RIP Hondo
- Thread starter rudedude
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A hero of mine! The reason I watched the NBA were him and the Boston Celtics!
Growing up a hoops fan in Pittsburgh, I always liked to watch the Celtics ... Bill Russell, Tom (Satch) Sanders, Sam Jones, KC Jones and the indomitable John Havlicek.
The guy had a motor and just knew how to play basketball.
When you drive I70 West from Wheeling into Ohio, there was a sign proclaiming Bridgeport, OH, as the home of the Niekro brothers, Bill Mazeroski and Hondo.
RIP
The guy had a motor and just knew how to play basketball.
When you drive I70 West from Wheeling into Ohio, there was a sign proclaiming Bridgeport, OH, as the home of the Niekro brothers, Bill Mazeroski and Hondo.
RIP
Hard to believe he was 79. He was one of the many Celtic players I admired growing up.
No flashy ego, no “look at me”.....just one of many great T E A M players that called the Boston Garden home.
No flashy ego, no “look at me”.....just one of many great T E A M players that called the Boston Garden home.
One of my all time sports heroes. I loved the Celtics as a kid growing up in Pittsburgh. The way he played I thought his heart would never stop beating. That man was fit. He was equal opportunity with his daggers. Some nights he got you on offense, some nights defense but in his prime he got you with both. Loved watching the 76’ers and Celtics play on Sunday afternoons. Classic big time basketball.
Like you, they were my team throughout the 60's and 70's. Loved the Lakers and Knicks rivalries. Hondo and Russell were big game players.
“Havlicek stole the ball!”
R.I.P. One of the all-time greats.
R.I.P. One of the all-time greats.
Another Pittsburger that grew up in awe of Hondo and the Celts! RIP.
I used to watch him shoot baskets in his driveway as my uncle was his neighbor in Upper Arlington. My father and uncle played golf with him. I still have his autograph on a golf scorecard. He was was a great BB player and great person. Because of him I was a big Celtics fan back in the late 60’s and 70’s.
Fantastic player who never quit and had a motor most people don't have. He sure was fun to watch as a kid.
He’s the reason I became a Celtics fan and Bird was the reason I became an obsessed Celtics fan back when I was young.
My favorite NBA player ever. Remember Johnny Most on WBZ, calling out Havlicek's heroics, who Most affectionately called John - John.
The man who never stopped running. RIP
The man who never stopped running. RIP
Me too. He was my favorite NBA player ever.
as a 76ers fan .... do not believe that angelic look Hondo displayed ... he was a stone cold killer on the court! 
One of the all time greats.
One of the all time greats.
Was a Lakers fan as a kid, and hated Havlicek for beating the Lakers like a red headed stepchild. But respected and admired him greatly. RIP, Hondo.
I'm yet another native Pittsburgher whose favorite NBA player was Hondo, #17. I used to include 17 in my PIN numbers.
My favorite Havlicek story.
At the end of Russell’s career when he was player coach, Havlicek was in a contract dispute and was set to hold out. Russell told Red Auerbach to take some of Russell’s money and give it to Havlicek since Russell wanted his best player happy. Russell told Red not to tell him where the money came from.
Red asked Russell why he would do that. Russell told Red that giving the money to Havlicek would make Havlicek loyal to the C’s for the remainder of his career.
At the end of Russell’s career when he was player coach, Havlicek was in a contract dispute and was set to hold out. Russell told Red Auerbach to take some of Russell’s money and give it to Havlicek since Russell wanted his best player happy. Russell told Red not to tell him where the money came from.
Red asked Russell why he would do that. Russell told Red that giving the money to Havlicek would make Havlicek loyal to the C’s for the remainder of his career.
John Havlicek winner of 8 NBA Championships and never did he brag or draw attention to himself. He was truly a team player and a class act. May he RIP!!!
I love the fact that, even though he was the next best player on the Celtics after Bill Russell, he was a Sixth Man. The only guy I can think of who is just about the best guy on his team, yet plays Sixth Man, is Lou Williams. He's no Havlicek, though.
Great point, Bear. When I was naming Celtic players, I couldn't remember the fifth starter (maybe Tommy Heinson). Havlicek probably logged more minutes than everybody except Russell.
Starting doesn't mean as much as being on the floor at the end of the contest.
Several people here might not be aware that he went to the Cleveland Browns training camp as a wide receiver and was the last player cut by the Browns before Havlicek went to the Celtics. Woody Hayes said that Havlicek was the best qb in the Big Ten but honored his promise not to try to recruit him for the football team.
Of course, not mentioned here yet -- he was an OSU basketball player.
Of course, not mentioned here yet -- he was an OSU basketball player.
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Several people here might not be aware that he went to the Cleveland Browns training camp as a wide receiver and was the last player cut by the Browns before Havlicek went to the Browns. Woody Hayes said that Havlicek was the best qb in the Big Ten but honored his promise not to try to recruit him for the football team.
Of course, not mentioned here yet -- he was an OSU basketball player.
There was a GREAT article in my local paper a day or two about him. If you could find it and post it, thank you, was really a fantastic read.
It was northwest Chicagoland's suburban’s Daily Herald. (The article was so complimentary you’d almost think he went to ND!)
Johnny Most was one the best play by play announcers in any sport. WBZ, "The Spirit of New England" would boom into PA at night, so while at Penn State I'd listen often. Was harder to pick-up in parts of Pittsburgh because of KDKA's equally powerful signal and the two stations' proximity on the dial. 1020 and 1030, both Westinghouse Broadcasting stations at the time. Good days indeed.
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You are forgetting Sam Jones. Havlicek may have had a better career but Sam was the man when Havlicek was the 6th man. Loved them both. Frank Ramsay was the 6th man prior to Hondo.
The true sign of becoming an adult is when you stop hating great players and teams for beating your team and come to respect their talent and greatness.
