The Dick Raphael Interview
By:
Michael D. McClellan | Wednesday, March 30th 2005
On April 9th, 1978, John Havlicek played his last game
as a Boston Celtic. The team honored him on October
13th of the following season, raising his “Number 17” to
the rafters. Please tell me about Mr. Havlicek, and
also about these two memorable dates in team history.
DICK RAPHAEL
I was pretty close to John Havlicek. He’s quite a
gentleman, and someone who carries himself with a great
deal of class. I remember his last game – it was an
emotional scene from the start, with the crowd showing
it’s appreciation for everything he’d done as a Boston
Celtic. He acknowledged the cheers by bowing to all
four sections of the Garden. It was a special moment.
As a player, John was constant motion. He never seemed
to tire, and he never seemed to break a sweat. He was a
phenomenal athlete who had an incredible lung capacity.
He also had a very low resting heart rate. Those were
the things that allowed him to outrun his opponent.
He’d wear them down with constant movement, and by the
end of the night he was as fresh as he was in the first
quarter.
Your work has appeared on the cover of Sports
Illustrated, and has been featured in every major sports
publication. If you had to select one photograph from
the 1960s and 1970s that bests captures the essence of
the Boston Celtics during those periods, which would
they be?
DICK RAPHAEL
From the ‘60s it would have to be the shot of Russell
and Chamberlain, the one where Russell is deflecting
Wilt’s shot. I wouldn’t really have one from the ‘70s.
Larry Bird’s arrival in Boston transformed an
organization and helped revitalize the entire league.
What was it like to photograph Larry, and what is your
favorite Larry Bird Moment?
DICK RAPHAEL
I remember the day they drafted him, and to me that was
one of the things that has always stood out. And when
he came to Boston I was one of the first guys to meet
him – the press had made him out to be a country
bumpkin, but anyone who has met Larry Bird knows that
isn’t the case. He may not have been city savvy. He
may have come from a small town in Indiana. But Larry
Bird was a smart, wonderful guy who was a pleasure to be
around. Very down-to-earth. He’s still the same; even
today we kid each other and have great conversations.
Robert Parish and Kevin McHale arrived a year later,
creating the Big Three and catapulting the Celtics to
the 1981 NBA championship. Do you have any memories of
that Eastern Conference Finals series against the
Philadelphia 76ers.
DICK RAPHAEL
I vaguely remember that series – the Celtics were down
3-1 and came back to win. Every game was close. It was
a bitter rivalry, but it was a very well-played series –
I think the teams respected each other, which wasn’t the
case with the Celtics-Pistons battles a few years later.
From the standpoint of media attention and public
interest, the 1984 NBA Finals has no rivals. L.A.
versus Boston, Magic versus Bird. What was it like
covering that classic series?
DICK RAPHAEL
Another intense series. Gerald Henderson stealing the
ball and possibly the series. The Celtics getting blown
out of Game 3 in Los Angeles. Bird challenging his
teammates in the newspapers, which was very
out-of-character for him. McHale pushing Rambis the
next game. Bird jawing with Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]. It
was a great, great series.
Please take me back to that classic shootout between
Bird and Dominique Wilkens during the 1988 NBA Playoffs.
DICK RAPHAEL
Both guys were so focused on trying to outdo the other.
I have a great picture of Bird shooting over Wilkins –
it’s one of the bestsellers on my web site.
Lenny Bias and Reggie Lewis – please share your thoughts
on these two tragedies, and the impact each had on the
Boston Celtics organization.
DICK RAPHAEL
I was in complete shock when I heard the news for Len’s
death. I had an office that attached to the Boston
Garden, and the Celtics’ offices were above. [Celtic
Media Services VP] Jeff Twiss rang a bell – he was the
first person to tell me what had happened. I couldn’t
believe it – didn’t want to believe it.
Reggie was a super guy, as nice as anyone you’d ever
meet. I was at the Comedy Connection watching Andrew
Dice Clay when I found out that Reggie had passed away.
Jeff called about halfway through the show. I was
stunned. It was a great loss for everyone involved –
Reggie’s family, the Boston Celtics, the community.
Photography has changed dramatically since you first
started, with digital photography being perhaps the
biggest change. Do you shoot digitally, and if so, how
has it made a difference in the way you approach a shot?
DICK RAPHAEL
No, not really – I don’t have a digital camera, because
I really haven’t shot that much since I retired. I
still go to the Super Bowl, but that’s the only major
shoot that I do now.
Of the thousands of Celtics-related photographs you
taken over the years, do you have one in particular that
could be considered the quintessential Dick Raphael
photograph?
DICK RAPHAEL
The photo of Russell and Wilt.
Final Question: You’ve achieved great success in your
life. You are universally respected and admired by many
people, both inside and outside of the NBA. If you
could offer one piece of advice on life to others, what
would that be?
DICK RAPHAEL
Be honest with people. Always tell the truth.
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