“What are they going to do with all those goddamned balloons up there? They’ll eat ‘em,” – Red Auerbach, 1969 (pictured center).
Speaking to ABC’s Jack Twyman after Boston’s Game 7 victory over the Lakers in the then-very-fabulous Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Auerbach could not contain his disdain for the Lakers or their celebration plans. The Celtics won the series despite trailing 3-1 and headed into Game 7 at Los Angeles as decided underdogs.
Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke had the arena pre-loaded with balloons ready to celebrate the Lakers’ title. Auerbach noticed the balloons before the game and is said to have been steaming about it. It took the Lakers until 1985 to beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals, with that title coming at the Boston Garden.
