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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Justin Quinn

Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics victory cigar-smoking ritual origin story

Ever wonder where the famous ritual of Red Auerbach smoking a cigar at the end of a game came from?

The iconic Boston Celtics team president and coach actually shared the origin story of the Celtics’ “Gino Time” moment prototype, when Auerbach would spark a stogie to demonstrate to foes and fans alike that he believed the game was finally out of reach for the Celtics’ opponents. Always gravitating to the demonstrative, Red decided to turn a negative situation with the league office into an opportunity for showmanship, bending what had initially irritated him into a ploy to enrage opposing teams.

Watch the video embedded below dug up by our friends over at CLNS Media to hear the story from the man himself — Auerbach was leader in the league like no other.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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