Doc Rivers Helped Land Smoltz

Doc Rivers became friends with John Smoltz while he was in Atlanta with the Hawks, he helped convince the pitcher to come to the Red Sox:

“I just told him about (manager) Terry (Francona) and the Red Sox organization,” Rivers said. “I told him it’s a no-brainer. I just kept telling him, ‘You’ve had a hell of a career there. You’ve got a chance to win another one right now. You’ve got to seize that moment.’ So I just told him, ‘Since I’m in Boston, why don’t you come here? I don’t want you to go to New York.’

“I just thought it would be great for him. I think Terry does such a great job with veteran pitchers. He’ll give them days off and stuff. … (Smoltz) is a tough, competitive dude. He’ll fit in with that clubhouse. He’ll be perfect.”

Not bad when the basketball coach helps improve the baseball team.