A random act of compassion ultimately paved the road for Michael H. Goldberg to become a long-admired advocate for generations of NBA coaches.
Goldberg was serving as the branch chief for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's regional office in New York in the early 1970s when another young lawyer attempted to register a small offering for his first public company. The young lawyer requested expedited treatment because his company desperately needed the money to stay afloat. Donald Schupak, the attorney, talked with Goldberg on the phone after receiving a form rejection letter.
As pleasantly as possible, Goldberg informed Schupak that the draft he filed was in really rough shape. Schupak pleaded for guidance, telling Goldberg that he needed to complete the deal to help launch his career.
"He was amused by the absurdity of it and agreed to help me," Schupak said. "He coached me. We got the registration statement out, we got expedited treatment and it was actually quite a successful offering. He was very helpful to me. At the end of the process, I said to him, 'Thank you very much' and 'I owe you one.'"
A couple of years later, Schupak repaid the favor. By then, he had become part of the ownership group of the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis and formed a strong bond with commissioner Tedd Munchak, who decided the league needed a New York lawyer to serve as its inside counsel and requested a list of candidates from Schupak.
Schupak provided only one name: Michael H. Goldberg. So began a life in professional basketball for Goldberg, who was hired on the spot after meeting with Munchak, who was immediately drawn to Goldberg's authentic personality and enthusiasm to join the upstart league.
Goldberg played an instrumental role in the negotiations of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976 -- during which Schupak also struck a legendary deal to give the Spirits' owners a cut of NBA television revenue in perpetuity, which ultimately was worth hundreds of millions of dollars -- but he made his most lasting impression as the longtime executive director for the National Basketball Coaches Association before dying last week at 73.
Goldberg was hired as the association's first executive director in 1980 and relentlessly fought for the NBA's coaches for the next 36 years.
"Michael Goldberg was a beloved member of the NBA family and a dear friend to me," commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "For more than 40 years in professional basketball, he poured his passion and energy into strengthening and growing our game. Dressed always to the nines with his trademark bow ties, he advocated relentlessly for NBA coaches and was one of the driving forces behind the league's global growth."
It's one of the reasons coaches throughout the league have donned bow ties in Goldberg's honor during games from Thursday to Sunday.
Goldberg played a critical role in improving coaches' retirement and pension benefits, increasing their marketing opportunities and keeping inactive coaches involved in the game, among other contributions. The association recently showed its gratitude for his service by announcing that the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award would be awarded annually, distinguishing itself by being voted on by current NBA head coaches.
Goldberg became greatly respected in league circles for his firm backbone and beloved for his charming manner.
"He had an infectious authenticity," said Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, who worked closely with Goldberg as the president of the coaches association and sported a bow tie during Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers. "He had a disarming sincerity coupled with a polite persistence that allowed him to get things done. Michael was an amazingly resourceful man with an extremely high level of likeability."
Carlisle credits Goldberg for being a driving force in the NBA coaches association's battle for significantly increased pension benefits in 2007. It wouldn't have been possible, according to Carlisle, without the relationship that Goldberg had cultivated for decades with former commissioner David Stern.
"Commissioner Stern could be very intimidating, but Michael's long relationship with him was instrumental to our being able to break through," Carlisle said. "Michael was persistent but in the most respectful way in pleading our case to David and ownership. Without him, we would have had no shot."
Said Stern via email: "He was truly one of a kind who during our over-30-year relationship represented his clients with intensity while at the same time becoming a dear friend. He was self-deprecating and capable of finding the humor in any issue or situation, but his keen analytical and persuasive skills always shone through.
"During the most trying times we could always share a laugh, in complete agreement that basketball had been very good to both of us."
Carlisle laughed as he recalled being informed by Goldberg a dozen years ago that he'd been voted in as the coaches association's president despite not volunteering for the job or attending the meeting in which the vote took place. Carlisle soon opted to accept the position, in part due to what he refers to as "Michael's brand of defiant but polite persuasion."
"A one-of-a-kind leader, mentor, advocate and trusted friend all wrapped together in his trademark bow tie," Carlisle said. "To generations of NBA coaches, Michael Goldberg was truly iconic."