Symphony Hall Boston

No end to Thomas “Satch” Sanders' edge

The 72-year-old former Celtics [ team stats ] forward, who will be inducted into the Hall tonight as a contributor to the game because of his pivotal role in development of the NBA’s long list of player programs, seemed to be having multiple flashbacks.

“At this time in my life, I know a heck of a lot of these people, and it makes me nervous,” he said.

A good number of them, in fact, are Celtics.

Former teammate Tom Heinsohn will introduce Sanders tonight during an ornate, heavily-produced ceremony in Springfield’s Symphony Hall, and in at least one way both men think alike.

They are convinced that their Celtics — the team that at one stage won eight straight NBA titles, a feat unmatched in North American professional sports — could still compete with today’s glittery teams.

That would include the LeBron Heat and Kobe Lakers — even, dare you say, the 2008 Celtics.

Heinsohn’s opinions, with his televised forum, are well known.

Sanders may be quieter, but no less resolute. His conviction springs from the blood-thirsty nature of the old Celtics. His best example doesn’t even involve the old Celtics, but instead the Lakers and their loss to New York in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals — the game marked by Willis Reed’s return to action despite a torn thigh muscle.

“When a player got hurt on the opposition, if he had the nerve to come back out onto the court, we were going right at him for as many plays as possible to see if he was going to be able to run on that ankle, or that knee, or whatever,” said Sanders. “We always took advantage of the weakness on another team. That’s not done as much now.

“Look at Wilt Chamberlain and Willis Reed,” he said. “When Willis Reed came back into the game he could hardly walk in that series. What you saw was that Wilt had a lot of respect for Willis, and you saw Wilt walking beside him showing concern during the game.

“With the Celtics, that never would have occurred. (Bill) Russell would have taken off at every opportunity for the long pass. He would have taken advantage of a player, in this case Willis, who was hurt. Red (Auerbach) pushed that very hard. And those things gave you points. We’re talking about having advantages on other teams that wouldn’t have had that approach.

Adam's Hospitality & Tourism Industry Blog: Boston Symphony ...

Tickets go on sale Monday for the 2011-2012 season of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall. The season opens on September 30th with world famous violinist Anne-Sophie Muter playing the dual role of conductor/soloist in Mozart's 3rd and 5th violin concertos. The conductor/soloist role was a common practice in the 18th century when Mozart's pieces were first performed. The season will feature many of world's most renown conductors and soloists including Yo Yo Ma, Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit and Emmanuel Ax. The season will conclude with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in May. Preconcert talks will be discontinued on Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday evenings but the popular BSO 101, a free adult education series, will be expanded to included 11 Tuesday and Wednesday sessions. All of the six Friday evening performances will part of the BSO's Underscore Fridays series with 7pm start times and post concert socializing with the artists.

Symphony Hall, Boston

Symphony Hall, Boston

Symphony Hall, Boston, with a list of works performed by the Boston Symphony Orchesta compiled by members of the staff of Symphony Hall

Magazine of art

Addresses and presidential messages of Theodore Roosevelt, 1902-1904