Dennis Johnson, RIP

Dennis Johnson, one of the overlooked great players of the 1980s and a vital cog in the Celtics teams of the 1980s died of a heart attack today while coaching the Celts' Development League team. Sportsguy's tribute sums up much of what I feel. Like Simmons, I'll forever remember him taking Bird's pass off of his steal from Isiah and making that famous clinching layup in game 5 of the conference finals in 1987 with Johnny Most's gravelly voice as the backdrop.

Mortality really hits home when sports stars from your teens pass away. Red Aurbach, cigar clenched between his teeth, will probably be the first to meet him with open arms in that great sports Valhalla up above.