LOSS OF CHARACTER -- by Steve Nadis
I never met Red Auerbach and, if truth be told, never spent that much time thinking about him. But now that he's gone, and I've read all the stories, it's clear to me that we've lost a unique individual whose death may signal the end of an era. My sense is that true "characters" like Red are few and far between. Moreoever, they may be the product of a previous generation, as I don't think that characters like Red are likely to emerge from my peers--a group sometimes referred to as "boomers." Why is that? I don't know. Maybe every generation romanticizes the past. And to some extent, that may be true. But I also think part of the explanation lies in the fact that the post-World War II crowd has, for the most part, had it too easy. You've got to be tough to be a true character--seen some really hard times--and most of us these days just aren't tough enough.
Plus the times have changed as well. After drafting Kevin McHale, Red picked him up from the airport, drove him to the Celtics' office, and gave him a couple of minutes to sign his contract so that he would not be late for practice. McHale signed as told, without taking time to read the fineprint. For better or worse, that would never happen today.
So goodbye Red. It's a shame I never got to know you. And perhaps an even greater shame that there may not be another one like you.
