PistonsNationBlog.com - Detroit Pistons News & Views

I LOVE Pistons’ basketball, have ever since I was young.  I’d consider myself as die-hard.  Being a die-hard I can say I legitimately hate certain rival opponents, and I get a sense of great satisfaction when the Pistons beat these teams on the court.  But, I, like the majority of fans, know the difference between entertainment and real life.  Unfortunately there’s those out there who cannot distinguish between the two.

Files have recently been released under the Freedom of Information Act describing the seriousness the FBI took in investigating threatening letters written to former Bad Boys coach Chuck Daly at the height of the Pistons’ championship runs.

One guy from Cleveland wrote the following to Coach Daly:

“God made me realize that YOU, not Laimbeer, Mahorn or any of the others are the one possessed by (Satan).

Now to me that doesn’t even strike me as the impassioned words of a hardcore Cavs’ fan.  Those are the ravings of a sick person who needs help.  He’s chosen Daly as a target because he probably follows the Cavs and the Pistons thwarted their glory back then.  But, it could just as easily been something else not of personal consequence he’s taken and internalized.

Thankfully most of these people never end up acting on their threats but a few have like in cases like tennis star Monica Seles who was stabbed by a “fan”.  It’s reassuring to read the lengths the authorities go to investigate these types of communications.

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During Heritage Week (Feb 21-28) the Pistons will wear the above warm-up gear  in celebration of the team’s three NBA Championships.

Also, the Mr. D memorial patch that’s one the team’s jersey rear neck line is a permanent addition to the Pistons jerseys, in much the same way the Chicago Bears have “GSH” on their sleeves in honor of team founder George S. Halas.  This is the first permanent uniform memorial in league history. (The Chuck Daly “CD” patch is just for the 2009-10 season)

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Wow.  What a dramatic clip from the vault.  Dennis Rodman sitting in the stands of a 1992 preseason game that was played in Ann Arbor in protest of the team’s new direction after the departure of Chuck Daly.

When  Chuck – who was like a father figure to Rod – left, that was the beginning of the end of Dennis in red, white, & Pistons’ Blue.  Rodman’s personal life was already in turmoil and that resignation was the proverbial last straw.

How about Zeke tossing the ball to Worm telling him to get in the game!?  This was a pretty ominous time in Pistons history, but what a fantastic vid.

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.

I’ve always been obsessive about my Pistons.  When I was younger I couldn’t wait to get the Detroit Free Press every morning so I could cut out anything pertaining to the Bad Boys and add the clippings to my collection.  Well, I recently came across some of those clippings (I kinda save everything).

The clippings that I found most interesting, being an art loving kind of guy, were the editorial cartoons.  So, I thought I’d share them with the Pistons Nation while we count down the days until the season starts.

This cartoon is by legendary Free Press cartoonist, the late Dick Mayer.  Actually all but one of these cartoons are Mayer’s.

Back before John “Spider” Salley was wimping out on celebrity reality shows he was doing stand up comedy.

Anyone familiar with the Bad Boys knows that Daddy Rich was always riding Sal’s ass.  So a crowd full of Dalys would surely be a nightmare scenario for John.

Personally I’ve never really found Salley to be all that funny.  But, whatever.

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Your shoes cost too much damn money FTW

• !! Don’t forget to catch ESPN’s Outside the Lines special on  BILL LAIMBEER TODAY (9 am est)
• Pretty fitting that “Your shoes cost too much damn money” was the favorite in the PN “Now that’s G!” poll.  Have a big glass of Pistons’ Punch while watching ESPN’s Laimbeer OTL profile!
• BEN GORDON is giving back.  BG was in Mount Vernon, NY to dedicate a new playground to the Mount Vernon Family YMCA  through his New Life Foundation.
• As we told you the Pistons are honoring CHUCK DALY this season with a commemorative jersey patch.  PNb also wanted to do something special for the greatest coach in Pistons’ history so we’ve sponsored Daddy Rich’s Basketball-Reference page this season.
• Even though he hasn’t Tweeted in like a month, it looks like JONAS JEREBKO is on Twitter.  That makes a total of 4 Tweetroit Pistons. ( @Adaye5, @dsummers35, @CV31)
• Pistons preseason schedule is up.
• Tzvi Twersky of SLAM does a little Q&A action with AUSTIN DAYE
• Check out the pictures of AUSTIN DAYE & DaJUAN SUMMERS from the NBA rookie photo shoot.
• Where will IVERSON land?  Probably not back in Philly or down in MIA.
• CHAUNCEY prefers dimes over dunks:
  

  “I had a couple dunks last season,” he said. “But, I mean, with the athletic guys that we have, if I come down and dunk the ball with two hands, one hand, it’s like I might as well just lay the ball up. You see J.R. (Smith) and all these guys windmilling and going backwards, it’s a waste of time for me to do it.”

• AMIR JOHNSON is aiming to be prove himself in Milwaukee with sight’s on the NBA’s Most Improved award:
  

  “I think I’ll do well here. I’m willing to put in 110-percent effort in order to become one of the most-improved players in the NBA.”

  Lest we forget, Amir Johnson is only 22. He’d probably fit better with the Pistons this season than at any other time in his career. We’ll be keeping a close eye on him in Milwaukee.

• According to Spurs.com Mr. SAN ANTONIO McDYESS will wear #34 (Richard Jefferson has #24)
• Wake up STACKHOUSE or you’re going to get…ewww too late.
• Hawks getting veteran JOE SMITH.  Solid pick-up for an already solid roster.
• The Bobcats have tweeked their unis w/some pinstripes.  I say they’ve upgraded.

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

If it isn't PISTONS it just doesn't look right on me

• So let me get this straight, ISIAH THOMAS makes a list of most disliked sports personalities but PAC-MAN JONES is nowhere to be found? Shame on people in general.
• Good TAYSHUAN PRINCE interview by Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois
• NBA.com’s John Shuhmann is not impressed with the additions of CHARLIE VILLANUEVA and BEN GORDON.  He sees the Pistons as one of the 5 most likely teams to backslide this year.
• BILL LAIMBEER tells Flint Journal’s Dan Feldman that he’s probably going to take a year off from coaching and isn’t actively pounding the NBA coaching pavement prefering to work on his golf game.  Must be nice.
• 2008 draft pick (46th) TRENT  PLAISTED signed with Reggio Emilia of the Italian league
• Vincent Goodwill writes: RASHEED WALLACE was unorthadox, but he delivered.  No argument here.
• CHUCK DALY makes #45 on The Sporting News’ 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Times.  Think about that.  Best 50 ever, that’s quite a nomination for Daddy Rich.
• MI native CHARLIE BELL’S sage advice to new Piston CHARLIE V:
  

  “I told him not to go around talking all that New York stuff,” Bell said. “This is Detroit. You can’t be doing all that.”

• It’s Just Sports Best of the Worst Pistons countdown continues.  #5 is the early DUMARS draft faux pas RODNEY WHITE.  In at #3 is SEAN ELLIOTT.  Most remember Sean for his feel good come back from kidney transplant story.  In Detroit we remember him as the dude we traded RODMAN for who tanked his way back to San Antonio the following where he promptly resumed being productive again.
  
• You’d think RON ARTEST would want to put the PALACE BRAWL in the rear view, but he keeps talking about.  Now he’s reenacting the scene for his Hong Kong vlog.  I have to come clean though.  I too would do anything Shin Shin asked me to.
  
  Best part of the video (besides Shin Shin) is the photo seekers