We got a little nostalgic last week reminiscing about Bill Laimbeer and the rest of the old school Bad Boys. But of the current Pistons, no player more closely embodies Laimbeer’s attitude and spirit than Rasheed Wallace. Plus, long-time fans can’t help but see the similarity in their games: they’re both big men with three-point range, which has always been a rarity in the NBA. (In fact, you could argue that Wallace is the player that Laimbeer would have been had Lambs, you know, been born with actual athletic ability.)
But the comparisons don’t end there, as both players have also spent most of their careers being misunderstood by just about everyone but their teammates. Both are animated on the court, and both have often been a victim of their reputation, resulting in a rocky rapport with the referees.
But while Rasheed Wallace may not be a favorite with the refs — having just earned a one-game suspension for accruing one too many technical fouls — there are plenty of reasons for all of us fans to love him, not the least of which being the above picture of him with fellow Philadelphia legend Wilt Chamberlain. From the far depths of the internet I bring back into the light this classic site: Elevatorman’s Unofficial Rasheed Wallace Home Page.
Largely based on college anecdotes, the Elevatorman compiled “100 Reasons Why We Love Rasheed Wallace.” It’s a worthy read for any fan of Sheed or the Pistons. Here are some highlights:
1. Got thrown out of the McDonald’s All-American Game.
4. Tried to psych up his teammates by yelling, “Let’s go out and play like we’re Chicago on NBA Jam.”
12. When he was introduced at Dick Vitale-hosted midnight madness during his freshman year, he threw his head back, arched his back, and roared into the rafters.
24. He avoided interviews following games because he was in the training room calling his moms.
46. In his first weekend in heaven at a notably sizable fraternal function, he was reportedly seen dancing in such a way as to allow his denim shorts to dip well below his knees, revealing his underpants, also dangling lower than is socially acceptable.
61. 2/23/94, Notre Dame, Ind., North Carolina 80, Notre Dame 71, received first technical foul as a Tar Heel.
71. In 1994 pre-tournament interview with Tom Suter drew the profound metaphor between team chemistry and jello… “See, we are like the dust… we just need to be mixed in right so we can gel.”
98. At Duke game in Chapel Hill during his first NBA season, as freshman Vince Carter, struggling to get playing time, was just trying to concentrate on the game as he walked to the scorer’s table, Rasheed yelled to him, “VINCE! VINCE! I know you hear me! You better look over here or I’m gonna slap you upside the head!”
100. “We had some phantom technical fouls called when we had Rasheed. I know that. He’d just scream, he was so happy with a dunk and the next thing you know it’s a technical foul. If I ever dunked, I would have screamed. If I’d go up and sky and dunk one, I’d scream too.” –college basketball’s all-time winningest coach Dean E. Smith
Digging a little deeper on the site, I unearthed this anecdote from one of Rasheed’s first practices at Chapel Hill:
The following is my favorite Sheed story as told by a man who witnessed all happen… First team scrimmage Ra’s freshman year. Montross and Salvadori had been pushing Ra up and down the court, double teaming him down low, and talkin’ shit the whole time. Evidently Ra went up for a turn around “J” in the lane only to have Montross and Salvadori club him and block his shot… each telling him to never bring that shit inside again. Next time down the court Ra caught a ball coming off of the rim at which time he did one of his backboard shaking monster dunks (a 9.5 on Pat Sullivan’s grading scale) on Montross and Salvadori. Upon landing on his feet Ra pushed Montross into Salvadori and yelled, “You better recognize.. Motherf***er! Your job is mine!” This outburst infuriated Montross as he chased Ra down the court as the entire team tried to break it up. Ra ran laps for the rest of the practice.
There are more than just 100 reasons to love Sheed — the site expanded after Rasheed moved on to the pros:
On the zebras: “A lot of them cats are felonious, man.”
On Portland GM John Nash stating that Rasheed Wallace is more talented than Kenyon Martin, but Kenyon Martin is more tenacious: “I don’t give a shit what John Nash thinks…You see where his thinking got him…You all got anything else?”
“Some people say I’m mean and this and that. On one hand that’s cool. That keeps away all the riffraff and all the bugaboos.” — R. Wallace
“Every time he took a shot he said `Don’t worry young fella, I get paid for this. I get paid for doing this to you’,” - Kwame Brown
“…In college it was win, win, win. I don’t like losing. I’ve never had to deal with losing. When I’m out there on the floor, I might yell or do this or that. I’m trying to get the win. My whole bottom line is getting that ‘W.’ I might be more vocal or more fierce than the next player, and I get labeled a knucklehead. That comes from people who don’t know me, who just see me one night out of 365 days. “
Much props to the Elevatorman for compiling all of this — it’s a freaking goldmine to the legions of Rasheed Wallace and Pistons fans out there.
It obviously didn’t take long for Rasheed to become a fan favorite in Detroit after the Pistons acquired him almost two and a half years ago. So, tell us in the comments, what are some of your favorite Rasheed memories since he’s arrived?
Hi! Call me Elevatorman. [Elevatorman’s Unofficial Rasheed Wallace Home Page]
Ah, it’s hard to pick one. I just love his quotes- especially if you can hear him talking during the game- the one time earlier this year was classic: “I’ll let him shoot that s*** from the line, he can have that from there all day.” Of course, the rest of the 2003-2004 season is reason enough to love him!
His ‘guaran-sheeds’! I believe he’s done it twice, both on Indiana games.
And I remember last year during the Miami playoffs, he was asked if he’s giving a ‘guaransheed’ for the next game. He said something like, ‘I only guarantee once a year, and Indiana used it all up!’
Too funny!!!! How can you NOT love this guy?!
The Montross story drew — by far — the biggest laugh from me. Just the thought of Montross trying to Big-Time Sheed is humorous enough, but for Sheed to dunk on him, and tell him he was taking his job? Priceless…
I might have to agree with Angela — those “Guaran-Sheeds” were always exciting! And his “Darko is a Serbian gangster” line still cracks me up.
Does anyone else think (or care) that Wilt Chamberlin looks like Detroit Congressman John Conyers?
Pat — Hmmmm…
you may have something there.
and as long as we’re talking about look-alikes, chris rock anyone? (actually matt and i were discussing this last night)
the best sheed moment was “both teams played hard” he used it like 10 times no matter what the reporter asked after portland lost a playoff game!
“BALL DON’T LIE!” is classic.
In all my years watching basketball, I’ve never seen anything like it.
Did he do this in Portland?
My favorite sheed moment is when he guaransheed game 4 in cleveland then left the game with a sprained ankle and they lost to the less talented cavs….hahahahaha that man is hilarious. What will he think of next?
Seriously, my first Rasheed moment came back in the 1990’s, when Portland was playing in the playoffs. Rasheed got upset, and he took the ball and punted it way up into the seats. He got ejected, but I will never forget my first “Rasheed moment.” This guy is misunderstood too often. There are no other players who play with so much intensity and heart. There are guys who go out and play hard, and lay it all on the line, but they simply do not play in the same passionate way as Rasheed Wallace.
To answer the question about Sheed using “ball don’t lie in” Portland, yes he did.
Does anyone have a video clip of rasheed saying both teams played hard ????
I need it so bad please helpp..
I remember this one time the Pistons were in LA to face the Lakers. Rasheed slapped the ball from Kobe, cleanly mind you, and got called for the foul. He sprinted to the other side of the court, yelling “Whooo!!” to protest the call. lol Then on some other play, he blocked a shot, yet got called for a foul and his momentum some how carried him past the cameramen again yelling “Whooo!!” to protest the call. Then came the third foul where Tayshaun grabbed Rasheed around the waist before he can run. lol As Tay held onto him, Sheed had the biggest smile on his face, while saying bullshit, bullshit. lol I still crack up now as hard as I did when I was watching it like 2 years ago.
Just one of the many hilarious things Sheed has done to draw all the love from non haters.
Sheed is the best! You gotta love him, he’s so hood and cool all the time. This reflects on his style of ballin’. He don’t care what others say, and that’s real. In 04′ in the finals he finished off LA with such an array of shots. SHEED IS THE BEST!
yes! video! both teams played hard! the moment rasheed wallace found a permanent place in my heart and memory. absolutely classic. no, really. anyone know where I (and Jared) can find the video?
Just found and love this blog.
Cannot wait for more Boston/Detroit games.
I remember west 2000 finals Blazers -LA, It was so frustrating for Sheed an alleyup to Shaq over him at the end of that series. My favorite moment is a Detroit Pistons 2004 scene with a so happy Sheed after game 5 against Lakers and same Shaq. It was a deserved revenge for him and his career.