Fans get in on the Auerbach tributes, too

It was Red’s favorite cheer.

Three simple words. A crowd chanting in unison. “Let’s go Celtics.”

Celtics captain Paul Pierce ended a pregame ceremony at the Garden last night by encouraging those in attendance to cheer like Red Auerbach would have wanted them to. The gesture was one of many made by the fans, players, celebrities, and former Celtics greats in honor of the Celtics patriarch.

Word’s can’t describe what it means to be here for this,” said Mark Bloom of East Providence, RI.

Bloom wore a white T-shirt with a large cartoon figure of Auerbach out of respect for him. Bloom’s goatee was dyed green, and he had temporary Celtics tattoo on one side of his clean-shaven head.

Another fan, Eddie Gomes, wore a yellowing Celtics jacket with Bill Walton’s signature scribbled across the top of the back. He’s been coming to the games for more than 20 years, but this one was special.

“I knew it was a night I had to be at,” he said.

Eight-year-old Nicole Pesce, who had her face painted Celtic-green, was attending her first Celtics game with her father, Chris.

“We’re excited to take her,” said Chris Pesce, who is from Revere. “But it’s sad to see him [Auerbach] go.”

The Celtics honored Auerbach with a video tribute before game. To the tune of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, the crowd watched footage on the Garden’s new high-definition screens of Auerbach leading his team in defensive drills in practice and storming the sidelines at the old Garden. The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums played “Amazing Grace” to some tear-filled faces.

The Celtics also dedicated Seat 1 in Row 7 of Loge section 12 to Auerbach last night. Red’s former seat remained empty, decorated with green carnations and a single ‘Excalibur’ cigar with a green label and a black caricature of Auerbach lighting one up after a victory.

Celtics fan Chris Sawyer remembered watching the ’86 Celtics on a little black and white RCA television. Being in attendance when the Celtics honored Auerbach was special, he said.

“I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,” said Sawyer. “It’s something I can tell my kids and my grandkids about.”

The night was emotional for many fans, who were encouraged to sign remembrance books behind sections 19 and 309 of the Garden.

“I think it’s pretty tough,” said Walter Kelly, a Celtics fan since 1978. “He [Auerbach] created this.”

At halftime, the Tommy Heinsohn, JoJo White, and M.L. Carr held a roundtable discussion on the life of Red Auerbach.

“He’d do whatever it takes to win without breaking the rules,” White said during the ceremony. “He bent the hell out of them, but without breaking them. I’m going miss him.”

The Celtics also recognized Auerbach’s work toward promoting diversity by presenting him with the “Heroes Among Us award,” given out at each Celtics home game. The award was accepted by Auerbach’s daughter, Nancy.

Not all fans in attendance were old enough to remember much, if anything, about Auerbach. But that didn’t prevent them from appreciating the moment.

“I think any NBA fan knows how important he was,” said Nelson Eng, who was too young to have witnessed any games coached by Auerbach. “It started with him.”