Happy Birthday and a Tommy Point to Tommy Heinsohn

Today is Tommy Heinsohn's 80th birthday and for most of those 80 years, Tommy has been a Celtic.  He has been a part of the Celtics organization since 1956.  He has been a player, a coach and now, a broadcaster.   If anyone on this earth can say they bleed green, it is Tommy Heinsohn. 



Tom Heinsohn is a true representative of Boston Celtics' pride. Known for his hard-nosed style of play, yet possessing a superb shooting touch and good body control, Tom Heinsohn was a vital cog in the Boston Celtics' dynasty of the 1950s and 1960s. Chosen as NBA Rookie of the Year in 1957, he helped the Celtics win eight NBA titles during his nine-year tenure, was named to the All-NBA Second Team for four years, and was an All-Star for six. His number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1966.

But that isn't the end of Tommy's time with the Celtics. In 1969, three years after Red Auerbach retired, Tom Heinsohn was offered the post of head coach of the Boston Celtics. In what he called "guerrilla warfare," his teams kept the pressure on opponents at all times, controlling the tempo of the game and playing with great intensity.

. During Heinsohn's eight full seasons as coach, Boston won five Eastern Division titles in a row, took two NBA Championships and compiled a 416-240 record. Heinsohn stepped down as head coach at the start of the 1977-78 season.

But Tommy still wasn't done with the Celtics. In 1981, the now-retired Heinsohn joined Mike Gorman as color commentator in the Celtics' TV broadcasts; they have since become one of the longest-tenured tandems in sports broadcasting history. Tommy was enshrined in the Hall of Fame on May 6, 1986.

Before Walter McCarty was traded, at least once or twice a game, you would hear Tommy shout out "I love Waltah!!!" And since McCarty's departure, he has been heard shouting "I love Perk!" or "I love Delonte! and most recently, "I love Sully!" And you truly believe that he does love every player on this team. I'm sure Tommy was thrilled to have Waltah re-join the Celtics as an assistant coach. 

When the referees make a call against the Celtics, you will hear Tommy yell, "Go home to your mother!!" And if they do make a questionable call against the Celtics, Tommy will always feel that his beloved Green have been robbed. Even if the replay shows differently.  Tommy vs the Refs is a whole topic by itself. 

    The most common quote heard during games is "Give him a Tommy Point!" Tommy Points have even earned an entry in the Urban Dictionary:

An award given to an NBA player, usually a member of the Celtics, by Celtics color commentator Tommy Heinsohn (NBA Rookie of the Year 1956-57 for the Boston Celtics, NBA Hall of Fame Inductee 1986) for a great play that goes up and beyond the call of duty expected of the player. E.g. A steal, a blocked shot or great defensive play, etc. 

Paul Pierce cuts through a few tough defenders to score 2 "That's a Tommy Point!"
Ricky Davis goes baseline to make a shot "Tommy Point for Ricky!"
Delonte West makes a hustle play that ends up saving the game "GIVE 'IM TEN THOUSAND TOMMY POINTS!!!"

 Although I have never heard Tommy give out ten thousand Tommy Points, he does give out several during each game.  At the end of the game, The Tommy Award is given to the player who went above and beyond in hustle and effort in the games.

But there is also more to Tommy Heinsohn than basketball.  Some might be surprised to hear that the Celtics homer they hear on the CSNNE broadcasts is also an accomplished artist.   There is truly more to the man than meets the eye. 

Tommy loves the Celtics. You can hear it in every broadcast and every word he speaks about the team. I am sure the man lives on green koolaid. Like Johnny Most before him, he sees little wrong in this team and is enthusiastic about all that he sees from them on the floor. If you check out the other teams' message boards, there is usually at least one thread about how Tommy is one of the biggest homers going. I know when I get the other teams' feeds on League Pass, I miss Tommy. I miss his enthusiasm and his view of the game through green colored glasses. Since I see the team through those same green colored glasses, Tommy's broadcasts are just what I love to hear.

On this very special day,  we wish Tommy a very, very Happy Birthday and also many more to come.  Celtics Nation  just wouldn't be the same with out him.  

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