The FleetCenter Will Be Running Square-Out Pattern

Paul Harber of the Boston Globe writes that the famed parquet floor “as synonymous with Celtic basketball as Larry Bird or Bill Russell” is nearing an end and a replacement floor is being sought for the FleetCenter.

“The floor was brought over from the Boston Garden when that building was closed in 1995. It’s the only basketball floor that has been graced by every NBA Hall of Famer who ever dribbled in the 53 years of the league’s existence. . . .

“The floor was built from oak scraps crosscut from a forest in Tennessee for a cost of about $11,000. It had to be manufactured in that unusual fashion because of a shortage of materials in World War II.”

Visiting players to the old Garden used to complain about dead spots in the floor--and the Celtics knew every one of them.

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Trivia time: Who holds the NCAA Division I-A record for interceptions in a season?

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Still going: Before the Golden State Warriors opened against the Mavericks at Reunion Arena in Dallas, the public address announcer intoned: “Terry Cummings, please report to the will-call window; your Social Security check is waiting for you.”

The Warriors’ Cummings is 38.

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Steinbrenner clone: Washington Redskin Coach Norv Turner, publicly scolded by owner Daniel Snyder after a defeat, later showed up at a news conference wearing imitation teeth, some of which were chipped.

“Sorry, I was a little late,” Turner said. “I was in a meeting with Mr. Snyder.”

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Sure you will: Ron Rapoport in the Chicago Sun-Times: “Now it can be told: Remember those books Phil Jackson used to give to the Bulls to read?

“Scottie Pippen told the Washington Post that he never got past the introductions. ‘But I still have the books at my house in Chicago, and I’ll read them one day.’ ”

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More turnarounds: It has been reported that former USC coach John McKay had losing seasons in 1960 and ’61 before winning a national championship in 1962.

The Trojans under Don Clark had 1-9 and 4-5-1 records in 1957 and 1958. In 1959, the Trojans rebounded with an 8-2 record, However, the two losses were season-ending games to USC’s traditional rivals, UCLA and Notre Dame.

Clark left USC after the 1959 season to become involved in family business.

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Take your pick: Greg Cote in the Miami Herald: “Thirteen franchises have won titles in the 33-year Super Bowl era, none more than five times.

“And this season holds promise that a 14th club may join. Patriots? Jaguars? Titans? Seahawks? Lions? Rams?”

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Trivia answer: Al Worley of Washington, 14 in 1968.

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And finally: Michael Jordan attended the New York Knick-Milwaukee game Monday night in New York and teased the Bucks’ Tim Thomas, who didn’t dress for the game:

“What? Your ankle hurting? I scored 53 with a bad ankle. Buy yourself some Jordans and get out there.”