This is just too weird. For some reason, I was thinking about how I don't watch the NBA anymore, and really haven't followed it since the Larry Bird/Magic Johnson era. I was wondering what's going on with Red Auerbach, and I couldn't remember if he was still alive.

So today, I open up the ESPN home page, and there's the story that Red died yesterday.

I have a Red Auerbach story. I was traveling from Boston to New York on the Eastern shuttle in the late 1980's. As I boarded the plane, I noticed Red was waiting to board, smoking a cigar. At that time, smoking was banned on short flights. Red was waiting for the last minute to get on the plane so he could finish his cigar. As he walked off the plane in New York, he held a cigar in his mouth, and the second it was legal he lit the stogie.

During the 1970s, CBS gave a Red a half time feature, Red on Roundball. He would use current and former NBA players to teach to basics of basketball. It was a great series, fun to watch and educational at the same time.

Red led a long and successful life. He's commemorated in championship banners and a Boston statue (anyone can sit on a bench with Red). We all should be so accomplished.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.