Gino, oh Gino! Someone finally found out who the guy is who appears on the Jumbotron every Celtics game. Sadly, Gino has gone to that great big dance floor in the sky.
The Wall Street Journal found that Joe Massoni, "American Bandstand" dancer extraordinaire, died of pneumonia in 1990. We were a little surprised that the identity of "Gino" would so captivate the stodgy WSJ, but they did some serious legwork. If only he were still alive so he could enjoy how much everyone loved his 70's boogie.
One Celtic, though, didn't want to find "Gino" for some interesting reasons. When told that the Celtics wanted to bring "Gino" back, Kevin Garnett said, "That would ruin it.... He could be old and bald and fat now." KG, we love you, but chances are good that you are going to wind up old and bald and fat yourself. Even the venerable Bill Russell has gray hair.
Yet Dick Clark, "American Bandstand" host, seems to have tapped into the fountain of youth and keeps on truckin'. But at least the Celtics are keeping Massoni alive.
[Wall Street Journal, Track Girls, Perk Is a Beast]
Image of Gino doing his groove thang from Lorianne DiSabato from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr.
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