Milestone Victory Kept in Perspective

How important is it for Clipper Coach Bill Fitch to have surpassed Red Auerbach and become the second winningest coach in NBA history?

Well, keep in mind that the Clipper staff surprised Fitch earlier this season after he had become the first to coach 2,000 NBA games, presenting him with a wall plaque to commemorate the occasion.

That plaque is still hanging in Fitch’s office. . . . facing the wall.

The veteran coach is just not one to make a big deal out of personal achievements. Particularly a achievement like passing Auerbach, which Fitch considers a dubious accomplishment at best.

“I don’t look at it as passing Red,” said Fitch of the man who made the Boston Celtics the most successful team in league history.

“He’s on a different mountain. He was the guy who set the original standards.

“He’s been a friend of mine for a long, long time. It was nice just to have my name mentioned with his every day, and, if we could stay tied, that would be fine with me. But I know it couldn’t stay that way because this team has to win.”

But surely, when he finally retires after a coaching career that has already stretched over 39 years, Fitch will look back and take some pride in the number of games he has won.

“If I retired now,” he said, “I’d be thinking about that game we lost [Monday night to the Seattle Supersonics by one point]. I’d think about that kind of ballgame for two years.

“I never worry about my won-lost record. I worry about the team’s won-lost record.”

So, here’s a memo to the Clipper staff: Now that Fitch has passed Auerbach, don’t waste any money on another plaque.