"You handle animals. You deal with people"--Red Auerbach's description of his interactions with his players.
Paul Dalessio of Fleishman-Hillard passed along a video clip tribute to Celtics' patriarch Red Auerbach:
Red Auerbach coached the Celtics to nine championships (1957, 1959-66) and posted a 938-479 (.662) regular season record and a 99-69 (.589) playoff record. For many years, he held the records for most regular season wins and most playoff wins. Thanks to Boston's Finals victory this season, he remains tied with Phil Jackson for the most championships won by an NBA coach. Auerbach engineered the trade that brought Bill Russell to the Celtics, a move that formed the cornerstone for 11 championship teams. Auerbach also played a role in building the teams that won the 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984 and 1986 titles. Although not directly involved in putting together the 2008 championship squad, he certainly influenced the thinking and basketball philosophy of current Celtics President Danny Ainge, a player who Auerbach acquired in the early 80s and who was a member of the 1984 and 1986 champions.