Tom Heinsohn
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Tom Heinsohn (August 26, 1934- ) is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on the Boston Celtics basketball team. He also coached the team for a time.
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College ball
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Heinsohn accepted a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross after being a standout at St. Michael's High School in nearby Union City. During his senior year at Holy Cross, Heinsohn scored a school record 51 points in a game against Boston College. He also became the school's all-time leading scorer, with 1,789 points, which averages out to 22.1 points per game.
Pro career
In 1956, Heinsohn signed on with the Boston Celtics. He was part of a Celtics squad that won eight NBA titles in nine years, including seven in a row between 1959 and 1965. During his playing career, Heinsohn was named to six All-Star teams. On the day his teammate and fellow Holy Cross Crusader Bob Cousy retired, Heinsohn scored his 10,000th career point. His number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1966.
Coaching career
After his playing days were over, Heinsohn became the Celtics' head coach. He led the team to a league best 68-14 record during the 1973-1974 season en route to its first of only two titles in the 1970s.
Off the court
In 1981, the now-retired Heinsohn joined Mike Gorman as color commentator in the Celtics' TV broadcasts; they have since become one of the longest-tenured tandems in sports broadcasting history. For a time in the 1980s, he was in the same capacity during CBS' coverage of the NBA Finals. At times, Bob Cousy makes appearances with the tandem of Gorman and Heinsohn.
Away from the court, Heinsohn enjoys painting and playing golf; he once headed a life insurance company.
Achievements
- 1957 Rookie of the Year
- Six-time NBA All-Star
- 1973 Coach of the Year
- Named to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986
- Recipient of the 1995 Jack McMahon Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association
Quotes
- "I love Wal-tuh!" (referring to Walter McCarty)
- "Go home to your mother!" (usually said when a referee makes a call Heinsohn doesn't like)
- "Give him a Tommy point!" (said whenever a player makes a great hustle play)
External links
- Tommy Heinsohn's Basketball Hall of Fame profile (http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Heinsohn.htm)
- Heinsohn's bio at NBA.com (http://www.nba.com/history/players/heinsohn_bio.html)
- A story from SportsCentral about Heinsohn (http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/text12-6-2002-31721.asp)