Cousy fired from Celtics broadcasts

Comcast GM prefers two-man booth setup

PROVIDENCE - Bob Cousy will be at TD Banknorth Garden for the Celtics' banner raising Oct. 28, but he will not be involved in the television broadcasts this season for the first time in 34 years after Comcast SportsNet fired him.

"I would have liked to have continued," Cousy said yesterday. "I'm only involved in 10 games a season, so it's not that big a deal. But I would have liked to have been allowed to keep my hand in, especially after 22 years of [Celtics] mediocrity - last year was kind of fun, frankly, and I was looking forward to doing it again. Comcast can choose to do the hiring and firing, but if it's a financial situation, I'm not being overpaid. What they pay me is what they spend monthly for office supplies."

Cousy said he was dissatisfied with how he was informed of the decision.

"I got a call from somebody I hardly knew, not even the head honcho, saying they decided to go to a two-man booth," Cousy said. "I said, 'Thank you, very much,' and hung up. When you're 80 years old, you run out of leverage."

Comcast general manager and vice president Bill Bridgen decided to eliminate Cousy from the broadcast setup of Mike Gorman and Donny Marshall. Tommy Heinsohn's role will also be reduced; he'll join Gary Tanguay in the studio for road games. On-court reporter Greg Dickerson will join Gorman and Marshall.

"This is a unique situation, for a start," Bridgen said. "I like the consistency of a two-man booth, as opposed to going with a three-man booth for nine or 10 games. This is not anti-Bob Cousy or for financial reasons. It's logistics and part of that is I believe Donny is a fantastic new addition.

"Our track record is pretty good with the Celtics. All the games are on high-definition, we had pre- and postgame shows all the way through the playoffs, even on games we didn't broadcast. We added a Celtics magazine show and overall raised the level of coverage."

Bridgen said he discussed the situation with Cousy yesterday, reiterating an offer for him to do personal appearances for Comcast. "[Cousy] is clearly not happy," Bridgen said. "But we want to do right by Bob Cousy. The offer is open next week, next month, next spring."

Cousy, who said he received about $50,000 annually from Comcast, will continue to work for the Celtics on a personal services contract.

"This was the luckiest acquisition in the history of the NBA," Cousy said. "Helen and Missy [the wives of Heinsohn and Cousy] were the only ones listening in, then last year the ratings soared and everyone was happy and everyone made money. It turned around completely. I say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Why step in and cause a disruption."

Cousy jokingly related the firing to the Celtics-76ers rivalry, since Comcast's corporate offices are in Philadelphia.

"Philly couldn't do it to us in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, but now somebody will be happy in Philadelphia," Cousy said. "I'm mentally prepared to step away. The ride into Boston on Friday and Saturday nights is enough to turn you away. Obviously, I have an undying devotion to the Celtics and enjoyed being with Tommy and Mike."

Cousy said he was an unlikely choice as a broadcaster after retiring.

"I talk funny," he said. "But I try to tell it like it is and, hopefully, the content of what I say is what the fans liked. Fans are sophisticated these days and they know when they are being hyped and not being told the truth. It's a child's game, not nuclear science. I said what was in my mind and in my heart."

Celtics president Rich Gotham informed Cousy he would receive a championship ring before the season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cousy said the three-man broadcast team was contrary to an NBA directive but the Celtics made an exception for him.

"That was done under the previous owners," he said. "They said they wanted me to have a presence on the games. I was happy with doing 10 games. The Celtics stepped up on this - [Gotham] called me and said all the right things, that they supported me completely and wanted me to stay with them for life. I appreciated that."

Tony Allen scored 25 points in the Celtics' 96-94 exhibition win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. He went 6 for 7 from the field and 13 for 16 from the line. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce played sparingly.