HELLO, THERE! THE HERO OF THE NBA IS DEAD

I am not a basketball fan, but reading today´s sober farewells to Red Auerbach makes me think about was really wrong in the USA newspapers.

He was a real hero.

The force behind the NBA.

A basketball legend.

The author of “Basketball for the Player, the Fan and Coach.”

The magic Boston Celtics coach and manager (nine NBA championships in 10 seasons!)

Red Auerbach was the greatest basketball coach/executive who ever lived.

A competition that now is as local in Europe, Asia, Latin America or Australia than in the USA.

Reading the AP obituary (an excellent one, but buried inside of many sports sections) I realized that his departure deserved the front page of our best newspapers.

Well, we were so busy in yesterday's "page one" news-meetings packaging boring news that we forgot about the 98-year NBA hero.

Bill Simmons an ESPN columnist wrote today:

"The Celtics will mourn the soul of their franchise on Wednesday night.

Red's seat in Section 12 will remain empty.

Old players will show up.

Bagpipes will be played.

A tribute video will run on the brand-new Jumbotron that Red would have hated.

People will cheer, people will clap, people will cry.

It's going to be an emotional night."

Yes, what many newspapers do not carry anymore: emotions.

In the pictures: Red Auerbach made his final public appearance on Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., speaking after being honored with the 2006 Lone Sailor Award by the United States Navy, and flowers were placed yesterday at the Red Auerbach statue in Faneuil Hall.