After a stunning career at Holy Cross Togo Palazzi was the Celtics first round draft pick in 1954. They already had a very good team and, per Red Auerbach's usual moves, wanted to mix the rookies with the starters gradually. Togo was a little impatient and, almost three months into the season, Togo came to practice one morning only to see Red had put his name on the inactive list. He was furious and, since Red was out of town for the day, he went directly to team owner, Walter Brown.
He told Walter that if Red wasn't going to play him he wanted to be traded to someone who would. Walter asked him to wait for Red to come back but Togo insisted. "Somebody must want me," pleaded Togo. "Well, heck, EVERYBODY wants you," said Walter, where do you want to go? Togo thought for a second and said Syracuse, with Dolph Schayes. (A great player and future hall of famer.) Walter called team owner, Danny Biasone and in an instant the deal was made. When Red came back and found out about this blunder he cried to Togo, "NO, I've got plans for you. I needed a roster spot and, since I knew what YOU could do I needed to find out if Lou Tsiropoulis had recovered from his back operation to play." (More about Red's PLANS for Togo later) Unfortunately it was too late...the trade was already done.
NOTE...Togo got to Syracuse as the 4th period of their game began and they were losing by 12 points. He got right into the game and scored 12 points in 5 minutes. (Syracuse won the game)
I didn't get to meet Togo until 1989. We chatted about the old Celts and I reminded him of what a great fan I was of Holy Cross when he and Tommy Heinsohn were their leading the team to a national title. Eventually I told him about how sad we all were when we heard of the trade. "What happened," I asked. That's when he told me the story I just mentioned. Then I asked the obvious question..."Who did Red need the roster spot for?" Togo hung his head and, in little more than a whisper, he said, Bill Russell. "BILL RUSSELL," I exclaimed. (That had never been made public, as well as the rest of the story. (I've got more insider stuff in future stories...stay tuned.....
No, that's not the end of it. Fast forward to 2007 and the 50th anniversary of the Celtics very first world title. The Celtics had a very classy luncheon with the entire team (including Togo who had been a member of the team) as well as a couple of hundred season ticket holders and some media people. (I was the only media guy who had actually been at the 7th game, double overtime over the St. Louis Hawks.) When it was all over and everyone left except the players (and me) they started to swap stories of those good old days. I asked Togo if he ever told Russ the story. When he did finally tell the story Russell let out with that famous "cackle" of his and then said, "Wait til you hear the rest of it. Back in those days travel and hotel arrangements were made for each player for the entire season. In MY rookie year I WAS TOGO PALAZZI. I kept saying to Red, what the heck IS a TOGO PALAZZI...and now you know the rest of the story.
Oh yes, what were Red's plans for Togo? In 1991 I asked Red and he said,:" I wanted to start a new concept, the 6th man, and I was going to use Togo because of his instant offense. (Frank Ramsey had not yet come back from the Army.) Now you REALLY know the rest of that story...Stay Tuned.....