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Good Evening!
My function tonight is to welcome you, as briefly as possible, to the 2nd annual New England Basketball Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies. It should be mentioned, on top, that none of us would be here, were it not for the prolific imagination and boundless energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Dan Doyle. Dan is the executive director of the Institute for International Sport here at the University, which is listed as his full-time job, however he somehow finds time to dabble in a few other projects as well. So last year his dream for a New England Basketball Hall of Fame for the game he loves dearly was created!
Tonight my friends, may be very bit as meaningful to me as last year when our 1947 Holy Cross NCAA Championship Team was inducted because in looking over this year's list so many of my friends, teammates and former and present coaches who I've had a relationship with, including a sports writer and even a couple of officials, are being acknowledge. I was going to recite their names, but when the number got to 18 - I decided that would not be prudent. I'll simply say it gives me great joy to have you all on board and included. It's well deserved.
In 1957, I co-authored a book for Prentice-Hall with Mr. Al Hershberg called "Basketball is My Life." I was 29 years old and at the mid-point of my playing career with the Celtics and had no way of knowing how prophetic that title would become and what a meaningful role this "child's game" would play in every facet of my life and my families.
So as I stand before you at 75 years old, I hope you'll allow me to elevate this game, this way of life, this addiction that bonds us so intimately, to a level, I sincerely think it deserves. When it is executed properly with the necessary passion and intensity, it becomes in my judgment a thing of beauty; it literally becomes an art form.
Its been said that art is in the eye of the beholder so when I look back over the years and some of the things or performances that have moved my senses, caused me to react emotionally, I think of a Sinatra ballad performed hauntingly in the stillness of a darkened venue, or Streisand bringing tears to the listener's eyes with her beautiful rendition of "Memories," or James Mitchner literally transporting the reader vividly to one of those far away places he wrote so brilliantly about. I think about how the great actors and actresses of our time, the John Wayne's, Spencer Tracy's, Bogart or recently departed Katherine Hepburn moved us in those darkened theatres and brought us to tears or laughter or evoked in us a sense of patriotism or simply motivated us in generally a positive way. I think of my friend Don Hall, an exceptional person and poet who sometimes can touch your soul with his prose. An I see a streaking Nureyev fully extended in mid-air in a classic ballet pose and I say to myself, how is that different from Michael leaving the foul line, in his prime and literally floating, endlessly, through the air and elevating, Peter Pan-like, to the basket to complete this incredible athletic feat and bring 20,000 people to a state of ecstasy and delirium. How does it differ from Dr. J and his amazing mid-air acrobatic moves followed by a gentle laying of the ball in the basket, or Bird with two defenders clawing away at him aggressively and his making an exceptional pass to an open man while seemingly ignoring the presence of the defensive people. I think of the wonderful body language that Magic would display to disguise his eventual "on the money" look away pass to the "wing man" for a spectacular finish, and finally I think of my friend and teammate, Bill Russell, in a moment that would have eliminated us from the playoffs, picking himself out of the crowd where he had ended up after finishing off a lay-up that had put us up by one with 7 seconds left and with the most incredible athletic feat I've ever witnessed on a basketball floor, covering the entire length of the floor to catch and trap Jack Coleman's winning lay-up shot at the buzzer. The 6'10" Coleman had stayed at half court, received the immediate inbound pass after Russ's lay-up and with a 45 foot head start was, he thought, on his way to eliminating the mighty Celtics from that year's competition.
Yes, this game has a unique beauty of its own. I recently heard a radio and TV commercial being aired by a money managing firm which has the old Jazz great, Ellis Marcellis telling us that what gives Jazz its beauty was the improvisation, the fact that the artist was almost making it up as he went along and I thought how well that description "fits" basketball.
When it's performed at its highest form, in my judgment, at any level, when it truly becomes art, is when the imagination of the players is given free rein, a basic structure is required but after that, the synchronization, the development and creation of each movement down court, especially in the minds of the viewers, the fans, must be unpredictable, when this free flow is complimented with the proper chemistry and intensity, it is wonderful to behold and be part of.
And that my friends, is why each of you who are being honored tonight should be especially proud, knowing that all of you have been part of the evolution of this great game, this beautiful Mosaic that has been created for all of us to enjoy.
Welcome and Congratulations!
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Phone: 1-800-447-9889(401) 874-2375Fax: (401) 874-2429E-Mail: iis102@etal.uri.edu
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Institute for International Sport
c/o International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame The Feinstein Building, University of Rhode Island 3045 Kingstown Road, P.O. Box 1710 Kingston, Rhode Island 02881-1710 |
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