You may not be familiar with this image but you certainly are familiar with its soundtrack.
Sixty years ago, Boston Celtics’ forward John Havlicek anticipated a pass in the waning seconds of the Eastern Conference Championship, deflected the Philadelphia 76ers inbound pass made by Hal Greer intended for Chet Walker, and sealed the deal for Boston, 110-109. The Celtics went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1, in the NBA Finals.
Leading 110-109, Boston Celtics guard John Havlicek stole the ball on the inbounds pass from the Philadelphia 76ers to secure the Celtics victory. The Celtics would go on to the NBA Finals, where they would defeat the Lakers in five games. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated)
The image used for this week’s Fan Teaser is another by the incomparable Walter Iooss Jr. who was shooting for Sports Illustrated.
Even more memorable than Iooss’ image is, of course, the Boston Celtics’ radio call by Johnny Most (heard in the first video below). Then, 22 years later, another famous post-season steal occurred and with Most again on the call. (Still too soon for this Pistons’ fan:-(
The Boston Celtics’ principles recall Havlicek’s steal.
Johnny Most was again on the call when Larry Bird ripped the hearts out of Detroit Pistons’ fans.
COUld you believe how far ahead of his time this player was?
If one squints their eyes and really focuses, I’m convinced one can see Boston Celtics’ great Bob Cousy playing in today’s NBA.
Bob Cousy dribbles around a pair of Fort Wayne Pistons’ defenders during Boston’s game in 1955. (Photo by Hy Peskin/Sports Illustrated).
Cousy is the primary subject of this week’s Fan Teaser image captured by legendary photographer Hy Peskin in this illuminating shot from the Boston Garden in November 1955. The shot, from the November 19, 1955 game against the Fort Wayne Pistons in the Boston Garden, showcases Cousy as he often was: Running defenders into each other (note the two Pistons colliding with one another).
In addition to being a six-time NBA Champion and the league’s MVP in 1957, Cousy was also an NBA All-Star each of his first 13 seasons. This despite the Celtics being unwilling to draft the Holy Cross College product. In fact, he was drafted in 1950 by the Tri-City Battlehawks with the fourth pick. After refusing to report to what would later become the Quad Cities, Cousy was claimed by the Chicago Stags who promptly folded. After the franchise folded he was dispersed to the Celtics who, famously, were hoping to not get him in favor of either Max Zaslofsky or Andy Phillip.
A Bob Cousy highlight package from his 13-season Boston Celtics’ career.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.
