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You probably have heard this story before. A man born in New York, takes up basketball as a teenager, goes to college where he wins an NCAA Championship, turns around his new NBA team from awful to awesome, retires after grabbing 6 rings, and comes back when he is old enough to be the father of some of his teammates. You may be thinking of MJ, but a generation before Mike was born, Bob Cousy was making history.
Bob Cousy, born to French immigrants in NYC, learned basketball from the streets in New York. Though a Catholic Caucasian, Cousy spent most of his time on the playground playing with African Americans, Jews, and other ethnic minorities learning a more liberal form of basketball than the slow paced, chess-like play that basketball was in the 1940s.
Playing for Holy Cross, many were not fond of his street-ball like play with behind-the-back dribbles, and also by no-look, behind-the-back, and half-court passes. Despite his “risky” playing style, he helped lead the Crusaders to an NCAA title as a Freshman.
In the his first season in the NBA he helped turn around a 22-46 Celtics to a playoff team. His streetball-like moves earned him the nickname the “Houdini of the Hardwood” but in his first six seasons he was not able to get his team through the playoffs. From 1956-1963, Cousy, along with other Celtics Hall-of-Famers, brought Boston 6 NBA Championships and like someone else we know retired after his sixth ring. Cousy later coached both college and pro ball, but returned to the NBA at the tender age of 41 for the Cincinnati Royals.
PF Flyers is re-releasing the All-American which was the shoe Bob Cousy wore throughout the Boston “dynasty days”. Though not officially a signature shoe, the shoe was long referred to as “the ones Cousy wore” while he bagged 6 rings. These sneakers will release next month in 4 colors including a solid Celtics green.
Bob Cousy PF Flyers All-American Line-up
Bob Cousy’s “French Pastry” No-Look Pass
Bob Cousy PF Flyers All-American
Bob Cousy PF Flyers All-American
