In last week's Ladder Challenge (one which I personally found a little surprising) Robert Parish easily defeated John Hannah with 66% of the vote to move up from #22 to #13 on the Ladder. This week Bruins great Phil Esposito (#16) attempts to move up 8 rungs by taking on the mastermind behind the Celtics dynasty, Red Auerbach (#8). Although Espo has 9 spectacular seasons with the Bruins, Red had a hand in half (16 of the 32) the banners our 4 major sports teams have won combined. For his remarkable combination of longevity and success my vote this week goes to Auerbach. So who has your vote this week? (And remember, most votes in the comments section is the tie-breaker, so be sure to voice your opinion)
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RED AUERBACH
Ranked : 8
Started: 8
Challenge Record: 2-0-0
Beat: Bill Belichick, Rocky Marciano
Lost: Nobody
Tied: Nobody
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*Worked 57 years (1950-2006) for the Celtics as a head coach (1950-66), general manager (1966-84) and team president (1984-2006).
*Helped Celts win 16 NBA Championships (1957, 1959-66, 1968-69, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984).
*As head coach he led the Celtics to 9 NBA Championships (1957, 1959-66) including 8 in a row.
*Coaching record with Boston of 795-397 (.667) in the regular season and 90-58 (.608) in the playoffs.
*Named 1965 NBA Coach of the Year, an award that is now named in his honor.
*Most wins of any coach in Celtics franchise history.
*As GM he won 6 more titles (1968-69, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984).
*Named 1980 NBA Executive of the Year.
*As team president he Won another title (1986).
*Named to the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.
*Celtics have retired the #2 in his honor.
PHIL ESPOSITO
Ranked : 16
Started: 16
Challenge Record: 0-0-0
Beat: Nobody
Lost: Nobody
Tied: Nobody
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*Played 9 seasons (1967-75) with the Bruins.
*Helped B's win 2 Stanley Cups (1970, 1972).
*Won 2 Hart Trophies as NHL MVP (1969, 1974).
*Won 2 Pearson Awards as Most Outstanding Player, chosen by the players (1971, 1974).
*Won 5 Art Ross Awards as NHL scoring leader (1969, 1971-74).
*Named to 7 All Star team while with Bruins (1969-175).
*Named All NHL 1st Team 6-times (1969-74) and 2nd Team twice (1968, 1975).
*Regular season totals for B's: 625 Games, 459 Goals, 553 Assists, 1012 Points, +313 Plus/Minus, 153 Power Play Goals, 22 Short-Handed Goals, 77 Game-Winning Goals
*Playoff totals for B's: 71 Games, 46 Goals, 56 Assists, 102 Points, 18 Power Play Goals, 9 Game-Winning Goals
*Among Bruins all-time leaders in: Goals per Game (1), Points per Game (1), Game-Winning Goals (1), Goals (2), Power Play Goals (2), Shots on Goal (2), Points (3), Assists per Game (3), Short-Handed Goals (3), Assists (4), Plus/Minus (4).
*Bruins single-season records for: Goals (76, 1971), Points (152, 1971), Power Play Goals (28, 1972), Game-Winning Goals (16, 1971 & 1972).
*Led NHL in: Goals (6x), Points (5x), Power Play Goals (5x), Shots on Goal (4x), Assists (3x), Game-Winning Goals (3x), Games Played (3x) and Short-Handed Goals (1x).
*Had 6-10-16 totals when he was traded 12 games into the 1975-76 season to the NY Rangers.
*His #7 is retired by the Bruins.
Although I'm sticking with Red here, those Espo stats are unbelievably impressive and a testament to how worthy he is of being in the Top 20....even if he falls just a bit short of being in the Top 10.
Who knows where he'd be if he had played his entire career in Boston.
Red Auerbach traded Ed Macauley, Cliff Hagan, Joe Barry Carroll, Rickey Brown and Rick Robey for Bill Russell, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson. Seriously.
Read "Red and Me" over Christmas by Bill Russell. Chronicles Russell's life but mostly his friendship with Red and how they interacted.
A quick read, the book touches on playing down South during the Civil Rights movement, Russell's relationship with his father, and is great for learning about the often overlooked pre-80's Championship Celtics teams. Concise and Sweet.
I recommend it.
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