How Easy Ed Got his Nickname

Ed Macauley Weekend

Nicknamed "Easy Ed ," he was one of the first superstars for the Boston Celtics. Ed MacAuley played six seasons (1950-56) with the Celtics and was an All-Star each year. During that time, MacAuley was a member of the All-NBA first team three times and was the Most Valuable Player in the very first NBA All-Star Game played at the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951.

He had his No. 22 retired on October 16, 1963 at the same time as Bob Cousy's No. 14. They were the first two numbers retired by Boston. "It was a lot of fun, but we did not win much," said MacAuley. "We were a competitive team with Cousy, (Bill) Sharman and myself. It was a good club, but it wasn't what they wound up being."

MacAuley is a legend in St. Louis, where he starred in high school and went on to become a Hall of Famer at St. Louis University. In college, MacAuley was a first-team All-American and was named the Player of the Year in 1949. MacAuley played a total of 10 seasons in the NBA. Prior to the Celtics, he played one season in St. Louis and was traded back to St. Louis after the 1956 season for Bill Russell. MacAuley played three more seasons before retiring, winning an NBA title with St. Louis in 1958.

"I got a call from Walter Bown and he said they had a deal that would send me to the St. Louis Hawks," said MacAuley. "When we were in Boston my son Patrick was diagnosed with spinal meningitis and we came back to St. Louis where he was under care. "Walter said he didn't want to make the deal because he couldn't imagine the Celtics without me. Walter and I were close and I told him he would be doing me a favor and to make the deal (because my son's care was there). That's the way the deal went down."

MacAuley earned his nickname during his freshman year at St. Louis University when it was his turn to be captain for a game. St. Louis rotated captains every game and MacAuley was very nervous when his time came. "The coach said I would be captain one night and all I had to do was lead us out of the dressing room," said MacAuley. "That's the only thing I had to do and I did it. "I pushed the door open, ran down the other end with the ball and took a couple of shots. I turned around and nobody was following me and the reason they were not following me was because they were playing the national anthem. I was so nervous I didn't even hear it. "The fans started to yell 'Take it easy, Ed' since the game hadn't started. Warren Netwin, who was the sports publicity man, liked that name so he started using it in press releases. It stuck and it was an appropriate name."

MacAuley retired as the NBA's third all-time leading scorer, trailing only George Mikan and Dolph Shayes at the time. MacAuley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1960 at the age of 32, and to this day he is still the youngest player ever enshrined. "I didn't start playing basketball until I was in the eighth grade and that was for a team that didn't win a game," said MacAuley. "I didn't think I was going to have a great career in basketball."

PROFILE: ED MacAULEY

* BORN: March 22, 1928

* RESIDES: St. Louis, Mo.

* GREW UP IN: St. Louis, Mo.

* CURRENTLY: Retired. Serves as a Deacon for his local church and recently co-wrote Homilies Lives with Father Francis Fredle. Also helps run homiliesalive.com.

* CLAIM TO FAME: His No. 22 is retired by the Boston Celtics and was one of the Celtics' very first superstars.

* HIGHLIGHT OF CAREER: Winning the N.I.T. at St. Louis University, winning an NBA championship with the St. Louis Hawks and being inducted into the Hall of Fame at just 32 years old.

* DID YOU KNOW? In 1950, which was his first year in the NBA, MacAuley was the second highest paid player in the NBA. He made $17,500. (George Mikan was the highest paid player at $25,000)

* BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED WITH: Bob Petit

* BEST PLAYER YOU FACED: Bill Russell

* GREATEST PLAYER EVER: Michael Jordan

* CURRENT PLAYER YOU MOST ADMIRE: Allen Iverson