They All Boo When Red Sits Down

"Buddy! Russell!" [ Auerbach had noticed Russell limping and was calling this to the attention of the Boston trainer, Buddy LeRoux.]

"What are you going to do?"

"Give it to Satch! Too late." [Satch is Forward Tom Sanders.]

"Don't foul 'em! Five on us!"

"How about the push?"

"Hey, hey, the foul's on Howell!" [ Auerbach smote the adjoining press table a terrific blow with his right fist, got up and, head thrust forward, purpling, stalked along the press table to the official scorer.]

Alas, Auerbach did not have any of his notorious confrontations with the officials. Tommy Heinsohn's favorite is this bizarre exchange that ended a discussion between Auerbach and Sid Borgia, now the NBA supervisor of officials.

Auerbach : Borgia, if you didn't have that whistle, you wouldn't have a nickel.

Borgia : If you didn't marry money, you'd be nothing.

Auerbach : What do you mean? She didn't have a nickel!