▲ Bill Walton Becoming a topic of the NBA annual conference
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“I have always been very lucky to play basketball to enjoy the joy of playing basketball. There are only a few moments in my life that need to make decisions for money. Playing for the Celtics was my lifelong dream, and it was very difficult for me to leave Southern California, but at the time I was in the middle of my career and I was willing to do anything and return to the championship level. Even if it means to go to the East Coast, even if it means I have to sacrifice some interests to the Clippers, it doesn’t matter. I am willing to pay any price in exchange for the opportunity to join the Celtics, which is worth every penny I paid. I am lucky to be able to play for two of the greatest teams in basketball history, UCLA and the Boston Celtics.” Bill Walton.
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NAPA The joke of the winery
Soon, Bill Walton's transaction case became one of the hottest topics in the NBA annual meeting held at NAPA Winery. The senior executives of the Knicks even rumored that the transaction between the two parties had been completed and may be officially announced in the next few days, and will not be delayed by July at the latest.
But these rumors were denied by both sides.
"No new progress is now, really." Clippers president Alan Rothenberg said frankly. "I think both sides are interested in seeing if there is a chance to complete the deal, but Cedric Maxwell's knee is stuck. There is no secret deal, the Celtics are interested in Bill Walton, and Walton is very interested in joining the Celtics. If Maxwell's knee is healthy, the Celtics may also be interested in him."
"It has been two days since I last discussed with Carl (Carl Scheer, general manager of the Clippers), and the negotiations have been paused for several days," Celtics general manager Jane Walker also denied it in unison. "Any situation is possible. We may give up this deal soon, return to the negotiating table, or close the deal immediately. Although all options are possible, if we want to make a deal, it may take some time."
Despite this, the deal between the Celtics and the Clippers has become a hot topic of chatter in the entire annual meeting, and it has also become the target of teasing by the general managers and bosses of each team.
"I've been talking to Jane Walker about Celtics' substitute small forward Sly Williams, who Walker says he's been bothering about Sly's injury history." Hawks general manager Stan Kasten quipped. "The next day, I saw news that the Celtics were interested in Walton, which really scared me! Compared to Walton, Sly is simply Lou Gehrig (Yankees first baseman, nicknamed Iron Horse, who once played 2,130 games in a row)!"
The Celtics' way to get rich
On the other hand, the media also asked the Celtics partner Al Cohen at the meeting about the new bosses' future plans and possible deals. Since the death of founder Walter Brown in 1964, the ownership of the Celtics has been constantly changing hands. In 20 years, Cardinal Auerbach has experienced ten different boss groups. In addition to being in trouble for the championship, Cardinals have to run for the players' salaries from time to time, but also compete with the lay bosses and strive to avoid the destruction of life's efforts.
Cohen is one of the partners of the new team. Although he holds the least shares, he is the representative of actually participating in the operation of the Celtics. The Gaston-led team includes Cohen and another investor, Paul Dupee Jr. Gaston is an accountant, Cohen is a lawyer, and Dupee, the first Boston native to own Celtics since Brown, is a businessman. All three have backgrounds in sports circles. Gulf Western Inc., founded by Gaston and Dupee, once owned Madison Garden Square in New York and some of the New York Knicks. Cohen was once the manager of Madison Garden Square in New York and was also the chairman of the New Jersey Nets from 1978 to 83. It can be said that the three people are familiar with the NBA.
▲ Paul Gaston (right) inherited Gaston's mantle became the Celtics boss
Gaston wanted to buy the New York Knicks or the Celtics, and finally let him wait for the first time in the summer vacation before the start of the 1983-84 season. The former boss of the Celtics who originally intended to sell the Celtics had already negotiated a deal with Steve Belkin, who has always lived in the suburbs of Boston and is now a partner of the Atlanta Hawks, but the deal was cancelled because his two partners finally decided to pull their legs, which gave Gaston's team a chance to take over. In the end, the three spent 15 million US dollars (another said 17 million US dollars) to buy the Celtics from Mangurian.
The past Celtic bosses could only rely on traditional models such as selling tickets and souvenirs. After buying the Celtics, the three businessmen formed Boston Celtics L.P. at the suggestion of NBA president David Stern, and decided to issue 40% of the shares in their hands at $18.5 per share, allowing Celtic fans to realize their dream of owning the Celtics. Although it is just a formal possession, this is enough to earn US$44.74 million in investment from the three bosses.
Things are not over yet. In 1985, Boston Celtics L.P. sold the broadcast rights for the five-year game to WLVI-TV. Two years later, these three shrewd businessmen bought WLVI-TV for another 10 million US dollars and established Boston Celtic Communication L.P., and in 1989, they added WEEI-AM, the broadcaster that broadcasts Celtics, to income, to make Celtics a really profitable business, and to finally have a stable management class for the past twenty years.
Al Cohen's words
"I think the Celtics were weak in this season at the last critical moment, and suffered a loss under the 2-3-2 schedule of the playoffs, but not just that." Cohen continued to say with some meaning. "Robert Parish tried his best to fight Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the playoffs, and finally released his strength. At the same time, we undoubtedly lacked the fast forward who could get up from the bench against James Worthy."
▲ Parish faces the challenge of the league's strongest penalty area every night
Cohen talks to the media about the performance of the Celtics after taking over the new team. He scored twice in the NBA championship game and won the next championship in two years. Although there is a gap with the great achievements of the 1960s, it is already quite proud. With the young backcourt combination, if there is a healthy Maxwell team, the future of the future is limitless. He also counts the members of the Celtics, including Larry Bird (28), Kevin McHale (27) and Parish (31) at their peak. He also mentioned defensive iron guard Dennis Johnson who became a free agent, implying that negotiations between the two sides were going well, but mentioned another defender Ray Williams who became a free agent but fell out of coach K. C. Jones's dispatch list in the playoffs, appearing conservative, revealing various clues in his obscure language.
Seeing Cohen keep scratching the itchy part in circles but not willing to talk about the main topic, the reporters still seized the opportunity to ask the keyword "Bill Walton". Although Cohen could not call him by his name, he still provided the answers the media wanted. "If you have the opportunity to get a player like this, you will find a way to do it. He is a stable and reliable citizen who can adapt well and help Robert and Kevin have a rest."
is quite ignorant of Walton, who has not yet made a fuss, but when it comes to Maxwell being put on the trading table, Cohen is directly exposed to the sensitive nerves and meets the needs of the media.
"I don't think the Celtics wanted to trade Maxwell because they were unhappy with him. The problem with Maxwell is, first: how do you keep McHale on the bench?" Cohen said bluntly. "Second: How do you keep Maxwell on the bench? He has always been a starter in his career, and now he is going to be the substitute? Maxwell is an excellent player when he is healthy, but the reality is that even so, he still can't play for more than twenty minutes on our team."
The media kicked Bird's pain foot
In addition to the new boss, the Celtics also attended the annual meeting, Larry Bird, who went to receive the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award. As the team's head and the key figure in the whole thing, he is also the focus of media pursuit and visit.
▲ One-on-one defense has never been Bird's strength
"If the Celtics fail to win the championship, it must mean that something is wrong in the team. "Byder said. "I don't think the team needs to change a lot. The rumors outside are that we want to get rid of Max (Cedric Maxwell), but I don't know where the rumor comes from. When Max was healthy, he brought a lot of teams, and with him, we were a stronger team. This year we may have just missing one player, and that is Max. "
" If Walton can be brought to you, the Celtics will be three times stronger than this team this year! "With the media's pursuit, Bird still mentioned Walton's name. "Walton can fill the penalty area. He is a great blocker and defensive deterrent, and he can shoot and pass. The Celtics don't need him to score, but Walton can give Robert Parish a break. Robert performed better with enough rest time, and we absolutely need someone to give Robert a chance to rest. "
" When he felt right," Bird said in a reinforcement tone at last. "No one is better than Bill Walton. "
But the media did not let Bird go. Boston reporters in that era not only broke the casserole and asked the whole time, but also kept stinging all the way. Even superstars like Bird could not escape the continuous questioning of journalists and columnists back then. In addition to Bird's views on Walton, what Boston media cares most about is the impact on Bird after trading Maxwell. The reason behind it is Maxwell's agent Ron Grinker's view is similar. The reporters who run the Celtics are all very clear that Maxwell silently took over the past few years to defend his opponent's crazy small forward, allowing Bird to deal with another striker who is less threatening to attack. Without Maxwell's hard work, will the small forward who defends the opponent increase Bird's burden? Without Maxwell's sacrifice, can Bird still have such a magical performance? This is the key point that Boston media is chasing.
"I can deal with any player," Bird also seems a little unbearable in the face of this difficult topic. "And these deals have not come true yet! ”
