Larry Siegfried Interview

http://www.celtic-nation.com/interviews/larry_siegfried/larry_siegfried_page3.htm

Wow, Beat, what an absolutely gripping interview.

Early in the interview, Siggy talks about how the most important objective in the NBA is to win championships—a goal that has become less meaningful over time, as evidenced by the self-congratulatory exhibitions punctuating so many individual achievements.

But then he takes it one step further by demonstrating how even all the winning was secondary in importance to the personal and collective values that precipitated the winning.

Siggy:

"I hear people talk about who the best player is on this team, and who the best player is on that team. And when that subject comes up about the Boston Celtics I just cut them short. Because you can’t divide our team like that. You can’t carve it up in those types of slices. We were a true team in every sense of the word. When I was in Boston, we had the best basketball team in the world. Did we have the most talent? No. Did we have the best team? I repeat: We had the best basketball team in the world.

"Muhammad Ali told me this one time, years ago in Boston – and I don’t know why, other than I think he followed me in college – but it was almost prophetic; he said to me, ‘Larry, years from now you’re going to have something to tell people.’ And you know, he was right. Because how many people today know, and have experienced, what we’re talking about right now? How many people really know what the true meaning of team is all about? (Note that championships are not mentioned here.)

"I have to say that the most important thing to me today is the thing that we’re talking about right now. The rings don’t mean a thing. The memories that I have of playing with my teammates – those are the things that mean something. And everywhere I go, I sing my song about this."

And that song serves as a lasting epitaph for what Larry was all about, as well as perhaps the finest explanation I've ever read of why the Celtics organization is absolutely unique.

Sam

Sam

I read the thing over twice and then again. Nothing I have ever read says it better about being a Celtic.

About how Russell made all around him better by in large part just EXPECTING their best game in game out.

I was thinking, that when you put a jigsaw puzzell together you generally start with the edge peices around the outside but with those teams you ALWAYS started with the center............William Felton Russell!!

beat

Interesting insight, Beat.

Thanks for posting that interview. Every Celtics fan should read it.

Sam

Sam

Here is a little snippit I found in the Frank Deford SI article after the C's won it in 1968.

There is something there, something special. For instance, twice tonight the ball went on the floor and Siegfried dove for it. He didn't just go for it hard, he dove for it. And they're all that way on the Celtics, and you can't teach it." (quote from Jerry West)


Here is the whole article,

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1081172/index.htm

beat

Thanks for posting that interview Beat, I really enjoyed it. Everything he said
was something we have heard before from all the greats who have played for
the Celtics. I really enjoyed watching Seigfried play, but he butted heads with Red toward the end of his career. He was one terrific guard though. Sad that he kept himself so distant from the Celtic family in the years that past. We hardly ever saw him.

I was thrilled last week when I watched the Celtics pre and post game
show and Dave Cowens was on there. He has become visible last year
during the playoffs many times, in fact he was the one who awarded the
Eastern Division trophy to the Celtics. It seems that he is going to be a
little involved with Comcast this year and come on during some of the
Celtic games. This is terrifiic.

Again, thanks for the post, I will never forget Larry Seigfried.

Rosalie

I would hope the Celtics do something to honor him this season/year. In the past it's been a as simple as a black stripe on the uniform over the shoulder. Perhaps a small green 20 somewhere would be appropriate.

beat

Beat,

I think a large green 20 in the rafters would be more appropriate. And I guarantee I can out-argue anyone who thinks to the contrary.

It's simple.Ed MacAuley was a great player who played six years for the Celtics and won no championships with them. Larry Siegfried was a great player who played seven years with the Celtics, won five championships with them, and was unquestionably instrumental in at least two of the five (probably more).

In fact, there are 10 Celtics with retired numbers who did not win as many rings as Siggy, and an 11th (Don Nelson) is tied with Larry at five rings. So you say, "Sure, but the others were all-stars, and Larry wasn't." Nay, nay, I say. What about Nelson? What about KC Jones? What about Frank Ramsey? What about Tom Sanders? What about Cedric Maxwell?

Larry unquestionably belongs to be in the rafters as a Celtic great.

Sam

And, as a matter of fact, I just sent an email to Wyc recommending that Siggy join the rest of the Dynastic core in the rafters. I also took the opportunity of letting him know that the anticipation on the board about this season's Celtics entry is off the charts.

Sam

Cow,

Wyc's email address is no great mystery, as he has made it available to the public for years. And he has invariably responded whenever I've sent anything to him. Unless he has changed it, the address is wyc@celtics.com. Since it has not bounced back to me, I assume it's still a valid address.

Sam

If you're interested, here's what I wrote:

Dear Mr. Grousbeck,

As someone who first became a Celtics fan at age 13 in 1950, I was greatly distressed to read of the passing of Larry Siegfried. In my mind, he epitomized what being a Celtic is all about. I'm writing to suggest that the Celtics consider raising his number to the rafters—not as some sort of memorial but because it belongs up there.

Some might say he wasn't with the team long enough. But he played one more season for the Celtics than Ed MacAuley. Ed was one of my favorites, but he won no championships with the Celtics, whereas Siggy won five—and was instrumental in at least three of them. In fact, there are 10 players with numbers in the rafters who won fewer rings with the Celtics than he did.

Some might say Siggy lacks all-star credentials. But how about Don Nelson, K.C. Jones, Cedric Maxwell, Frank Ramsey and Tom Sanders? They were all wonderful players and strong contributors (especially in doing a lot of unheralded dirty work). But that's just the point. So was Siggy.

He was a bona fide Celtic, through and through— a very relevant ingredient in the most impressive team run in the history of any sport. I realize the timing probably isn't right to put something like a number retirement together for the season opener. But I sincerely hope it will be strongly considered soon.

I can't close without congratulating the entire Celtics braintrust for assembling such an exciting team for the coming season. This will be my second year of operating a computer message board called "Sam's Celtics Forum" (I'm "Sam"); and I can tell you that the anticipation on the board is off the charts!!!

All the best to you personally and to the Celtics in my 60th year as a very active Celtics supporter.

Thank you for your consideration,

Hi Sam,

I hope your efforts concerning Larry Siegfried will be rewarded with success. I too fondly remember Siegfried, especially his clutch shooting. If I remember correctly he often played the trailer on the fast break and hardly ever missed a shot in crunch time when the ball was passed back to him. In fact the Celtic's fast breaks at that time were a thing of stunning beauty and all the players contributed. I can only second everything Siegfried said in that interview. It was the beauty of teamwork that was somehow life-affirming. The fast breaks and slam dunks of today's games - even though impressive - can't compare to what the Celtics of those years gave us.

Hope all is well with you and Mrs. Sam and all the members of the board.

P.S. due to the time difference and my aging body's demand for sleep, I won't be posting so often on the "game-on" thread, but I'll definitely be there for the opener against the heat. I think we have a hell of a team this year and I hope they go all the way.

Berlin-T

Siggy's personality may have rubbed Red the wrong way. He was in the habit of saying whatever came to mind at the time, and the devil take the consequences. But his play on the floor was all that mattered. Here's my vote for retiring his number and I'll bet Russ and Tommy and Havlicek would agree.

Here is a list of the C's whom have worn #20

Al Lucas 1948-49
Dick Hemric 1955-57
Lou Tsioropoulos 1956-59 (also wore #29)
Gene Guarilia 1959-63
Larry Siegfried 1963-70
Rex Morgan 1970-72
Phil Hankinson 1973-75
Fred Saunders 1976-78
Wayne Kreklow 1980-81
Scott Wedman 1982-83 (also wore
Ray Williams 1984-85
Darren Daye 1986-88
Brian Shaw 1988-89 & 1990-92
Sherman Douglas 1991-96 (also wore #4)
Tyus Edney 1997-98
Marlon Garnett 1998-99
Doug Overton 1999-00 (also wore #9)
Bryant Stith 2000-01
Erick Strickland 2001-02
Jumaine Jones 2003-04
Gary Payton 2004-05
Dan Dickau 2005-06
Ray Allan 2007-present


beat

PS Ihave no idea how or why that little smiley shows up for Wedman.......should be an 8!

PSS here is the CELTIC site for ALL numbers and whom wore them and when!
http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Stats_AllTimeNumbers.html

Berlin, it's great to hear from you. Whenever time permits, the board will be all the better if you're posting on it.

Sam