The ‘Big O’ sizes up the Celtics

There were two couples holding their race programs in the garage area before Sunday’s Sylvania 300 Nextel Cup race at New Hampshire International Speedway. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite Cup driver and get an autograph.

A stylish, 6-foot-5 African-American man wearing a suit walked by them.

One of the women, recognizing that this man might be some sort of celebrity, turned to her husband and asked him who that was.

A stranger told her it was NBA Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson, who has been affectionately known as the Big O.

They had just seen a man who has been considered by many to be the greatest all-around player of all time.

He averaged a triple-double (30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game) in just his second year in the league (1961-62) and concluded his career averaging 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game.

He hit 83.8 percent of his free throws.

He was a 12-time All-Star who scored 26,710 points for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks.

“I just came up for the day to see the race. It’s interesting to see the cars and the drivers and what they go through. This is a mile track and it’s kind of flat so they’ll be flying around this thing today. Forty-three cars. Wow, look out,” said the 68-year-old Robertson, who looks as if he could still take the ball to the hoop.

He also noted that there were two other major sporting events going on in New England this past weekend: the Red Sox-Yankees series and the New England Patriots’ Sunday night game (38-14 win) against San Diego.

The topic turned to the Boston Celtics and the dramatic off-season that saw the team trade seven players and three draft picks to land NBA All-Stars Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Ray Allen from Seattle.

They will join Paul Pierce, another perennial All-Star.

“The problem with the Celtics right now is they haven’t played yet,” said Robertson. “Everything is potential right now. It looks like they’re going to do all right. But they’ve got to go get a good center and defensive rebounder who can play.

“And they need a guard, a guard outside who understands what basketball is all about and how to run a team,” added Robertson.

The Celtics also need depth, according to Robertson.

“You’ve got to have a couple of guys off your bench. They aren’t going to win unless they do that. You can have the greatest team in the world but unless you’ve got a bench, it’s hard to win. Things happen. Guys get hurt. Guys get into foul trouble. They can’t do this or that,” said Robertson.

The Celtics won their 16th and last NBA championship in 1986 and Robertson said it is important for management to be “diligent” in finding players who fit into their system like the late Red Auerbach did.

Auerbach was a coach, general manager and president of the Celtics.

“Red did it and they’ve got to do it again if they want to win,” said Robertson, who owns a chemical company and facilities management company in Cincinnati.

He acknowledged that it is “taking them a long time” to build another championship-caliber team.

Robertson played his college basketball at the University of Cincinnati and he said his roommate during his freshman year was from Maine.

“His name was Al Shiro. He was a real nice man,” said Robertson.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.