity for showmanship, bending what had initially irritated him into a ploy to enrage opposing teams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6SyG5tNA5s

Watch the video embedded above dug up by our friends over at CLNS Media to hear the story from the man himself — Auerbach was leader in the league like no other.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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