Doc's Father Passes Away

by Green17 on Nov 4, 2007 11:58 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Marc Spears of the Globe is reporting that Doc will miss today's game versus the Raptors. Our condolences Doc.

Grady Alexander Rivers, the father of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, died peacefully in Chicago on Sunday, according to Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss. The elder Rivers was 76 years old and arrangements for his funeral are expected to be made soon. Doc Rivers will miss today's game against the Raptors in Toronto and is scheduled to fly from Canada to Chicago this afternoon. Celtics assistant Armond Hill and associate head coach Tom Thibodeau will coach in Rivers' place. Hill has previous head coaching experience at Columbia University. Thibodeau has previous head coaching experience at Salem State.

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Just heard about this on the radio. My thoughts are with Doc and his family today.

by ucn33 on Nov 4, 2007 12:01 PM EST reply actions

Condolences to Doc and his family. It’s always tremendously difficult losing a family member, and my thoughts go out to him today. It’s times like this that it’s probably most difficult to be in the public spotlight. If he needs to take a game or two off, I’m sure the team will accommodate him.

by Roy_Hobbs on Nov 4, 2007 12:03 PM EST reply actions

my thoughts and prayers go out to the Rivers family :’(

by Jeff Clark on Nov 4, 2007 12:05 PM EST reply actions

Wow. that is tough. God bless Doc, and condolences. That is gonna be bad for the celtics for today’s game, I sure hope its not and I dont want to point that out because it is more important for Doc and its a sensitive issue……. But in basketball terms it really could hurt us today.

Again, condolences doc and god bless him and his family.

by celtpride34pp20ra5kg on Nov 4, 2007 12:12 PM EST reply actions

Sorry to hear. My prayers go out to Doc and his family.

by Chowda on Nov 4, 2007 12:13 PM EST reply actions

Our prayers for your family Doc, and our condolences.

by bceltfan on Nov 4, 2007 12:39 PM EST reply actions

My condolences to Doc and his family.

by Green Mountain on Nov 4, 2007 12:45 PM EST reply actions

Sending out my best to all to Mr. Rivers’ family and friends. Take care Doc.

by webmaster on Nov 4, 2007 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Same as above – sad day. My condolences. Hope good memories held ease his pain.

by Master Po on Nov 4, 2007 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Condolences to the Rivers family.

by VinBakersBartender on Nov 4, 2007 1:30 PM EST reply actions

My sympathy goes out to the Rivers family on their loss. Grady Rivers, who worked a a policeman in Chicago, helped guide his son Doc out of a tough Chicago neighborhood to become a high school All American, star player at Marquette University, a long time NBA veteran, national TV commentator and coach.

He must have been very proud of his son Doc, who actually went back to college )after entering the NBA draft as an underclassman) and earned his college degree from Marquette. Despite the coaching criticism I may have had for Doc over the years, I have never questioned the fact that he is an upstanding individual who has never been involved in a negative personal situation or scandal endemic of so many professional athletes. If the mark of a man is how he raises his children, Grady Rivers must have been a fine person.

by TripleOT on Nov 4, 2007 1:42 PM EST reply actions

TripleOT,
Great post. I couldn’t agree more. Doc seems like a good guy who’s accomplished a lot. Must be at least partly a reflection on the man his dad was.

by Cousin It on Nov 4, 2007 3:30 PM EST reply actions

no matter how close or how far away a man is from his dad, when his dad passes, a part-a big part, of the man leaves as well. replace that part wisely doc.in the meantime, tom t will take good care of the team.

by nazzbo on Nov 4, 2007 6:00 PM EST reply actions

My deepest condolence’s to our Coach and his family! 3 years ago at 21 i lost my father and its a difficult time! All my thoughts with are the Rivers family.

Regards, Mo

by Mogreen17 on Nov 4, 2007 6:48 PM EST reply actions

Condolences to Doc and the entire Rivers family.

by scndtony on Nov 4, 2007 7:47 PM EST reply actions

TripleOT, very nice post. I would also add that what Doc’s father gave to him, Doc is giving the same to his own family and his Celtic family. Over the past difficult years Doc has treated his players as if they were his own children. That should also be part of Grady Rivers’ legacy.

by TrueGreen on Nov 5, 2007 9:08 AM EST reply actions