Hondo: Celtic Man in Motion

THIS IS ABOUT JOHN (HONDO) HAVLICEK, FORMER CELTIC GREAT. HAVLICEK TELLS US OF HIS EARLY DAYS OF HIGH SCHOOL, OHIO STATE AND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME SPENT ON HIS NBA CAREER. I REALLY ENJOYED READING ABOUT THE CELTIC DYNASTY AND JOHN'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH BILL RUSSELL, RED (AROGANT) AUERBACH, JERRY LUCAS AND MANY MANY MORE. IT IS SHORT AND SWEET BUT IS WELL WORTH READING. FOR ALL BASKETBALL AND ESPECIALLY CELTIC FANS.

Although a young Bob Ryan had his hands full in smoothing out Havlicek's Eastern Ohio dialect, this biography is a hidden gem. It details the poverty not only of Havlicek's upbringing, but also the toughness reguired to make it in the NBA in the 60s. For instance, how many NBA rookies who were first team All-Americans have to go back to their college town to find a summer job in the Parks and Recreation Department to supplement their NBA living? Havlicek did, and that was after the Celtics had won the NBA title. How many NBA stars today find themselves living in a condemned hotel? And what of teams where there was no assistant coaches and no scouting? And playing hurt, really playing hurt like Havlick most famously did with a separated right shoulder against the Knicks in the 73 playoffs? The last title in '76 came with his playing on a foot so sore that he had to soak his foot nightly in a kitchen pan just to be able to walk. And in regard to Havlicek himself, did anyone other than Russell ever win more on the college and pro level? And then the encore in the 70s without Russell when he led two title teams and cemented his legend with a losing effort in the '73 playoffs, which he played with only the use of his left arm. For a boy growing up in Ohio in the 70s, Havlicek was my role model, and this book reveals that wasn't that bad of a choice. Great player, very good book.