At 80, Miriam Yorks is the Boston Celtics’ ‘Halo Mom’ – The Boston Globe

As the one lady on press row, Yorks from 1983 to 1995 was the official scorer for Celtics video games. Each basket made, who made it, time it was made, and temporary description of the shot, needed to be recorded, all accomplished on her IBM electrical typewriter.

On the finish of every quarter, Yorks’s handiwork, the indispensible stats sheet, can be distributed to the media and coaches. Generally the scoring got here at a frenzied tempo. “There was no time to take a break, like going to the lavatory,” Yorks stated. Coaches might name timeout. Yorks needed to wait till halftime.

Her first evening on the job in 1983 got here with a whiff of stage fright. “I used to be scared. It was intimidating. I felt the world was going to see my work.” What they noticed was a buzz noticed. “I might kind 165 phrases a minute, stated Yorks. “I used to be referred to as the quickest typist within the East.”

So when did she begin feeling extra relaxed, getting all of the motion down in black and white? “About 39 years later,” Yorks kidded.

She is 80 now. Her courtside gig has surrendered, like many roles, to a high-tech approach of getting issues accomplished. To not fear. Yorks continues to be a presence at Celtics video games, since 1996 serving as media coordinator of the ninth-floor press field, referred to as the Halo part. She’s even picked up a few nicknames alongside the way in which, like “Halo Mother” and “Mama Mims.”

“I’m the matriarch of the group,” stated Yorks. Yeah, she’s an octogenarian, “however I like motion. I can’t sit nonetheless.”

In her early years, Miriam wasn’t the one member of the family working a Backyard shift. Her husband ran the overhanging scoreboard. George died in 2007. Two years in the past, Yorks moved to Norton. Merrick Sokol – “my vital different” – drives her to the Backyard now.

Not too long ago the group honored longtime workers at halftime of a Celtics sport. Yorks in fact was one in all them. She already had a hoop emblematic of the Celtics’ 2007-2008 championship season.

“Miriam has all the time been very conscientious, very thorough, and really good,” stated Jeff Twiss, the Celtics vp of media providers. Twiss has been with the group for 40 years. “I’m a rookie in comparison with him,” stated Yorks.

Via the years, Yorks bought to know lots of the gamers. “My favourite was Tommy Heinsohn.” After a Corridor of Fame profession, Heinsohn started an extended stretch as analyst on Celtics’ telecasts. He and Yorks would regularly chat up within the press eating room earlier than video games.

He was a hard-nosed Jersey Man in his taking part in days, however Yorks bought to see the comfortable facet of Heinsohn, who turned fairly an excellent artist. “Everybody liked Tommy,” stated Yorks. “He was all the time smiling. He was good with little children.” He handed away in 2020.

Yorks had a special tackle Crimson Auerbach, the legendary Celtics coach and entrance workplace exec. The Brooklyn-born Auerbach was feisty, all the time up for an excellent combat, and didn’t precisely strategy girls on the basketball entrance with open arms. “I attempted to make him smile a few instances,” stated Yorks. “It didn’t work.”

It’s been fairly the love affair between Yorks and the Celtics group, though she concedes “It’s fairly a dedication to get to each sport.” In 39 years, she figures she’s solely missed 15. And he or she by no means had an out-of-control participant stumble into her favourite seat.

“The boys round me had been very protecting. I used to be by no means at risk,” she stated.

Yorks labored within the authorized area for a few years, honing her typing abilities. She’s knowledgeable proofreader and has proof-read Celtics’ media guides. Her web site, mygoofproof.com, opens with this notion from writer Jarod Kintz: “There Are Two Typos Of Folks In This World: These Who Can Edit And These Who Can’t.”

“Can’t” is just not a phrase that mirrors Miriam Yorks. You simply marvel: Is she actually 80? Somebody test her ID card.

Lenny Megliola could be reached at lennymegs41@gmail.com.