"Let's Clean This Thing Up. Let's Not Hurt The Game": Red Auerbach's Anti-Flopping Video
It was the mid '70s, and Red Auerbach wanted to teach the basketball world to stop flopping. To get his message across, he called in a dream team of Elvin Hayes, Clem Haskins, Wes Unseld, Paul Silas, Mike Riordan, and referee Mendy Rudolph, who was named head of officials and inducted into the Hall of Fame despite his crippling gambling problem. (The NBA's always been hilarious.)
Flopping's not a new scourge, though with today's quality and frequency of instant replays (and, yes, maybe special treatment for star players) it may seem that way. Auerbach is incensed that "coaches today in high school, college and pro, are teaching the players how to fall!"
Auerbach's solution? Stop flopping, you jackasses. You're embarrassing yourself and the game. Refs should refuse to call the charge, and nip it in the bud early on: "Call a blocking foul on this man right here, and he'll stop falling on the floor picking up splinters on his backside." Oh, Red. You may be dead six years, but you've still got the best Eastern Conference Finals analysis we've heard.
Source: One of those YouTube videos that was uploaded years ago and occasionally gets passed around and was apparently featured here a couple of weeks back
Related
Three Trades the NBA Needs to Make Before the Deadline
New York Hockey Trades Add Fuel to NHL Deadline Fire
Wednesday Jan. 28 NBA Best Betting Picks, Predictions
Why Sam Darnold Is the Best Story in Sports Right Now
- College Basketball Picks Today: Nebraska vs. Michigan Headlines Loaded Slate
- Tuesday NHL Betting Picks: Expert Bets for Jan. 27th
- Best NBA Bets Today: Spread Picks and Player Props for Monday’s Games
- NFL Championship Weekend Picks: AFC & NFC Best Bets
- College Basketball Player Prop Bet Picks for Saturday, January 24th
- UFC 324 Preview and Best Bets: Sean O’Malley, and More
- NHL Best Betting Picks Today: Rangers vs. Sharks Bets

