Ever Green: The Boston Celtics: A History in the Words of Their Players, Coaches, Fans, and Foes, from 1946 to

From 1959 to 1966 the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association won eight consecutive championships, a record unduplicated in any sport. That story, as well as others in Beantown's record of hoop supremacy, is well told in this fast-moving and readable volume by Boston Globe sportswriter Shaughnessy. He begins and ends with Red Auerbach, who put the organization together and stressed team play, and details the contributions of stars Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek and Larry Bird, emphasizing the players' willingness to put winning ahead of individual statistics. Shaugnessy demolishes the charge that the Celtics are basketball's ``white team,'' pointing out that Boston was the first franchise to field five black players simultaneously and the first to have a black coach. Photos not seen by PW . (Oct).