PistonsNationBlog.com - Detroit Pistons News & Views

Something very news was posted on NBA.com yesterday afternoon.  Pat Williams, the Orlando Magic senior vp, who had a long time relationship with Chuck Daly has written a book about Daddy Rich.

“This incredible work of life, this incredible valley of information,” Williams said. “What a unique man.”

Williams said he did close to 100 interviews, from family members and friends from Daly’s youth to the more-familiar names from his time in college and pro basketball, the players, former colleagues, team executives and media members who crossed paths during 78 years of life. Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn. Hubie Brown, Billy Cunningham and Rick Carlisle. Rollie Massimino, Bucky Waters and Vic Bubas. Dick Harter, Jack McCloskey and Ron Rothstein. Brendan Suhr and Brendan Malone.

“Daly Memories”, which is scheduled for release on November 15th, sounds like a book that’s as much about life as it is about basketball.  I can’t wait to get my copy.

Have you ever read Chuck Daly’s book “Daly Life”?  It was published in 1990 and is basically Chuck’s memoirs of what it took to manage the complex personalities of the Bad Boys into a championship basketball team.  It’s an entertaining book to say the least.

Never read it huh?  Well it just so happens I have two copies of the book (I’m not sure why though, and neither copy has the dust jacket).  How about a TWITTER CONTEST??

• Step Uno: You have to be following PN on Twitter
• Step B: Tweet the following: #RememberDaddyRich @PistonsNation

The contest will conclude at midnight (EST) Tuesday 9/8.  I’ll pick a random winner of a copy of “Daly Life” on Wednesday.

Ok so here’s the thing; I got a little gitty when Villy Tweeted earlier today that he’s going to announce the winner of his “Hairless Wonder” photoshop contest on national television (ESPN?).  So I figured I’d go back to the digital drawing board and bang out a second entry.  Can’t hurt right?

“BY THE POWER OF THE PN SKULL…CV31 HAS THE POWERRRRR!”

Thought I’d share my humble submission into CV31’s hairless wonder photoshop challenge. It was fun and I can get a laugh out of it nearly every time I look at the pic. Word to ya mutha.  There’s been some good submissions already.  I can’t wait to see more from all the talented graphic artists out there.  Remember, this thing wraps up this Friday.

• Also in Pistons happenings today the 2009-10 schedule came out.  Here’s some scheduling analysis from Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois.
• Rookie DaJUAN SUMMERS is keeping some erotic Twitter company

Villanueva 90210

• CHARLIE VILLANUEVA has issued a contest for all the photoshoppers out there via his Twitter account.  The contest is to raise awareness for Alopecia, which CV31 has. If you give Villy the freshest ‘do you get 100 $pankies.  Sounds like fun, contest ends Friday.
• BRIAN SCALABRINE is excited about RASHEED going green.  He’s actually a little too excited:
  

  “Rasheed Wallace, if I had to name one guy that I’d want on our team, he’d be the guy,” Scalabrine said. “The way Doc (Rivers) uses power forwards, he’s a perfect fit for us.”

  I was tired of hearing all the Celtics fans gush about how much they just love Rasheed, now Scally boy is nearly sending me over the edge. If I didn’t like him so much as Dick Ritchie in the movie True Romance I don’t know what I’d do.  Wait, yes I do.  I’ll read how the Pistons were right there to helped put  LARRY LEGEND  out to pasture.  All better now.

• Marcus Paul at Bleacher Report writes how he believes Sheed will do the Celtics more harm than good.  He even goes so far as to say it was a mistake for Boston to have acquired the talented but mercurial  Wallace.
• Even with acknowledging THE ANSWER’S down fall The blog Barkley’s Mouth cannot figure out why ALLEN IVERSON still is not an anyone’s roster.  Well, if all else fails AI could always take Olympicos’ reported 2-year $10 million offer.
• STUCK is really taking in the Detroit sports scene.  A little more than a week ago he threw out a ceremonial first pitch for the Tigers and over the weekend he took in a Lions practice.
• Nice DaJUAN SUMMERS write up from Keith Langlois on Pistons.com
• Detroit native WILLIE GREEN would like to see JOHN KUESTER do well in his first head coaching gig, just not against Sixers.  KUESTER was an assistant in Philly during the 2005-06 season.
• The votes have all been tabulated and your newest member of AUTOMOTION is Christine.  Also, I’m pretty sure that Ms. #504 was Megan and she’s on the squad so I’m cool.
• Check out this BEN GORDON mix over at LoD.  The highlights will get you pumped for the season to start, but the music they’re set to will probably make you more than a little uncomfortable.  Packey at String Music is right, it’s equal parts cool and creepy.
• In light of the offseason the blog OJ’s Juice says the Pistons will be different but better but not elite and will lack identity.  Sounds about right.
• BEN WALLACE pulling that red, white, and Pistons’ blue jersey over his ‘froless head again would be a good thing.  Just ask TERRY MILLS??
• The votes have all been tallied and MICHAEL CURRY narrowly edges DARKO in It’s Just Sports list of the Best of the Worst Pistons.
• A little bridesmaid action: Top 5 benches in the East.  Pistons get the honorable mention.
• Matt Watson does a great write up on the ‘89 Pistons to tip off the regular season count down.  What better way to count ‘em down than with the Final Countdown played on a pianukulelezoo!
• Roundball Mining Company does a little video scouting on ARRON AFFLALO
• SI is celebrating 60 years of the NBA with 60 memorable numbers in the NBA’s history.  The Pistons make the list twice.  Once for Isiah’s 25 points in hte 3rd qtr in game 6 of the ‘88 finals, and 1983’s highest scoring game in history against Denver.
  
• PistonsCast needs your help.  Go there and let them know when is the best time for their live talk radio show.

Something we’re missing? Send along the link or hit up PNb on Twitter.

Do you think you know what Joey D. or any other General Managers should do with their rosters? Are you constantly using the NBA Trade Machine on ESPN to see what trades will work? Well, now you can really be the GM of an NBA team.

The good folks at PASPN.net have set up a Mock GM League exclusively for Pistons Nation. So, be the GM of the NBA team of your choice. There will be 30 General Manager spots available: one for each NBA franchise. Since this is a new league, we will start by taking over each team’s existing contracts. After that, it’s up to you to re-tool your team via trades, draft picks, and free agent signings to form the best team that you can. Since PASPN leagues are governed by the rules of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the Mock GM game mixes fantasy basketball playing with the realities of the business of the NBA.

So, you ready to show off your skeelz?

Register and then join in the lobby area HERE.

The league starts tomorrow (7/14), you’ll HERE to pick your team.

If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry, neither have I.  But, I’ve been told it’s not that complicated and tons of fun.  I’ll give a prize to the winner at the end of the season.  Not sure what, but it’ll be cool.

How cool would it be to split some pizza a talk Piston’s basketball with living legend George Blaha?!

HOMETOWNlife.com: Tell us in 100 words or less why you want to have lunch with Blaha at Buddy’s Pizza in Farmington Hills. E-mail your entry to BuddysDiningStars@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Thursday, June 4.Dining With the Stars is sponsored by Buddy’s Pizza and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers.

The contest winner will be treated to a limo ride from Class Plus Limo, a makeover courtesy of Christine from Beauty Salon in Birmingham, a $100 gift certificate from Reaver Diamond Co. in Southfield and a dance exhibition by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills.

If the winner of this contest happens to be a reader of PN and wants to share their experience we’d love host a post on it!

Ok, here’s the deal; our friends at Cufflinks.com have hooked us up with a fabulous prize to give away.  A schweet pair of Pistons cuff links!  (I’d keep them for myself but I told them I’d run a contest for them)  These babies would set up back $50, check the site out.  What a perfect way to add a touch Pistons pride to your formal threads.  Or just add them to your collection of Pistons paraphernalia.  Christmahanukwanzika is coming up you know…

All you have to do is make a funny pic funnier with your witty caption in the comments.

The Prize:

The Rules:

• One entry per person (ip address)
• Entries must include e-mail address
• Contest ends Wednesday, midnight EST
• Winner will be notified on Thursday 11/20/08