President Reagan Honors Celtics

1984 NBA Finals

That's right. In a 14-hour span, the world champion Celtics went from the Boston Garden to the Rose Garden for a congratulatory message from President Ronald Reagan.

". . . You are the Celtics, and like the original Celtics, the great Irish warriors in olden times, you have fought for and won great victories with great glory," said Reagan.

"As the leaders of your organization changed, as one group of stars was replaced by another group, the Celtics not only survived, they maintained their championship form," Reagan continued. "Because always, the Celtics have been a team of champions, larger and greater than any one player, coach or manager. And in celebrating your championship, we see how America can be a nation of champions as well."

Twenty-one members of the Celtic family (Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Cedric Maxwell were conspicuous absentees) lined up on the White House lawn for the president's five-minute salutation. At the conclusion of Reagan's prepared remarks, NBA commissioner David Stern delivered a short speech, Celtic general manager Red Auerbach gave the president a Celtics jacket, and coach K.C. Jones and Dennis Johnson gave the chief executive an autographed basketball.

Boston guard Danny Ainge (wearing Blues Brothers sunglasses) got the biggest laugh from Reagan. "When he came through to shake hands, I asked him if he could change the law so that all playoff shares become tax free in the future," joked Ainge.

Jones, who coached the Washington Bullets for three years before he was fired in 1976, said, "This experience tops off a fantastic year. Having a chance to stand next to the president and say a few words and present a ball is a nice experience."

"I felt very comfortable with the man," said Auerbach, the retiring GM who has lived in Washington for over 40 years. Auerbach said his first NBA team, the Washington Capitals, visited President Harry Truman in the late '40s.

"It's a thrill to have the President of the United States shake your hand," Auerbach added. "It was inspiring - the culmination of a fantastic year."

In additon to nine players, the Celtics were represented by owners Don Gaston, Alan Cohen and Paul Dupee, Auerbach, assistant general manager Jan Volk, Jones, assistant coaches Chris Ford and Jimmy Rodgers, trainer Ray Melchiorre, assistant trainer Wayne Lebeaux, team physician Thomas Silva and publicist Jeff Twiss. Stern and NBA publicist Brian McIntyre were also in the receiving line.

No one could account for the absence of Bird, Parish and Maxwell, Boston's starting frontcourt. "We expected them," said Volk. "We don't know why they aren't here. It was a late night and I'm sure they were very tired."

Bird wasn't too tired to do a radio program yesterday morning, and Maxwell was up before the crack of dawn to do the CBS Morning News. The reclusive Parish hasn't been talking to the media.