The Glenn McDonald Interview
By:
Michael D. McClellan
|
Monday, March 20th,
2006
After playing basketball your whole life, and dreaming of winning a
championship, what was it like to finally win it all?
When
we came back from Phoenix we were all so excited, but, for me, the
appreciation factor didn’t really set in until I came back from playing
overseas. Because after I came back from the Philippines I started seeing
clips of The Greatest Game Ever Played, and I realized that I played a
significant part in that piece of history. And then I realized that I’d
accomplished something that a whole lot of other people strive for but never
obtain. Although I was in the NBA only two years, I was fortunate enough to
win a championship ring in one of them. So it wasn’t until later in my life
that I was able to understand the importance of that whole situation. If I
want to wear my ring, then I get it out and wear it and know that I was a
part of something special. It’s a tremendous feeling. I work as Director
of Intramurals at Long Beach, and kids will see clips of the game on ESPN
Classic. They’ll come up to me and say, ‘Mr. McDonald, I saw this game last
night – it was between the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns – and I
didn’t know that you played for the Celtics! You have a championship
ring!’ And then you realize that a lot of people would give anything to
experience that moment. It makes me cherish that moment even more.
What do you remember most about the fabled Boston Garden?
The
dead spots in the floor [laughs]. We would know where the dead spots were,
and we would force dribblers to those spots. We could get steal
opportunities that way, because the ball wouldn’t come up as high as it
normally did. The Celtic veterans would know not to go to those areas –
they’d played in the Garden for so many years, and they knew that floor like
it was a second home.
The other thing was looking up at all of those championship banners and retired jerseys. You can’t beat that. And then you realize that you’re a part of that same program, so you understand that it’s a true honor to be a Boston Celtic.
Your time in Boston was brief, but we have a saying: "Once a Celtic, always
a Celtic." What was it like for you to play for this proud franchise?
I
was blessed to be able to play for a franchise like the Celtics. You have
the Lakers, and the 76ers, and those are proud franchises, but I was blessed
to be a Celtic because of the way that they treat you as a person. I was a
role player who was with the team for two years only, and to this day I get
literature or phone calls if there is something going on. They always make
a point to ask if I’d like to come back and be involved. Those things, to
me, are really important. That tells me that the Celtics truly believe that
you are a part of the family.
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?
Whatever
dream you have, go for it. Be sincere with yourself. Treat people the way
you want people to treat you. You can accomplish whatever you set out to do
in life if you’re sincere about it, and you put forth the effort.
