Everyone, in these parts anyway, is now aware of the passing of Red Auerbach.

I’ve never been much of a basketball fan but growing up during the Larry Bird era, the Celtics were a big part of my childhood. To this day, I can still remember the Celtics’ starting five that my dad taught me when I was six (Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, and Kevin McHale).

I vaguely remember the first Celtics game I attended, at The Garden of course. I do, however, vividly remember how clearly you could see the players’ underpants through their white basketball shorts. I was a weird kid.

My only memories of Auerbach are of my dad discussing him and the Celtics. Red Auerbach is such an important part in Boston’s prolific sports history. He will be sorely missed.