Sports Buzz
Career averages of 10 rebounds, 6 points, and 2 blocks per game doesn't tell the whole story of this soon-to-be Hall of Famer. That's right, I said it. As I watched the Pistons vs. Wizards game on Monday night (March 26th) and Greg Monroe, the Pistons big man of the future received his fifth foul in the third quarter, Ben Wallace entered the game. And Mr. Wallace did what he's always done when his number is called: He went to work. He was talking on defense, being physical with the bigs from Washington and his presence alone helped the Pistons stay within striking distance. He barked at the refs, blocked shots, and played his stinking heart out. As I watched him defend Nene Hilario, who to the untrained eye, appears to have a clear advantage of any person who is about 6 inches and 25-35 pounds lighter than he is, I realized that this is what Big Ben has been faced with since his rookie year in the 96-97 season. Sheer dermination and good old fashioned hard work. Once he arrived in Detroit after bouncing from Washington to Orlando, he found his niche. He came to a city that not only embodies grit and an honest days work, but that also made folk heroes of players like Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, and hall of famer Dennis Rodman.
Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins were "traded" to Detroit when Grant Hill decided he was going to Orlando as a free agent. To make salaries fit, and as some sort of consolation prize, Joe Dumars asked for Chucky Atkins and John Amechi. Luckily for Joe, the Magic were too high on Amechi and decidedd to offer Ben Wallace instead. Deal!
We all know what happens next so let's look at some things people may not remember or have taken for granted. Wallace was the silent leader of a team that went to six Eastern Conference Finals. In 2004, the year the Pistons won the title, they held teams to third lowest total since the shot clock era at 84 points per game. They were a Robert Horry 3 pointer (damn it, Rasheed) from winning the title again in '05. This was a team that didn't do it by clearing it out for a superstar to go one on five, they played hard nose defense and grinded it out on offense.
They reminded us Detroiters of the original "Bad Boys" by intimidating teams and truly turning the chip on their shoulders into a "chip" on the mantle. With Ben's help-side defense, he even made Chauncey Billups a mainstay on the All NBA defensive teams (no small feat). Ben is 6'7" and led the league in blocks (Okay not really but he was at 3.1 and Theo Ratliff was at 3.2), rebounds (twice), and was the Defensive Player of the Year four times in 5 years (I love Ron Artest but come on). Sadly on most nights he appears to be the best defensive player on the Pistons roster. As he finishes up his hall of fame career in a Pistons jersey, where his hall of fame argument began, I hope that the young guys learn that regardless of what your measurements are, effort is something that everyone give...every single night.
We all know what happens next so let's look at some things people may not remember or have taken for granted. Wallace was the silent leader of a team that went to six Eastern Conference Finals. In 2004, the year the Pistons won the title, they held teams to third lowest total since the shot clock era at 84 points per game. They were a Robert Horry 3 pointer (damn it, Rasheed) from winning the title again in '05. This was a team that didn't do it by clearing it out for a superstar to go one on five, they played hard nose defense and grinded it out on offense.
They reminded us Detroiters of the original "Bad Boys" by intimidating teams and truly turning the chip on their shoulders into a "chip" on the mantle. With Ben's help-side defense, he even made Chauncey Billups a mainstay on the All NBA defensive teams (no small feat). Ben is 6'7" and led the league in blocks (Okay not really but he was at 3.1 and Theo Ratliff was at 3.2), rebounds (twice), and was the Defensive Player of the Year four times in 5 years (I love Ron Artest but come on). Sadly on most nights he appears to be the best defensive player on the Pistons roster. As he finishes up his hall of fame career in a Pistons jersey, where his hall of fame argument began, I hope that the young guys learn that regardless of what your measurements are, effort is something that everyone give...every single night.
