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.
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