Boston sports radio host Fred Toucher memorialized NBA legend and former Celtics star Bill Walton as a ‘phony hippie’ during a controversial segment after the 71-year-old’s death from cancer this week.
Toucher (AKA Fred Toettcher) later joked ‘I didn’t kill him’ while discussing Walton, a beloved figure among basketball fans and Grateful Dead enthusiasts alike.
The tone of the show was a dramatic departure from much of the coverage surrounding Walton. At one point, over the objections of his co-host, Toucher decided to play a 2010 interview that ended with him hanging up on the two-time NBA champion.
‘Well, I don’t know, why not? It happened,’ Toucher said. ‘He called in and he was acting the fool about his son on the Lakers.’
While Walton won titles with the Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Celtics in 1986, his son Luke played for the rival Lakers, winning a pair of Larry O’Brien trophies.
Bill Walton poses with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart before a Kings game in 2011
Toucher (pictured) boasted about hanging up on Bill Walton during a 2010 interview
According to Toucher, who was attempting to mimic Walton’s distinct voice, the Redhead Deadhead began the interview by telling the audience to ‘buy a Jeep Wrangler,’ which irritated the host.
‘Make up your mind, you phony hippie,’ Toucher told his co-host while describing the 14-year-old interview. ‘Like are you really selling cars or are you all about peace and love?’
Toucher wasn’t finished.
‘I did famously hang up on Bill Walton,’ Toucher said as his co-host tried to interject. ‘Just go ahead, he’s dead, I didn’t kill him. Go ahead, play it.’
The 14-year-old clip centered on Walton discussing his son’s Lakers and Los Angeles’ 2010 NBA Finals victory over the Celtics.
Asked where Game 7 of that series ranked in the storied history of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, Walton demurred.
‘Over the years, I’ve learned to never rank coaches, concerts, children, championships or congratulations, just enjoy them all, and as a dad, that’s what I’m about,’ Walton said. ‘Because even though I’m a Celtic and the Celtics gave me my life back 25 years ago, more importantly, I’m a dad. It’s not about me, I want what’s best for my son and to see that.’
It was at that point in the 2010 interview that Toucher interrupted Walton before hanging up on the 1978 NBA MVP.
‘Alright, well you’re rooting for the Lakers. Goodbye,’ Toucher said. ‘I’m not going to take a guest who’s celebrating the team that just beat the Celtics. I mean, your kid’s on the team, congratulations.’
Walton isn’t the only of Toucher’s guests to get the hook.
Bill Walton gestures after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before a 2019 Padres game
Luke Walton (right), Bill’s son, is pictured alongside his college teammate, Richard Jefferson
The controversial radio host previously hung up on Rick Pitino and Hurricanes reporter Chip Alexander, the latter of whom committed the offense of discussing hockey with a North Carolina accent.
‘I can’t listen to a guy with a Southern accent talk about hockey,’ he said after hanging up on Alexander in 2019, as quoted by Deadspin.
Outside of Toucher, sports media has been praising Walton’s life and cultural impact in the days since his death.
For instance, Arizona coach Sean Miller remembered Walton as ‘the most positive, enthusiastic, unique and funny person I have met.’
‘Bill will be missed by many people,’ Miller concluded. ‘I am certainly one of them. He made me smile every time I saw him.’