Robert Parish on how to be a champion, Celtics' chances in 2023 and what he misses most

SEABROOK — Earlier this winter, a snowstorm canceled an event at The Brook to celebrate the third anniversary of legalized sports betting in New Hampshire.

There was no snow on Thursday, just a chorus of “Chief” chants.

Robert Parish, who played the majority of his 21-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics, was welcomed by a capacity crowd inside the Seasons Showroom at The Brook, to help celebrate the Granite State’s partnership with DraftKings and New Hampshire Lottery.

“I am very proud that they still remember me,” said Parish, who helped the Celtics win three NBA titles (1981, 1984 and 1986) in his 14 years in Boston. “It was a very warm, gracious reception. It’s a feel-good moment for me. It’s always good to be back in the area.”

Just under $2 billion has been wagered on sports through DraftKings since Gov. Chris Sununu placed the first legal sports bet on Dec. 19, 2019 and roughly $70 million has been returned to the state’s education fund.

“This is about as much fun as you can imagine,” New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre said. “Celebrating our third anniversary and to have a Hall of Famer like Robert Parish here is special. In terms of the Celtics, he’s on the Mount Rushmore in my book.”

"All hail the Chief. It was an honor to host the New England sports legend. Robert gave us all a lot of great memories on the court and (Thursday night) at The Brook, with his insights and great stories, he gave us a few more," said Andre Carrier, The Brook's chief executive officer.

Parish mingled with fans, posing for photos and signing autographs for about 45 minutes before an hour-long question-and-answer period hosted by Mike Mutnansky.

“It’s a great crowd,” McIntyre said. “The Celtics are having a great year. I was telling Robert earlier tonight that me and my buddies, in a station wagon holding a banner, went to see him and his teammates at City Hall Plaza in 1986 when they won. Me and my buddies were there, and we blasted 'We Are the Champions’ the entire ride into Boston. I guarantee everybody my age or older has a story like that.”

Can the Celtics win a record 18th championship this season?

Parish, a big fan of Jaylen Brown, said things are looking good right now for his former team in its quest to win the franchise’s 18th NBA title.

“Obviously, a lot of things have to go right to win a championship,” said Parish, who won his fourth NBA title with the Chicago Bulls in his 21st and final season in 1997. “Hopefully, things will go well for the Celtics and they can get back to the finals. If everything falls right, I see them back in the Eastern Conference finals, and hopefully will advance to the finals. Celtics Nation will have our fingers crossed they can win it this year.”

Parish said it’s a sign of excellence to win a championship in Boston.

"You become part of a very select fraternity because you are a world champion and that’s something nobody can take away from you,,” said Parish, who had his number 00 retired by the Celtics in 1998 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. “For a lot of players that are great, there’s always that but .. but they didn’t win (a title). So, if you win a championship there is no buts or ifs about it. It takes a special talent and discipline to win it. Hopefully, the Celtics will get a taste and a feel of what it’s like to be a world champion.”

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Die-hard Celtics fans make 100-mile drive to see Parish

Rene Trial took his daughter, Danielle, then 3, to an autograph signing with Parish in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1992.

The photo of a young Danielle standing next to a seated Parish was a special family memorabilia piece ever since. When Rene Trial, still living in New Bedford, heard about Parish appearing in Seabrook, he and his daughter, living in Providence, made the trip to Seabrook Thursday to ask Parish to autograph two prints of the prized photo.

“This photo has come full circle, this is amazing,” said Danielle, shortly after Parish signed the two photos. “This has been one of our most popular family photos for a good number of years. We resurrected it off an old family calendar; to have him autograph a photo we once took together 30 years ago is amazing.”

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Seacoast basketball official meets his idol 

TJ Rowe, a basketball official from youth touraments to high school to men’s league games over the past 30 years, grew up watching Parish.

“My most vivid memory I have of Parish from his career was him punching Bill Laimbeer in the mouth,” said Rowe, who grew up in Epping and now lives in Salisbury, Massachusetts. ”His rainbow jump-shot was just a staple. I tried to make it part of my game growing up as a kid, and I never could do it. I just loved the way he played the game. He was tough, and had a physical presence, and that was inspiring to watch.”

Rowe said Parish and teammates Kevin McHale and Larry Bird, the original Big 3, were the reason he watched the Celtics.

“(Parish) was definitely one of the players you tuned in to watch every night,” Rowe said. “He played when basketball was played as a team. It was a very different brand of basketball then what we are watching today. I wish kids today would spend less time watching today’s game and more time watching how the game used to be played.”

Could Parish play in today’s NBA?

Parish played in 1,611 games, an NBA record that still stands (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second at 1,560). Parish averaged 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. He never made a 3-point shot in his career. In today’s NBA, many 7-footers are asked to shoot from long range, including from beyond the arc.

“Seventeen feet and in was my shot,” Parish said. “My game was predicated on the mid-range game and my back to the basket. I was never a 3-pointer shooter. The objective was to put the ball in the hole, and I could do that.”

What does Parish, now 69 and retired for 26 years, miss most about his playing days?

“The checks,” Parish laughed. “I miss the money.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Robert Parish visits Seacoast NH, talks Celtics, what he misses most