Celtics fans of a certain age will immediately recognize the catchphrase “I love Waltah” as Tommy Heinsohn’s, and just quickly identify the recipient of the longtime Celtics broadcaster’s devotion as Walter McCarty.
Heinsohn, who died Monday at the age of 86, was known to pepper his broadcasts with affection for anyone associated with the Celtics. But mentioning McCarty, a sometimes exciting, mostly middling player who averaged 5.2 points per game during his NBA career, alongside the longtime Celtics color commentator elicits a certain kind of nostalgia.
McCarty was often on the receiving end of Heinsohn’s praise during his time with the Celtics from 1997 to 2004, seasons in which the Celtics mostly were not very good.