"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
Why Kyler Murray is a Perfect Match For Minnesota Vikings
Five NFL Free Agency Predictions That Can Still Happen
Five College Pro Days That Could Shake Up the 2026 NFL Draft
Mark DeRosa Needs To Take More Accountability for Team USA
Thursday NBA Betting Guide: Key Spreads and Totals to Target
- Players Championship Betting Guide: Top Picks, Props, and Odds
- College Basketball Best Bets Today: Kentucky and Texas SEC Tournament Picks
- MLB ERA Player Prop Future Bets: Four Pitchers Worth Betting the Under
- Why Duke Blue Devils Look Unstoppable Entering the ACC Tournament
- Big 12 Tournament Preview: Arizona, Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State Contend
- College Basketball Bets Today: Gonzaga, Virginia Tech in Key Tournament Matchups
- MLB Batting Average Player Props: Best Over/Under Future Bets for 2026

