2006_07_01_archive

Ben Wallace

It's not everyday that a city loses two of its iconic sports figures

within 12 hours but unfortunately for Detroit fans it happened today.

First came Steve Yzerman's announcement that he was retiring after 23

years in Detroit, the last twenty as the captain. He helped lead the

Wings to three Stanley Cups and was one of the top three players on

NHLPA '93 for Genesis, only ranking behind Jeremy Roenick and Theo

Fleury. I'm not going to pretend Yzerman's retirement effected me that

much because personally I've never been a big hockey fan, but Yzerman

has been playing at a high level for as long as I've been alive and I

have to respect that.

However the news that broke later in the day and resonated with me on

a lager level was the news that Ben Wallace had signed a free agent

contract with the Chicago Bulls. I had been bracing for the news for

some time now and even mentioned his potentially leaving for the Bulls

in a previous post. Nevertheless it was still shocking to actually see

scrolling across the Bottomline, "Ben Wallace agrees in principle to a

deal with the Bulls." ESPN.com initially reported that Wallace had

signed a 4 year $52 million which sent me into a near frenzy. The mere

thought that Ben would leave for only $1 million more per season,

(look at me write like $1 million dollars is nothing, if I had a

million dollars to throw around I would be posting from a submarine

right now.) I couldn't believe that he would turn his back on the

Pistons, this starting five that was supposed to be like family, a

team that was coming off back to back Finals appearances and another

deep run into the playoffs for an extra million dollars a year to win

45 games with the Bulls and finish 3rd in the Central division. What a

sell-out, what another money hungry selfish pro athlete. That's what I

was going to write and then I heard that the deal was for 4 years $60

million and that........well that changed everything. First I could

understand why Ben would take the money, it's a 3 million dollar a

year difference and 12 million over the course of the contract, it was

definitely his last big payday as he'll be 36 at the end of the deal

and he probably has been underpaid during the course of his career,

especially in his defensive prime. Second I could understand why the

Pistons wouldn't match (if they were even given the chance) because

Ben is going to be 36 at the end of the deal, he is already beginning

to slip, was coming off a nightmare postseason, is a complete

liability on the offensive end, and seemed to be increasingly petulant

and unhappy in Detroit, a problem that began under Larry Brown and was

exacerbated under Flip Saunders and highlighted by his refusal to

re-enter a game against the Magic.

The man who came to Detroit in in the Grant Hill trade because the

Magic didnt want to depart with the distinguished John Amaechi and

became the face of the franchise and the most popular player for the

Pistons since the original Zeke, Dumars, and Laimbeer will now ply his

trade for a hated Central Division rival. What do I expect from Big

Ben? Next year I think a motivated Ben will have a classic Ben season

8 points per game, 13 boards, 2.5 blocks, solid interior defense, and

a potential 5th Defensive Player of the Year award 48 wins and a

second round playoff exit, followed by a solid second season where his

numbers begin to slip, followed by a precipitous decline in year three

where he scores 3 points per game, to finally a trade to the Warriors

to clear cap space playing 15 minutes a night backing up Ike Diogu and

Andris Bierdins. Was this worth another couple of title runs with the

best starting five in the league, having your jersey hang from the

Palace rafters, and being loved and adored by an entire basketball

crazed community/fanbase? I guess only Big Ben has the answer to that.

Finally what do the Pistons do? I think this is a blessing in disguise

for the Pistons. Is it going to be gut-wrenching that first time Ben

returns to the Palace in a Bulls uniform (as photoshopped on the

always fabulous Need4sheed.)? Is it going to feel like something's

missing during the intros, with no bell-ringing and no Ben jumping

into the players? Am I going to miss him going 1-9 from the line in

the 4th quarter and being intentionally fouled? Yes, Absolutely, and

Hell No!!!!!!!! I think the Pistons move McDyess into the starting

lineup where they'll lose.......well nothing, and they'll gain someone

who is competent on offense. Rasheed will move to the five, and

hopefully they'll be able to sign Bonzi Wells to the mid-level and

still have room for Nucky Ratkins, with Carlos Delfino continually

improving getting 20-25 minutes a game, and who can forget about the

immediate contributions of Cheick Samb. Is that a team that wins 65

games? Am I asking to many questions? No and Yes. But still it could

be enough to contend in the East and with the right pieces picked up

through trades and such could surprise people. Would it still be nice

to have Darko, who was traded away for the cap-space necessary to

re-sign Ben, which means we passed on Carmelo, Bosh and DYWANE FUCKING

WADE!! for 2 and a half season of Darko and Kelvin Cato's wasted cap

space? Sure, but at the time Ben's re-signing was going to be a slam

dunk. (No I'm not bitter what are you implying?)

Feeling the need to have some closing words for Ben, without running