Morning Shootaround: MLK Day Links

by Packey on Jan 18, 2010 9:38 AM EST in Morning Shootaround

NBA FanHouse Report: Bucks to Sign Jerry Stackhouse
Detroit News Win streak firing Pistons up
Freep Chris Wilcox's athleticism injects energy into starting lineup
Freep  'Warrior' Ben Wallace impresses Pistons' John Kuester, teammates with weekend effort
Wayne Winston A Happy New Year for the Knicks?
News Day Hill sparks Knicks, gets D'Antoni's attention
WWJ 950 Report: Detroit Pistons For Sale?
Freep Curious picks, and a call to alter NBA All-Star voting
Pistons Nation Who wants to go in on an NBA team with me?
Full Court Press -- MLIVE  Could the Detroit Pistons be for sale?
MLIVE  Red Wings' Ken Holland on where Wings will play next season: 'Joe Louis Arena'
1450 WHTC  Red Wings Could Move To Auburn Hills
CBS Sports Pistons-Knicks Preview - Jan. 17, 2010
Sporting News Pistons-Knicks Preview - STATS Senior Writer
Pistons.com The PRE Report - January 18, 2010
Pistons.com Game Notes
ESPN Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks - Preview - January 18, 2010
Full Court Press - MLIVE About Last Night: Knicks don't realize there's a game going on until the fourth quarter
Slam Online Video: Kyle Korver Stuffs LeBron

Pistons @ Knicks with the sneaky 1 PM start today. Kevin should be by later with the Game Thread action. Enjoy your MLK Jr. Holiday.

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Happy MLK Day, DBB!

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by brgulker on Jan 18, 2010 9:42 AM EST reply actions

Not so happy MLK Day.

When you see articles like “Report: Detroit Pistons For Sale?”

I really didn’t want to believe the rumblings the last few months after the sale of the Shock, but it’s looking like a very real possibility.

In the meantime, Pistons owner Karen Davidson seriously is considering selling the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment. She already has had a conversation with NBA commissioner David Stern on the process and protocol for attracting potential buyers. Once she sells, there would be nothing keeping the Pistons tethered to The Palace.

by Terrence J. Lynch on Jan 18, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions

I don't get it...

I don’t mean to sound cold-hearted … but I don’t understand why people are so distraught by this.

For one thing, there are a lot of things we don’t know. E.g., Mr. and Mrs. D could have talked about this before he passed. Maybe Mrs. D knew that she wouldn’t want to manage a team after her husband’s death, and they talked about it, and he gave his blessing. Maybe that didn’t happen — but if something like that did happen, then I think we’re overreacting a little bit.

For another thing, this may not be a bad thing in the long run. I can’t imagine that Mrs. D would sell the franchise to anyone other than worthy owners …

Yes, it’s sad in the sense that the Pistons were Mr. D’s thing, and he loved his team — but beyond that, I think there’s room to be optimistic.

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by brgulker on Jan 18, 2010 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Agreed 100%

I know I don’t want someone owning the Pistons whose heart isn’t in it. Mrs. D probably loves the Pistons but this was her husband’s business. Not her’s.

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by Packey on Jan 18, 2010 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The problem is that we have no idea who she'll sell the team to.

Or where they’ll end up. I mean, the Detroit Shock are now in Oklahoma City and were one of the most successful WNBA franchises. It’s entirely possible the Pistons end up out of state. That’s why I’m worried, because by all accounts it sounds like she’s more concerned with the bottom line. Which means if a guy wants to move them to Las Vegas and makes an offer larger than any other one, she’s going to take it.

I agree, if she’s not into it, she shouldn’t be running the team. But don’t think that she’s honor-bound to make sure the owners are “worthy.”

by Terrence J. Lynch on Jan 18, 2010 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

lets take up a collection...

maybe we can buy the Pistons.

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by madpoopz on Jan 18, 2010 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

More than likely, that's what it would take to keep the Pistons in Michigan.

There’s not going to be very many individual bidders for the Pistons. It will likely be a group ownership similar to the Hawks down in Atlanta.

I could see Seattle making another push for a franchise if Detroit gets on the market. Don’t know if their offer would be any better.

by Terrence J. Lynch on Jan 18, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

Good point

And you put a little more worry in me than I had before, but I still don’t think the Pistons are going to wind up out of state. Bill wouldn’t want it that way and I think she’s more worried about that than a bottom line — assuming she has a heart.

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by Packey on Jan 18, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

Bill also adored the Shock.

He went on and on about how great the WNBA was, how much he loved the Shock and what it meant to young girls. He also went on about how much it helped the Pistons as well, growing a young fanbase of girls, and keep in mind the WNBA isn’t in danger of going under, contrary to popular belief. They signed several lucrative deals over the past couple of years, including one with Nike. The WNBA is actually in better shape than it’s ever been. Drawing record high attendance this last season. One of the most watched WNBA Finals. It’s actually doing quite well, which is why the Shock sale was so oft putting.

Honestly, you shouldn’t worry too much about it. Mainly because I believe that there will be Michigan investors ready and waiting to purchase the Pistons. Even Dan Gilbert, should LeBron bolt, could take another shot at the Pistons (he’s tried repeatedly to get them from Davidson prior to his death). But you shouldn’t worry because this is not going to be an immediate event. I think we won’t see the Pistons for sale until after a new CBA kicks in and owners/investors know what the future of the NBA will be like.

Keep in mind even Bill himself has sold off something he loved. Lightning, anyone?

by Terrence J. Lynch on Jan 18, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

Who knows...

The Pistons are his baby and all those Shock comments could have just been good PR. I just don’t see her knowingly selling to someone who’s not willing to keep the team in MI.

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by Packey on Jan 18, 2010 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

The Pistons and Shock are hardly the same thing … even if Mr. D loved them both.

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by brgulker on Jan 19, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Or where they’ll end up. I mean, the Detroit Shock are now in Oklahoma City and were one of the most successful WNBA franchises. It’s entirely possible the Pistons end up out of state. That’s why I’m worried, because by all accounts it sounds like she’s more concerned with the bottom line. Which means if a guy wants to move them to Las Vegas and makes an offer larger than any other one, she’s going to take it.

See, to me, that’s baseless speculation. In the first place, the Pistons have been a very profitable franchise. Moving them out of Detroit would be silly for any new owner.

Second, and more importantly, the Pistons were Mr. D’s baby … for her to sell them to owners who would move them just doesn’t make any sense — why would she sell something her husband loved so much?

That just doesn’t add up to me, sorry.

If I’m wrong, I’ll be seriously bummed … but something tells me that she’s not going to do that.

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by brgulker on Jan 18, 2010 1:06 PM EST up reply actions