Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousey started out his college career at Holy Cross, one year after the end of the Second World War and would electrify the country with
his derring-do exploits.
The six-time NBA winner is at the ripe old age of 95, but still has the flicker in his eye that made him such a danger on the court. The guard not only led the Celtics to
franchise success, but Cousey earned 13 NBA All-Star appearances and unforgettably had his number (14) retired.
He may be closing in on 100 years of age, and might not be as sprightly as he was, but Bob Cousey can have fun with the best of them, sharing anecdotal pearls that
are shrouded in basketball lore.
From the iconic “We love you Cooz”, moment inside the Garden to a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the much-loved Hall of Famer loves nothing more than to sit in
his office and reminisce, with memorabilia that would make the ‘Pawn Stars’ warehouse look like a shabby outhouse in the middle of the Vegas strip.
On reaching the milestone of 95 years young, he told NBC Sports Boston, “I am literally the most fortunate, luckiest S.O.B on the planet. Everything in my life has
kind of fallen together.”
Often calling basketball, “a child’s game”, albeit in reverential tones, he continues, “All of us have to rely on hopefully good luck or fortune or faith or whatever we
want to call it. Most of the bounces have gone my way.”
He is being both literal and figurative because a large percentage of those bounces were on a court somewhere some evening in some oft-forgotten era.
Not that he is forgotten, not by a long way. After sending an address by film to the Worcester State University graduating class, he quipped that the students must
keep the pigeon droppings off his likeness.
One of the proudest basketball moments in his life is being played out every year. He started the Players Association and from going to being the most expensive
player in the NBA in 1970 ($35,000 per year) he is proud when a player breaks the bank of franchise owners.
“I’m most proud about starting the Players Association, because that as somehow lent itself, 60 years later, in terms if the interaction between the Players
Association and the owners, to guys signing $300 million contracts for playing a child’s game.”
There are many multi-millionaire players who have Cousey to thank for their penthouses and boats.
But most of all, he wants his beloved Celtics to win again. Time has been kind to Cousey, let us hope the bounces go the way of the Boston team in years to come.
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