All Pistons Team Ceremony
Tuesday night The Detroit Pistons honored their All-Time Team in a ceremony before the Pistons-Knicks game at The Palace.
I franticly made my way to The Palace at 6:45, so not to miss a thing. As I walked in the building I was treated with a replica 1989-90 Championship hat, the same one I have tucked away in a zip locked bag at home. I smiled. As I got closer to getting to my seats I passed The Palace locker room store, when I looked into the window I saw something that made me stop in my tracks. I walk in and immediately picked up the original Detroit Bad Boys black t-shirt, skull and all. I wore my original one to shreds and had to throw it away about 10 years ago. To my recollection they haven't sold the shirt in the building since the actual days of "The Bad Boys." My smile grew wider.
I got to my seat and waited for the festivities to start, camera in hand. As I watched them set up the chairs I knew that it was just a matter of time, and then out came the new Hall of Famer, Bill Davidson. They positioned Mr. D so he faced every player that walked out of the mini lighted tunnel. When George Blaha kicked things off he started by acknowledging Mr. Davidson's accomplishments and announced his recent induction into the Hall of Fame. Let me just say that The Palace crowd gave him a very long, very loud greeting and standing ovation that seemed to go on forever.
Thank you Mr. D.
Here is a quick rendering of the video, until I can get it split up later today for easier viewing. So if you are on a slow connection you may want to wait until later to view it.
UPDATE: Here is the (high quality) Video broken up in 2 parts .
I will admit I shed quite a few tears, was genuinely choked up, and had one of the best times that I can remember Tuesday night. As I watched all the history, recalled the past and looked into the future all I felt was the honor and pride.
I'm still smiling.
The Palace.....Where Amazing Happens
Photo/Getty Images
As someone who had been waiting for quite some time for this night to fall on the schedule, let me say that the night exceeded my expectations 110%.I franticly made my way to The Palace at 6:45, so not to miss a thing. As I walked in the building I was treated with a replica 1989-90 Championship hat, the same one I have tucked away in a zip locked bag at home. I smiled. As I got closer to getting to my seats I passed The Palace locker room store, when I looked into the window I saw something that made me stop in my tracks. I walk in and immediately picked up the original Detroit Bad Boys black t-shirt, skull and all. I wore my original one to shreds and had to throw it away about 10 years ago. To my recollection they haven't sold the shirt in the building since the actual days of "The Bad Boys." My smile grew wider.
I got to my seat and waited for the festivities to start, camera in hand. As I watched them set up the chairs I knew that it was just a matter of time, and then out came the new Hall of Famer, Bill Davidson. They positioned Mr. D so he faced every player that walked out of the mini lighted tunnel. When George Blaha kicked things off he started by acknowledging Mr. Davidson's accomplishments and announced his recent induction into the Hall of Fame. Let me just say that The Palace crowd gave him a very long, very loud greeting and standing ovation that seemed to go on forever.
Thank you Mr. D.
Here is a quick rendering of the video, until I can get it split up later today for easier viewing. So if you are on a slow connection you may want to wait until later to view it.
UPDATE: Here is the (high quality) Video broken up in 2 parts .
- You missed the the introduction of the panel that selected the team, but if you were watching the broadcast they did a little something to cover the selection process.
- You didn't quite hear the boos from the crowd when Ben Wallace was announced, which I was actually surprised and a little upset by.
- You missed the disappointment from the crowd when The Worm didn't show up.
- You missed the crowd give Rasheed a huge "SHEEEED" before he was introduced and him low 5 everyone before he got to his seat.
- You missed watching the current Pistons players sit on the sidelines and watch the history go by.
- You didn't see or feel what the fans of Detroit did for Isiah Thomas, who despite everything will always call The Palace his home.
- Most of all you missed the genuine hug, kiss and the words Isiah spoke to Mr. Davidson after he was introduced. Isiah seemed to linger with Bill for a very long time as if he was still with the organization. In our hearts, he still is.
Photo/Getty Images
- You missed the fabulous videos of history during what seemed to be every break in the action during the game. So good that both benches barely payed attention to anything but what was going on, on the big screen.
- You missed the feeling it was like to be in that building with all that greatness.
- You missed a horrible game, and an unforgettable night.
I will admit I shed quite a few tears, was genuinely choked up, and had one of the best times that I can remember Tuesday night. As I watched all the history, recalled the past and looked into the future all I felt was the honor and pride.
I'm still smiling.
The Palace.....Where Amazing Happens
Labels: All Pistons Team, Bill Davidson, Isiah Thomas
posted by Natalie Sitto at 12:43 PM link to this post
11 Comments:
great job with the video Nat...looking forward to seeing the whole thing when its done
Natalie,
I totally agree with everything you said. It was an amazing, emotional and touching night. I don't even think I minded seeing the Pistons get waxed after. The ceremony and the feeling in the stadium was unparalleled to anything I have been around before. I also agree that the scattered boos for BenWa were a little disappointing. I have always taken pride in how Detroit revers its former players, and we didn't seem to give the same respect to Ben. And why not? Sure he left for more money, but he also has broken down since we let him go. We should be proud of his time here and the championship he brought, and recognize that we parted with him at the right time.
Great ceremony, great feelings, great times. Bringing Ken out to do the bad boys lineup was pretty cool too! Bringing out Jalen to honor Jimmy Walker? Priceless! Great job by the Pistons organization in making this happen.
Do you think part of Isiah is pissed that he hasn't had the post-playing success as Joe D? I think he wants the dual legacy that Joe has in Detroit, he's just having a tough time accomplishing it...
In amazing artile about rasheed on espn the magazine check it out!!!! pretty moving if you ask me
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3336339
Thanks for the video.
I'm extremely disappointed that people would boo Ben, especially in the spirit of the celebration. That's terrible.
i thought that that was a special night for Isiah, and i wanted him to leave with a victory. But if i could chose one game out the whole season where i would probably want the Pistons to lose. Then it would be the game that honored one of Detroit's greatest. I loved the speech that dave bing, Isiah,and chaucney made. THey were emotional and tear-jerking. I loved the way chauncey put himself together when he claimed that he "didn't have a speech prepared" and i love the way Chauncey referred the bad boys as "middle school" priceless. i wanted the knicks to win as the game closed out, but i didn't want them to win by a blow out, lol, but admit it or not the knicks came out and played with heart, and it seemed as they were playing for Isiah...i thought that was tear-jerking. Also a moment that almost made me cry was when Ben Wallace came on....i hear that he was booed, but i don't c y he was booes (if he were). If you payed attention to his speech you could hear that he was saying that fro the bottom of his heart, and BEN WALLACE WILL ALWAYS BE A PISTON TO this citY, FANS AND most definitely my heart. Great performance from the Zoo Crew, happy that they came to grind it out instead of letting them blow us out lol. But i thought that night was for Isiah, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Pistons lost that game just to make Isiah's night even more special. That ceremony made me realized how blessed and how much i appreciate this organization. Imma forget all the bad and just take a moment and appreciate the success and opportunities that this organization faced, and hopeful even greater success as the playoffs begin.
I hope the Pistons win it all this year because that would make this historical season even more spectacular. I want to say is thank-you Pistons0eraa, we fans of DEtroit are truly blessed and thankful to be able to cheer you on.
oh yeah a memo out to tay. Being able to be named to the Pistons All-Time Team is worth more than any all-star game. I'm happy for him Sheed (hilarious), Chaucney, Lindsey, Rip, and Tayshuan...we thank you for these memorable seasons.
LET'S GO PISTONS AND LET'S GET THAT SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-2008 IT'S OUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL BOUT DETROIT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Nat!
Words cannot express how appreciative I am that you posted this on the site! I was very sad that since I no longer live in detroit I am unable to catch events like this. But thanks to you, I was able to enjoy this very special occasion.
It was hard for me to hold back the tears when they got Ken back to do the intros for the BAD BOYS... That instantly brought back so many memories of my childhood when I'd watch "My" Pistons as a kid. Nat you are truly the best!
Thank You Again
~N
to rbaan
wow that article made me cry. I just loved it ..wow everyone ho despises sheed should look at this.
LET'S GO PISTONS AND LET'S GET THAT SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-2008 IT'S OUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL BOUT DETROIT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3336339
check out the article on Sheed
nat, any way we can download the video?
Nat,
As I was looking at the picture of the All-Time team last night, is it just me, or is Lindsey Hunter not there? Or am I just not seeing it? I've looked at it a dozen times, but I want to make sure my reliability is checked. lol
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your perspective of last night! I really wish I could've been there. As I was watching on TV, my emotions went schizo. I was proud and sad about the guys who are no longer with us or couldn't attend, especially Worm and the players currently on other teams. [That sucks that Ben got booed.] I jumped up and down during the team intros, especially for the members of the Bad Boys. I chanted right along with Ken Calvert when he introduced "Joe Duuuuuuuuuumars!" -- because he was my favorite when I was younger. And of course, I whooped it up when Mason dropped his wordplay while introducing the current players.
The players and family members that were present was astounding. Dave Bing, Isaiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups gave moving speeches about history and being a family. Isaiah's metaphor about building the family and the Palace being our home [all of us, including the fans] made me tear up -- because I've been a fan as long as I can remember. And it's great that the 50th celebration that's lasted all season is an opportunity to learn the early history.
I have happy memories and stories from the Bad Boys era. I still cringe at the teal and purple, but I quietly followed the team through the transition years between the Bad Boys and now. But Zeek's right; as he addressed Dennis "Worm" Rodman [who couldn't be there], "Someday you gotta come home." It's been awesome watching the Pistons rise again and, this year, going after a sixth straight Eastern Finals appearance and hopefully a title! :)
Was bummed about the game result, but it was a truly inspiring night.
Chauncey said it best: "We are not done building this house... In the next 2 weeks we will go on a long playoff run and hang another banner next to the 2004 championship banner."
:)
Oh and as soon as they called CHAUNCEY to speak on behalf of the Pistons after ISIAH... I knew very well that CHAUNCEY is going to pick the 2008 pistons over the old school as the best team if they played each other lol
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