Celtics Succeed Where Red Auerbach Failed

It’s somewhat ironic that the Boston Celtics have had so much success with the three-point shot, because it was Red Auerbach who led a campaign against it before it was adopted by the NBA in 1979-80.

Little did Auerbach know that Chris Ford and rookie Larry Bird would become two of the game’s best and that Danny Ainge later would become a record-breaker.

Ford, now a Celtic assistant coach, made the first three-pointer in NBA history.

He told the New York Times: “My success with the shot became my little revenge against the coach who traded me from Detroit to Boston because I couldn’t shoot.”

The coach was Dick Vitale.

Trivia Time: What does Boston center Artis Gilmore have in common with former Celtic centers Bill Russell and Dave Cowens? (Answer below.)

Arnold Wexler, head of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, told USA Today that the busiest day for their hotline will be Super Bowl day.

“One of the first calls we received after last year’s Super Bowl,” he said, “was from a man who couldn’t even wait for the game to start. He bet $22,000 on the toss of the coin.”

From Pro Bowl tackle Gary Zimmerman of the Minnesota Vikings, recalling his days with the Los Angeles Express: “Everything we did was first class. We stayed at the best hotels, took bigger planes than we needed . . . everything was overkill. Then we’d get to a home game and nobody would show up.

“I remember one game at the Coliseum where they announced a crowd of 2,000 people. Steve Young and I looked at each other and shook our heads. Steve actually counted the people in the stands and got something like 578. He counted every person.”

Add Vikings: Guard Dave Huffman, on defensive tackle Keith Millard, a celebrated brawler: “Keith is the kind of guy you’d want your daughter to bring home--if she’s 6-feet-9.”

John Brodie told the Sporting News that the worst he ever got hustled was by fellow senior golfer Bob Brue, but it wasn’t in golf.

“It was in Ping-Pong,” Brodie said. “I was a very good player when I was young. We played even in the first game, and he beat me, 21-19.

“He gave me four points in the second game and beat me, 21-19. He gave me 11 points in the third game and beat me, 21-19. He gave me 15 points in the fourth game and beat me, 21-19, and he gave me 17 in the fifth game and beat me, 21-19.

“And I said, ‘I think I’ve got the picture.’ ”

Wyoming basketball Coach Benny Dees, on the shot selection of long-range gunner Robin Davis: “Robin thinks if you’re indoors, it’s a good shot.”

From Georgetown basketball Coach John Thompson: “No coach has ever had a game officiated the way he wants. And any coach who says what he really wants is objective officiating is lying.”

Trivia Answer: All three are left-handed.

Quotebook

Jim Valvano, North Carolina State basketball coach and athletic director, on college administrators: “Monday through Friday they want you to be like Harvard. On Saturday, they want you to play like Oklahoma.”