The Dark Ages: Paul Gaston

DavidTai

DavidTai

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Dec 18, 2003
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Herndon, VA
Was looking up the Celtics' previous ownership because I remember a lot of 'Thanksdad' Gaston comments being made, but never really -appreciated- just how badly that ownership screwed up things.

https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/sports/2002/11/07/gaston-s-departure-worth-celebration/50958810007/

I knew it was a dark period, but never understood just how badly he'd torched the relationship with Larry Bird. And I'm betting this was just the tip of the iceberg... for those who remember this period, just how much worse was it actually?

It seems like the new ownership turned things around by hiring Danny Ainge, and trying to re-build back the Celtics allure. Too late to do anything with Bird, apparently.
 
jacklamabe65

jacklamabe65

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Jul 21, 2001
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East of the sun; west of the moon
The franchise has had the best - Walter Brown and the current ownership - and the absolute worst - John Y. Brown and Gaston. I laugh at the main board when people complain about the current Red Sox ownership, which has secured four World Series champions. Do you want the team to be owned by Buddy LeRoux, Haywood Sullivan, and Jean Yawkey? If Wyc and Pags had owed the Celtics a generation ago, they wouldn't have had to hire Danny Ainge. Larry Bird would already have been either the coach or GM or both.
 
Ale Xander

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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jacklamabe65 said:
The franchise has had the best - Walter Brown and the current ownership - and the absolute worst - John Y. Brown and Gaston. I laugh at the main board when people complain about the current Red Sox ownership, which has secured four World Series champions. Do you want the team to be owned by Buddy LeRoux, Haywood Sullivan, and Jean Yawkey? If Wyc and Pags had owed the Celtics a generation ago, they wouldn't have had to hire Danny Ainge. Larry Bird would already have been either the coach or GM or both.
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Point of clarification, the Yawkey trust via Harrington brought aboard Manny, Pedro, Tek, Lowe, Damon (barely in time iirc) Wakefield and others that enabled 2004

Yeah Gaston was horrible
 
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The Social Chair

The Social Chair

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Feb 17, 2010
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This dope, who isn't noteworthy enough to have a wikipedia, cost himself billions by selling 10 years too early.

Jonathan Kraft gives me some Gaston vibes.
 
TripleOT

TripleOT

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Humphrey said:
Celts owners from 65 to 83 were shaky financially, shaky humans; or in several cases, both.

https://www.retroseasons.com/teams/boston-celtics/history/owners/

Somehow, they won 7 titles in that span.
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John Y Brown had an interesting history as a sports team owner. After accepting $3 million to fold the ABA Kentucky Colonels, while the owners of the St Louis team struck a deal to fold their team in the merger that netted them around $800 million over four decades. He also sold his interest in the Celts right before the Bird era.
 
Humphrey

Humphrey

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TripleOT said:
John Y Brown had an interesting history as a sports team owner. After accepting $3 million to fold the ABA Kentucky Colonels, while the owners of the St Louis team struck a deal to fold their team in the merger that netted them around $800 million over four decades. He also sold his interest in the Celts right before the Bird era.
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Not to mention the franchise he put on the floor his first year was technically the Buffalo Braves and the "real" Celtics resided in San Diego and now LA.

https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/hughes/1164180.html
 
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