With lowered banners and lifted spirits, Boston and the Celtics welcomed Rick Pitino last Thursday at a press conference on the old parquet floor of the new Fleet Center. Actually, "welcomed" is an understatement. Pitino, who agreed to leave his old Kentucky home two days before to become coach and president of the once proud but lately pathetic franchise, was coddled, crowned and canonized.
Cynical sportswriters believed him when Pitino said it wasn't about the money; it was about the challenge and the tradition. Red Auerbach, the legendary coach, said he willingly gave up his title as president because "Rick has...
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