Like many of you, I saw this AP article pop up in a few places about how some people wanted to send the Pistons to compete in the 2004 Olympics. It’s a cool idea, I guess, and I remember sportswriters talking about it at the time, but I don’t know why it’s being discussed now as something that was seriously considered.
Even if it was, though, Detroit’s lineup wouldn’t have been the same as the one that beat the Lakers. For one, Rasheed Wallace was a free agent, so he wouldn’t have played. Neither would have Mehmet Okur, who was also a free agent, and more importantly, Turkish. That would have left Detroit with Corliss Williamson or Darvin Ham at the power forward spot. Ouch.
Some individual members of that title-winning team were in fact invited, but only after every other NBA star turned down their invitation:
Billups may have considered the invitation, had it been extended sooner.
“It was really the way and the manner that they asked me,” said Billups, the MVP of the ‘04 finals. “They asked like 12, 14 other guards, and then they couldn’t get none of them, and they were like, ‘How about Chauncey?’
“I felt that was a disrespect to me for what I’ve done, what I had been through and what I had showed on the court and what I could do. So I said I didn’t really want to be a part of that. Obviously this time around it’s a lot different.”
It’s different this year not just because Chauncey was highly-recruited but also because the U.S. is back to winning all of their games. All of those blowouts have left Bill Walton with more room than usual to deviate from the action on the floor and wax poetic about, well, whatever he wants to. From Ross Siler of the Salt Lake Tribune:
The story of the tournament, if anyone wants to write it, has to be the opportunity these blowouts have presented for Walton to detail the cultural and political history of the U.S. opponents, as well as their major geographical landmarks.
Who would have guessed, for example, that one man knew so much about the Sea of Cortez? It’s like Walton’s playing Trivial Pursuit against himself from behind the microphone. He is his own Wikipedia.
We learned Monday that Mexico City is home to the world’s second-largest public square and that Latinos in America have a purchasing power of some $800 billion. We learned that Walton used to cross the border growing up in San Diego to play basketball in Tijuana.
We heard about the devastation of Hurricane Dean, about the Baja Peninsula being the world’s third-longest peninsula (not to mention that the main road wasn’t paved until the 1970s) and one man controls 14 percent of Mexico’s entire economy.
Just imagine what Walton will come up with for the Uruguay game on Wednesday. And imagine how great it would have been to lock Walton and Chavez in a room somewhere in Caracas this summer.
I don’t know of any announcers more divisive than Walton — people seem to love him or hate him with little room in between. Personally, I enjoy him, as does my colleague Ian. As a writer, I can appreciate a healthy dose of hyperbole now and then, especially when it’s coming from the best announcer in the history of televised sports.
I love walton…but could do without another dose of, “John, I’m not sure if you’re old enough to remember .” I mean, it was funny once, even twice…but the twentieth time I hear the side-splitting gag, I begin to wince in pain. On the other hand…John Saunders, I’d be ok to never hear anything he has to say ever again.
Before last nights game, a friend and I just had a discussion on why we both hate Walton. My main objections are that he is so overtly critical to seemingly minor mistakes (”That was a TEEEEEEEEEEERRIBLE pass. If you’re going to play in the NBA, at least learn how to pass the ball!”)… and then so overtly complementary to what most people would think are very common plays. (”You know, that’s what makes James Posey one of the greatest players in the last 50 years is his ability to see a man cutting to the basket.”)
These aren’t real quotes… but can’t you just hear his lisping emphasis on every syllable?
The beauty…! The poise…! The elegance of Matt Watson’s post…! That’s what makes fans aaaall around the world embrace the Detroit Bad Boys blog! Throw it doooownnn, big man!
Bill Walton doesn’t do anything for me one way or the other. Dick Vitale makes me want to kill, though. Yeah, baby!
Bill Walton would be great doing little feature segments like Dick Enberg, Jim McKay or Charles Kuralt used to do during Wide World of Sports or the Olympics - 5 minutes on a topic, any topic. I just don’t want the 5 minutes to overlap the last 5 minutes of the 3rd quarter when I’m trying to watch a basketball game.
I enjoy Bill Walton and like that he does so much research and preparation and has a genuine curiousity that he wants to share with the viewer. That said, I wish he would talk less during a broadcast. He goes on and on for long stretches talking over the action non-stop without so much as referencing the play on the court. For somebody that is a fierce competitor and a true sportsman I think it sometimes borders on disrespect to the game. I tuned in to see the game, not a Bill Walton talk show. I don’t like broadcasts that fill every second of airtime with chatter, even if it’s entertaining chatter from Bill Walton. It’s as much the TV producer’s fault as it is Walton’s but I still wish the focus was more on the game.
Note: Bill Walton overcame a tremendous stutter that he had all during childhood, through his time at UCLA and into his mid 20s. When I get mad at Walton for what I perceive as too much talking on his part I remember all the work that he’s done to overcome his stuttering problem and the example he is to people around the world with stuttering difficulties and then I end up liking him again — despite missing some game action because I was struggling to follow Walton explain Venezuelan politics. See the link below for a nice explanation of Walton’s stuttering and his advice to other people around the world for overcoming the same problem from Big Red himself.
http://www.billwalton.com/stuttering.html
“overtly critical to seemingly minor mistakes”
That’s so true, and it bothered me for the longest time. It’s fun to recognize that now, and then have a laugh when he does it. Repeatedly. Throughout four quarters.
Wikipedia features an enjoyable section on Waltonisms, featuring highlights such as:
“That’s a terrible call! Terrible!”
“Where in the world is [x]?” (for a player who has disappeared from a game)
“What is a foul?”
“He couldn’t even inbound the ball!”
“Throw it down, big man! Throw it down!”
“Basketball is a game played by men competing for the ultimate prize”
Also, if true, then perhaps the best:
“I am the hero, I am #1, I can go in there and shake and bake all those youngins and teach them some real basketball so they can stop their complaining”
Regardless, sometimes it’s nice to have a polarizing figure among the talking heads.
And bless that Garrett! That’s post of the week as far as I’m concerned.
Bill Walton once said “This is the greatest comeback I have ever seen” during a game between the Suns and Mavericks, and there was about 5 or so minutes left in the game, and various lead changes and point swings still to be had. Was it an epic comeback? No doubt, but the best ever? When Matt says he enjoys a “healthy dose” of hyperbole, I shudder to think what qualifies as a ceiling for what he considers a “healthy dose”. That being said, I suppose Walton does have some value to those of us that often times find ourselves cringing at his commentary. Bill’s comments are occasionally met by bemused laughter.
He annoys me. For everything everyone has said. And I really don’t care about learning about waterfalls in Venezuela. I’d rather he talk about the players or the coaches. Give me background info on them, whats been happening at practice or actually talk about the game.
I like the tounge in cheek to end the article there Matt. Classic Walton. Who ever he’s talking about at the moment is perhaps the greatest player ever at his respective postion. Bill Walton dramatization knows no boundries.
This is absolutely not the appropriate place to post this, however since I’m highly doubting Matt has a “Shock Advance” post coming I had to say it someplace….
*Whew*… Just like always the Shock REFUSE to make anything easy on themselves… at one point being behind by 5 with two to go in OT..Same old script however and we’re headed to the next round.
I gots ta say just one thing bay-bee……..”SHOCK4LYFE!!!!!!!!!!!”
Seriously if you’ve been watching this team the past couple years you know what I mean when I say “another heart attack game in the bag”. I love those girls.
Thanks Keegan! I was channeling Walton when I typed that. Even when I re-read it, I automatically hear Walton in my head.
And Detroit Shock? Who’s that? Ohhh, snap. No I di’int.
yeah i’m soo geeked about the shock advancing. How come they won’t show the games on regular t.v? anyway i’m soo happy, now i just hope the tigers pull out a win tonight.
LET”S GO PISTONS AND LET”S GET THAT SHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2007-2008 IT”S OUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
ALL BOUT DETROIT BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Before last nights game, a friend and I just had a discussion on why we both hate Walton. My main objections are that he is so overtly critical to seemingly minor mistakes (”That was a TEEEEEEEEEEERRIBLE pass. If you’re going to play in the NBA, at least learn how to pass the ball!”)… and then so overtly complementary to what most people would think are very common plays. (”You know, that’s what makes James Posey one of the greatest players in the last 50 years is his ability to see a man cutting to the basket.”)
These aren’t real quotes… but can’t you just hear his lisping emphasis on every syllable?”
Brad,
Bill’s comments are really pretty consistent in what he loves. He loves when guys do the little things, the basic fundamentalls really well. Because in today’s NBA, that is often completely overlooked by dunks, alley-oops, and David Stern.
I guess I’m the same way. I love watching good team defense, guys taking the hard charge, and a solid jumphook.
Bill Walton is and always will be a living legend.
Bill Walton: “Always the argument, it goes back and forth, does Puerto Rico want to become a state or maintain the Commonwealth status? 4 million people live on the island….blah blah blah.”
In other news, Tayshaun Prince is fine and playing in the FIBA game tonight vs. Puerto Rico. Cool.
Does Carlos Arroyo ever NOT carry the ball?
Arroyo doesn’t carry the ball when he fouls out!
Walton took about 3,000 more hits of acid than he should have. I have absolutely no respect for that idiot. No announcer in any sport is worse than Walton. no one.
I wouldnt go so far as to say that I hate him but he can become tiresome very quickly. Especially when he starts reading someplace/someones whole wikipedia entry to us. I must admit I do love saying “Throw it down big man, throw it down!”.
DetroitGirl4life than please accept my appologies. Some of the boys on here like to yank my chain and I suppose it was raw paranoia to assume that it was some sorta pratical joke I just didn’t get
Also let me compliment you on your excellent choice of nicknames 
It’s also a relief to know that I don’t have a zombie doppleganger running around who I’ll have to destroy before I can save the world… *Whew* (I watch alot of Anime).
Bill’s comments are really pretty consistent in what he loves. He loves when guys do the little things, the basic fundamentalls really well. Because in today’s NBA, that is often completely overlooked by dunks, alley-oops, and David Stern.
I guess I’m the same way. I love watching good team defense, guys taking the hard charge, and a solid jumphook.
Bill Walton is and always will be a living legend.
James B,
I don’t think most people go through the emotional swings in a life time that Bill Walton goes through in 5 minutes. He needs valuum. Maybe he dances with Mr. Brownstone?
in reference to your living legend comment… Bill Walton’s NBA career was for crap. 2 good years doesn’t qualify for jack in my book. If he’s a living legend it’s because of his college career, certainly not his pro.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/waltobi01.html
Where did all the Bill Walton fans come from?
I dont know one person in my daily basketball life that actually enjoy Bill Walton…
I myself cant stand him…sorry.
When Bill Walton dies, I’ll be the first to forget who he was.
Pistonsgirl4life I must admit I’m super impressed that you know what a doppleganger is.
Bah, that was easy. What should REALLY impress you is that I know it comes immediately after Displacer Beast in the monster manual.
She’s got wicked analysis of basketball and she can DM?
I think I’m smitten…
Rasheed is the Tempus of the Pistons, LMAO.
You’re only saying that because you have NO idea that I look exactly like Mechelle Voepel!
(Note resisted the urge to type Eric Dampier instead… really did)