DAN SHAUGHNESSY

Colorless coach has touch of Red in him

By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist | November 5, 2006

FOXBOROUGH -- It was just over a week ago that we learned the sad news of Red Auerbach's passing. The ensuing eight-day Red-fest produced some great storytelling and a lot of smiles.

Clearly, there never will be another Red. No one can come close. But in terms of success, strategy, and outsmarting your opponents, the closest thing we have to Red is . . . (gulp) Bill Belichick.

That's right, boys and girls. Belichick is our greatest winner since Red, and someday his hoodie could hang next to Red's checkered sport coat in the New England Sports Museum Hall of Ugly Garb.

The high-flying Indianapolis Colts are in town for our region's latest game-of-the-century and Boston fans go into the night believing that Belichick and Tom Brady will combine to defeat the otherworldly Peyton Manning in the same fashion that Red and Bill Russell always beat Wilt Chamberlain.

It's nice of Paul Pierce and teammates to announce they are hustling on the hardwood in honor of Red this year, but suppose the Patriots -- rather than the Celtics -- dedicate their season to Red Auerbach? Maybe they could stitch those black "Red" shamrocks onto their jerseys. We all know today's Pats are the closest thing we've seen to the old Celtics. Just as Coach Bill (if he only could add some personality) might be as close as we'll ever get to another Red.

It was never about individual stats with Red. It was about outsmarting the other guy and taking away what he does best. And that is where Belichick is like Red. Auerbach won nine championships as coach of the Celtics. Belichick has won three thus far. It's a wide gap, but Belichick already ranks second to Red. No other Boston/New England coach has won more than two championships.

With Red on our minds, and the Colts in town, what better time to cite a few of the similarities between Auerbach and Belichick?

Both have Slavic bloodlines. Red's parents were from Minsk, Belichick's paternal grandparents were Croatian.

Both were solid amateur athletes -- Red in basketball, Belichick in lacrosse -- but neither played professional sports.

Both had allegiance to the Navy. Red was a third-class petty officer during World War II. Three days before his death, he received the US Navy's Lone Sailor Award in Washington. Belichick grew up in Annapolis and learned his first football at the Naval Academy, where his dad was an assistant coach for 33 years.

Both failed to win championships in their first head coaching jobs -- Red with the Washington Capitols, Belichick with the Cleveland Browns. Both won their first championship against a team from St. Louis.

Both could be bloodless when getting rid of players who helped win championships. Belichick certainly takes the cake in this department, but Red sent Gerald Henderson packing after Henderson was a starting guard for the 1984 champs. Cedric Maxwell, onetime MVP of the Finals, was dumped without fanfare when Red thought he was making too much money and didn't come back from surgery quickly. Belichick needs no résumé padding on this one. The list is endless. Bloodless Bill lets 'em go without so much as a "thank you." Just ask Adam Vinatieri.

Both used bad playing surfaces to their advantage. Red loved the dead spots in the parquet floor the same way Bill loves the shoddy sod at Gillette. Too bad the NFL made the Pats replace the sandpit between the hash marks at Gillette for tonight's mega-game. Red never allowed them to fix the dead spots.

Both acquired players considered too old or washed up, then put them in position to succeed again. Red did it with Willie Naulls, Bailey Howell, and Don Nelson. Belichick has had good luck with Rodney Harrison and Junior Seau, among others.

Both were the subject of a best-selling book by a big-time author. Red was the star of John Feinstein's "Let Me Tell You a Story." Belichick was the central figure of David Halberstam's "The Education of a Coach."

Both received honorary doctorates. Belichick got one from Wesleyan in 2005. Red was awarded seven. It's like championship banners. Belichick has a lot of catching up to do.

Both were/are incapable of small talk, reluctant to trust new people in their lives.

Both stumbled into a Hall of Fame player. Every NBA coach wanted Bob Cousy -- except Red. Cooz came to the Celts only when his name was drawn out of a hat after his original team folded. Belichick liked Tom Brady, but not enough to pick him ahead of Adrian Klemm, J.R. Redmond, Greg Robinson-Randall, Dave Stachelski, Jeff Marriott, and Antwan Harris in the 2000 draft.

Both gave professional birth to a raft of future coaches. Red spawned several generations of NBA masterminds, including Bill Sharman, Don Nelson, Paul Westphal, and Larry Bird. Bill tutored current NFL coaches Nick Saban, Romeo Crennel, and Eric Mangini. In NCAA annals, Red was a godfather to Georgetown's John Thompson, while Belichick enjoyed success with Charlie Weis, who went on to become a deity in South Bend, Ind.

Both loved the late Will McDonough, but each had a nemesis on the Globe sports staff. Red and the Globe's Clif Keane absolutely hated one another. Belichick is occasionally tweaked by our man Ron Borges.

Red has his own statue. Bill is a statue when he talks to the media after games.

Both got players to buy into the concept of team above self, and earned reputations as master game strategists with an uncanny ability to consistently outprepare the opposition. This is why Patriots fans expect a victory tonight, even thought the Colts are 7-0. It was the same when Red prowled the sideline. You expected the Celtics to win, because of him.

Here are some coaching suggestions from Red's first book, written in 1952:

"It is wise to keep switching positions during practice so that all the players can appreciate the other fellow's job.

"It is not advisable to announce your starting lineup until just before the game. When you are away from home it might be wise to see your opponents' lineup before giving your own.

"Keep friends and visitors off the bench. They will distract the players and interfere with your coaching procedure. The same applies in the dressing room before the game and during halftime.

"Faking injuries is used for many reasons such as stalling for time and giving the impression that a player will not be at his best.

"No explanation should ever be given to any player when he is coming to the bench as to why he was taken out of the ballgame.

"The coach should run his team and not be influenced by spectators to make certain substitutions regardless of the score."

Sound like any coach you know?

Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. His e-mail address is dshaughnessy@globe.com.

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