Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie stood, hands clasped, in a navy suit and green tie. Around him, the room reeked of cigar smoke. His voice barely rose over the loud smacking of hands on backs, grown men securing one another in loud embraces or people commenting on the Prince-purple pants Jalen Hurts had decided to wear to the podium (“too much,” joked one coach).
Lurie was talking about success. About another trip back to the Super Bowl. About why he chose to run the franchise the way he did, more reminiscent of a day trader than of a country club lifer, just eager to hang out with his famous friends for as long as humanly possible.
He was talking about Red Auerbach, who won nine of his 16 NBA championships coaching the Celtics from 1950 to '66, before adding to his collection as an executive. Lurie, a Boston kid, learned an important lesson growing up watching the legendary coach. He took in what Auerbach did. He took in public perception. He took in the fact that most of the time the two didn’t align. He took in the fact that Auerbach didn’t seem to care and kept winning, anyway.
