2008 Woodie Awards
Game On
A Bullish Reunion
Joshua Charles
Issue date: 5/24/07 Section: Sports
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With the Pistons and Bulls squaring off in the Eastern Conference semifinals the two teams are renewing one of the league's most legendary rivalries.
The spark that was lost on the rivalry was regained in the off-season, when Ben Wallace opted to go where the green was in Chicago.
Piston fans showed spite towards the Windy City that hasn't been seen since Michael Jordan and Co. called the United Center home.
Fans tried to put a positive spin on it, saying that "He was getting old anyway," or, "We'll be better off without him."
Remarks like this came from fans that adored him and were ready to make him the face of Detroit after Red Wings Captain Steve Yzerman announced his retirement.
For six years Ben Wallace called Detroit home and fans welcomed him in with open arms.
In his six years with Detroit he won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, brought back the afro, and most notably was the cornerstone for the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship.
He was arguably the most beloved athlete in Michigan in his time with the Pistons and now all of a sudden he is public enemy number one when his name is announced at the Palace.
What reason do Piston fans have to despise one of the greatest Michigan sportsmen ever?
Wallace leaving for greener pastures turned out to be a good thing for both parties.
The Pistons still finished first in the East and are on the brink of making it to their fifth consecutive conference final.
What's Ben got? An extra ten million dollars and a long summer to work on his free throws.
His departure was good for both teams and good for the league as a whole.
With Wallace leaving for Chicago he instantly rekindled what was once the most intense rivalry in the NBA.
While it won't get to the boiling point that it did in the late '80s and early '90s when Air Jordan battled the Bad Boys of Detroit.
Wallace has played five games at the Palace since he signed with Chicago last June, he will constantly endure boos and signs of every sort when coming back to the town that adopted him as theirs.
The spark that was lost on the rivalry was regained in the off-season, when Ben Wallace opted to go where the green was in Chicago.
Piston fans showed spite towards the Windy City that hasn't been seen since Michael Jordan and Co. called the United Center home.
Fans tried to put a positive spin on it, saying that "He was getting old anyway," or, "We'll be better off without him."
Remarks like this came from fans that adored him and were ready to make him the face of Detroit after Red Wings Captain Steve Yzerman announced his retirement.
For six years Ben Wallace called Detroit home and fans welcomed him in with open arms.
In his six years with Detroit he won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, brought back the afro, and most notably was the cornerstone for the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship.
He was arguably the most beloved athlete in Michigan in his time with the Pistons and now all of a sudden he is public enemy number one when his name is announced at the Palace.
What reason do Piston fans have to despise one of the greatest Michigan sportsmen ever?
Wallace leaving for greener pastures turned out to be a good thing for both parties.
The Pistons still finished first in the East and are on the brink of making it to their fifth consecutive conference final.
What's Ben got? An extra ten million dollars and a long summer to work on his free throws.
His departure was good for both teams and good for the league as a whole.
With Wallace leaving for Chicago he instantly rekindled what was once the most intense rivalry in the NBA.
While it won't get to the boiling point that it did in the late '80s and early '90s when Air Jordan battled the Bad Boys of Detroit.
Wallace has played five games at the Palace since he signed with Chicago last June, he will constantly endure boos and signs of every sort when coming back to the town that adopted him as theirs.
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