Evening star., 1954-12-19
AIos, Poor Auerboeh
AIus, Poor Auerbueh
Celtic Cooch's Own SoIIoquies
Help Him Get Through Game
By Jimmy Common


NEW YORK, Dec. 18.-The
association between the basket
ball referee and the coach in the
NBA has become as formal as
ball at the court of ST. James.
The coach may not address the
officials except during the times
out and then he must restrict his
observations to polite discus
sion of the rules. The referees
ancestry may not be examined,
his character dissected, or the
majestic performance Of his
chores evaluated.
The rule has caused Red
Auerbach, coach of the Boston
Celtics and ex-coach of the old
Washington Caps, to act with a
sort of fraudulent serenity, but
his control may not be compared
to Grover Cleveland Alexander's
up to now. While his team beat
Minneapolis, 115-108, at the
Garden the other night, ! made.
notes on Auerbach's murmurous
soliloquies as he crouched on the
bench much in the manner of a
sprinter awaiting the gun.
The dialogue is incomplete
because Auerbach sometimes
muffled his remarks by putting
his hand over his mouth as
though he were about to play
one-handed solo on a har-
monica. Occasionally, he seemed
to be talking to his shoes, be-
cause his head was hung in an
attitude of bogus reverence.
Yells Once in Awhile.
When his team was behind,
the coach slumped over with his
hands on his thighs. He held
tightly rolled program in his
left hand but never consulted it.
Now and then he would yell,
when ball rolled loose or when
one of his players appeared
negligent.
An old opponent, Sid Borgia,
a bald-headed man who has q
meek appearance, was one of
the officials. It was obvious
Auerbach regarded him with the
silence of contempt. He fol-
lowed Borgia's skipping runs up
and down the court with a
glowering appraisal, like q man
who anticipates being stuck up
trying to identify the buglar
he is sure will rob him. Borgia's
partner, Mendy Rudolph, was
ignored most of the time, but,
just to prove heN is not a snob,
Auerbach gave him a few
glances which were not based
on admiration.
| When the Ceitics made
point, Auerbach stroked his up
per lip with two fingers of his
right hand in an elegant gesture.
pit was similar to a graceful man
wiping off the foam of the first
beer on hot day. AS he watched
Auerbach had the elated look of
a guy who is hearing music that
enthralls him but figures if he
listens carefully enough he will
catch one of the musicians
hitting a clinker. Meanwhile, he
pestered the scorer endlessly
about the number of fouls COM
mitted by both clubs.
Calculated Serenity.
It was a demonstration of CAL
culated serenity because it wasn't
until the second quarter that he
| spoke to Borgia. Borgia, coming
down the edge Of the court close
to the bench, ran by Auerbach.
The coach spoke furtively.
/ Watch the walking" he NUT
tered, watch the walking. Sid"
The referee ignored him.
| Once when Bill Sharman reck-
lessly threw the ball away, Auer-
bach danced discreet jig, the
leather heels making angry
sounds. In the third quarter he
again offered Borgia counsel.
Call those fouls" he yelled
and this time didn't try to con-
ceal his intent. Call those
fouls"
Shut up." the referee snarled.
/ Auerbach got up and sauntered
behind the bench, turning his
back on the game. It was q
struggle. but he regained his