MARAVICH A CELTIC

January 23, 1980

Saying that "I've been trying to get here for 10 years," Pete Maravich signed a contract last night to finish out the season with the Boston Celtics.

The signing took place following the Celtics' 112-106 triumph over the Houston Rockets and capped an event-filled 28 hours since Maravich arrived in Philadelphia Monday night, ostensibly to sign a contract with the 76ers.

Instead, Maravich told the Sixers he was considering three other teams - Boston, Houston and Atlanta - and that he would be going to Boston the next day.

This came as news to the Celtics, who privately had conceded Maravich to their Atlantic Division rivals throughout Maravich's seven weeks of forced idlement with the Utah Jazz. That bizarre situation culminated with Maravich being placed on waivers late last week. Mindful of his large contract, no teams claimed him, and when the waiver period expired, Maravich flew to the East Coast to dicker with the two Eastern titans.

Red Auerbach, in fact, wasn't even in Boston when the day began. He was home in Washington, D.C., where he had been since Sunday and where he was planning to be until tomorrow.The only thing on his agenda was a trip to see Virginia play Duke in an important ACC battle tonight.

But before the day was over, Auerbach had returned to Boston, and Maravich - along with lawyers Art Herskovitz and Lee Zittrain - was engaged in serious negotiations with the cigar smoker.

Maravich laid no raps on the 76ers. "Billy Cunningham is a good friend of mine and a fine coach, and the 76ers have a fine team," he said. "But when it came down to the end, I have always wanted to be here."

Maravich has known both Auerbach and Boston coach Bill Fitch for some time. Fitch is a close friend of Maravich's father, Press, who coached Pete at Louisiana State, where Maravich earned the nickname "Pistol Pete" while setting every NCAA career scoring record of note. This tie didn't hurt the Celtics, either. But Maravich talked in the vein of so many people who fell in love with the parquet floor of the Boston Garden and grew up watching the Russells, Heinsohns, Havliceks and Joneses every Sunday on TV.

"A lot of people say nice things about the Celtics," Maravich explained, "but I think it's justified because they have 13 flags here. All I have in my house is one little United States of America flag. I would like to have been here before, but you can't always locate yourself geographically in this game. I have one goal, and that is something that eluded most players. I want to be on a championship team."

Fitch was effusive in his praise of Maravich, who twice has been a first- team All-League player and who has participated in four All-Star games during a career which began in 1970 with Atlanta and which then took him to the New Orleans-Utah franchise. "He's multitalented," gushed Fitch. "He can do some things Tiny (Archibald) can do, some things M.L. (Carr) can do and some things Larry (Bird) can do. He will fit in fine with our team."

Maravich will not be activated immediately, which means the Celtics won't have to make a roster deletion for a while. A groin pull is the direct reason for his inactive status but, in any case, he could not possibly be in playing shape because the Jazz not only refused to play him but also wouldn't allow him to practice. Maravich declined to elaborate on his problems with Utah coach Tom Nissalke, saying that,"I really wouldn't want to get into that right now. Maybe in June."

Things moved very quickly during this hectic day. Word was received out of Philadelphia that the negotiations with the 76ers had hit a snag. The Maravich camp contacted Auerbach, who returned to Boston, if for no other reason than Fitch has wanted Maravich all along. The Pistol arrived at the Garden at 5:55 p.m., and his attorneys came in an hour later after a delayed flight from Pittsburgh.

At 7:25, Auerbach emerged from his office to say that there would be no further announcements until after the game. Auerbach then watched the game with Houston in the company of Maravich while team counsel and business manager Jan Volk stayed downstairs in the Celtic offices, setting tongues wagging as people correctly surmised that a contract was being drawn up.

John Havlicek (consider him a recruiter) escorted Maravich to the Celtic offices at halftime, and, at 9 p.m., Celtic vice president Jeff Cohen announced that there would be a press conference after the game. Press conferences seldom are called to announce the absence of news.

The press conference got under way at 10:50, when Auerbach said, "The Celtics have now signed Pete Maravich to a contract, something we always wanted to do."

And so the Celtics, with a 32-12 record, have taken a bold step to improve themselves by signing a player who is more than a player - he is a player who is a legend. But Maravich is also a player whose reputation is tarnished, whose knee has been cut and whose goals never have been fulfilled. At 31, Maravich is a far different person than the would-be Globetrotter who entered the league as an Atlanta saviour in 1970. Here, he simply will be a cog.

Maravich surely said all the "right things." In explaining his contract, which will only run to the end of this season, he said, "I want Red and Bill to get a look at me. If they're unhappy, I'll leave. I don't want to hold anybody up."

That was the game plan, said Carr.

"Give them credit for coming back. But give us credit for not breaking down when a few things were going against us. It shows, if nothing else, that this team has character and doesn't panic."

Not as long as they have a guy like M.L. Carr.