Expert: Fabio Anderle - 10/15/2002

Question
Im looking for intresting facts about Boston Celtics. Im doing a report for history and Im just looking for things that other people wouldent know that would look good in a report If ya can help I would do anything thanks

Pete

Answer
Dear Pete,
it is not easy to pick just a few facts in such a long franchise history filled with success and trophies, but I'll try to sinlge out some of them for you...
-Where did the leprechaun come from? Red Auerbach's brother Zangwell was a commercial artist and designed the logo for him sometime in the mid 1960s.
-Why do the Cs play on a parquet floor? Hardwood was in short supply back in 1946, when the floor was being built, because of WW II. However, the DiNatale family of Brookline had a good stock of oak scraps from Tennessee. And it needed to be a portable floor, because the arena was shared with the Bruins.
-Did a Celtic really break the first backboard in the NBA? Yes: Chuck Connors, who achieved greater fame as TV's "The Rifleman", during warmups on November 5, 1946.
-What was Bill Russell's ritual before every big game? Tossing his food. Red once pulled the team off the floor during the pregame of a 7th game against Philly, because Russ still had his lunch and Red felt it was unlucky. He told the players they weren't going back out untilRuss tossed his cookies. Russ performed on cue, and out they trotted to victory.
-What Celtic hit the first three point shot in the NBA? Chris Ford on October 12, 1979.
-Why is the team called the "Celtics"? Original owner, Walter Brown didn't have a name for the franchise he was awarded on June 6, 1946. He settled on Celtics, and green uniforms, to draw on the great tradition in the name from The Original Celtics (out of NYC) of the barnstorming days and to attract Boston's large Irish population.
Well, Pete, I hope this helps you in your report....
Fabio