Tommy Heinsohn heard about it on the radio as he drove home sick before last night’s game. Jo Jo White, a Celtics legend whom Heinsohn coached to NBA championships in 1974 and ‘76, passed away at 71 after a long battle with cancer.
The news was traveling quickly before the Celts’ overtime loss to New Orleans, though not as quickly as Jo Jo advanced the ball in the old barn that used to stand next door. Dave Cowens called and immediately went to the dressing room to inform PR man Jeff Twiss. The next thought was Heinsohn, and now I wished I’d let him know before putting it out on Twitter as I walked.