Remembering Red in 2006

There’s no getting around it: the 2006-07 season was one of the worst in Celtics history. Not only did the team struggle on the court – including 18 straight losses at one point – but Celtics legend Red Auerbach passed away at age 89 in October 2006. That season’s yearbook featured a seven-page retrospective dedicated to Auerbach and his impact on franchise history. “He was the patriarch, the boss, an American original…The Man,” stated the feature. “In this bottom-line world, all you truly need to know about Red Auerbach and his influence and impact on the organization is to walk into the TD Banknorth Garden (formerly the FleetCenter, and the famous Boston Garden before that) and let you eyes gaze upward toward the heavens. Sixteen World Championship banners hang with distinguished and hard-fought pride – and with a special touch of cigar smoke added for good measure. Red had his hand and spirit in each one.”