Blog

The man who put UNC-Charlotte on the basketball map is now a successful radio commentator, but to legions of fans he is best known as one of the Boston Celtics’ greatest.  A well-publicized falling out with Red Auerbach long kept the player known as “Cornbread” from the team’s highest honor – having his No. 31 retired to the rafters – but this fall, Cedric Maxwell will finally get the recognition that he so richly deserves.  Remember Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals?  While Larry Bird was named the series MVP, nobody played bigger in Game 7 than Max.  It was Maxwell who jumped to his feet in the pre-game locker room and yelled, “Get on my back tonight boys, this is my game.”

And what a game it was:  Maxwell went right to work on Laker forward James Worthy, scoring 24 points and hitting the boards like a man possessed.  His presence under the basket put the Lakers in early foul trouble and set the stage for another Celtics world championship.