On Monday, Boston Celtics legend Tom "Satch" Sanders was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“He finally made it, and I’m so pleased because he epitomized what those Celtic teams were all about. Very few people have given to the game what Satch has given his entire life in other ways than just on the floor," said Tommy Heinsohn, one of Sanders' former Celtics teammates.
During his 13 NBA seasons (1960-1073), Sanders played exclusively for the Celtics. At 6'6" and 210 lbs, Sanders was a dominant forward and a vital part of the Celtics defense during their early championship years.
“That’s awesome,” said current Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. “He should have been in 100 years ago... Every time you talk to Tommy or Bill [Russell] or K.C. [Jones], it’s rare that the conversation ends without them throwing his name into it about all the things he did for their team. With the titles they’ve won, he should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago.”
Sanders was best known for his defensive skills. And Rivers thinks it's a shame that Sanders was not inducted a long time ago just because he didn't score as much as his teammates.
“I just think it’s a shame — and I’ve said it for years — that us coaches ask guys to be role players, they accept the role, they excel at a Hall of Fame level at the role, but because they didn’t score 25 points a night, then they never get nominated,” said Rivers. “I just think it’s a shame. It’s a team game, and I think that’s the one thing we miss in the Hall of Fame. I’d like to see more guys like that.”
Sanders was joined by such other basketball greats as Dennis Rodman, Artis Gilmore, and Chris Mullin in this year's Hall of Fame class.
(Sources: bostonherald.com)
Are you a Boston Celtics fan? Do you have a strong appreciation for the historic importance of the Boston Celtics franchise and for all the great players that the franchise has produced? If so, then Hollywood Collectibles invites you to celebrate your appreciation for this classic NBA franchise with authentic Boston Celtics memorabilia. We offer everything from Celtics signed photos and signed jerseys to autographed basketballs and collectible basketball cards. With over 25 years of experience in the sports memorabilia industry, Hollywood Collectibles is your one-stop shop for all basketabll collectibles.
Released On: 6/22/2011
Views: 8311
Released On: 6/22/2011
Views: 8173
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington says that he will skip the 2011 NFL season so that he can recover from injuries. And since he will have no playing obligations, Pennington has signed up to serve as an analyst for Fox Sports.
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 7633
Rafael Nadal, the defending champion of Wimbledon, won the first match of this year's Wimbledon on Monday by defeating American player Michael Russell 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 4792
Released On: 6/21/2011
Views: 5910
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5332
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6274
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5753
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5572
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 5950
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6576
Released On: 6/16/2011
Views: 6039
Released On: 6/15/2011
Views: 6638
Released On: 6/15/2011
Views: 6192