If you couldn’t tell, that’s a Rodney Stuckey highlight reel from the Las Vegas Summer League via a random Chinese video site (Google turns out the strangest things sometimes). It’s the first time I’ve seen this specific compilation, but that’s not really what matters. Basically, it’s just a pretty introduction to a topic that I’ve been thinking about for a while …
See what number Stuckey is wearing? It’s No. 3 … the same No. 3 that another player made pretty popular around these parts.
Once upon a time, I considered it a forgone conclusion that someday the Pistons would hang No. 3 from the rafters in honor of Ben Wallace (and I wasn’t the only one — Pistons front office guy Dave Wieme agreed). But now? I’m guessing the organization has different thoughts, otherwise they wouldn’t have made the number available to a rookie. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what it seems to suggest. (Adding salt to the wound is Stuckey’s explanation for the number: noted Pistons killer Dwyane Wade is his favorite player.)
So I ask you, did Ben Wallace do enough to have his jersey retired in Detroit? And does Stuckey wearing the number now necessarily preclude the Pistons from retiring it in honor of Wallace down the road? Make your case in the comments.
Big Ben fled the city for mo’ money. That combined with the fact that I really don’t think he was here long enough to warrant having that jersey lifted… well, that’s that.
He won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, was the face of the franchise, and was on his way to taking over for Yzerman as not just the captain of the Pistons, but the captain of Detroit Sports. He delivered a championship and was at or near the top of the league in rebounds and blocks for pretty much his whole tenure in Detroit.
Still, I don’t think he was here long enough. Additionally, it would be hard to give anyone that much recognition for that championship considering it was the epitome of a team accomplishment. I think it’s much more likely that #1 goes up if Billups was to stay around, continue to rack up All-Star appearances, and lead the “new look” Pistons to another title. Considering he’ll finish his career here (at least his prime), and that he was beginning to take the leadership mantle away from Ben in the last year or so, Chauncey is the better choice.
Stuckey should keep No. 3 if he wants it.
I think Ben deserves his number in the Palace rafters!!!!
When it comes to the championship starting 5 I think Tayshaun is the most likely to get the rafter treatment. Had Ben finished out his career here, he’d be automatic. If Tay plays at least the first 85% of his career here, as I envision he will. Vinnie Johnson got the rafter treatment and he came off the bench.
I think any member outside of Sheed has a decent chance, with Chauncey having almost as good of a chance as Tay as that Finals MVP trophy (that I don’t believe he deserved most) makes him a hard candidate to refuse.
I don’t have any concrete proof but I believe there have been instances of players sporting a number that was later retired to a person playing with that number prior. I think Ben is certainly worthy of consideration but the circumstances of his depature and the length of his tenure make the choice suspect. Hopefully Stuckey with the No. 3 goes on to have a long, flourishing career for the Stones and makes this a non-issue when it’s retired with his name on the back.
Here’s a question: if Ben continues along his path of decline, can his departure really be held against him when all is said and done?
Yes, his legacy is tainted by being something of a mercenary, but his best years by far were in Detroit, and by leaving he saved the Pistons from making a huge mistake investing so much money on a player on the downward slope of his career (while sabotaging a division rival’s cap space all the while …)
I don’t think Ben should get in. Besides the fact that he only played 6 years for us (like Taco pointed out), you have to drink the kool-aid to get in and Ben never did. Isiah, Laimbeer, Dumars were all loyal to Detroit until the end of their career. If Ben should get in then so should Grant Hill.
Ben Wallace should definitely have his number retired. He was central to the identity of a championship team and was in Detroit for 6 years. Every team and sport has a different standard for this kind of thing but the first person I thought of in comparison to Big Ben was Reggie Jackson, who has his number retired for the Yankees. Jackson played 5 years in NY but was the focus of the teams championships in 77-78.
Ben Wallace played the best basketball of career in Detroit. I don’t see how having a few years on either side of his prime should matter to fans. The man never had a giant contract prior to the Chicago deal so it’s not like he could justify leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table. As you can see by Ben Wallace’s recent shoe deal with the $14.99 shoes (he gets paid nothing up front) the man is all about value, not greed. He got paid fair market value in Chicago and is selling discounted shoes to kids. Maybe the Chicago money frees Ben Wallace up to do good things with his life, better even than giving a discount to Detroit. Do fans really need to see Big Ben spend a few extra years on the Pistons exposing the wear and tear of years playing hard basketball or did things end for the best for both parties?
I hope Stuckey has a wonderful career but the 3 should stay off the court until Ben Wallace is invited back to put it in the rafters.
One more thought…
In 20 years when you want to explain the ‘04 Championship team and great run to your kids you should just be able to point up and have the Big 4 jerseys all in a row. You shouldn’t have to say “And then Detroit wanted to sign Wallace at a discount in order to pay Billups full price the next year and Wallace said ‘No thanks’ and got paid full price in Chicago.”
Let’s just talk basketball in 20 years, not about a legend who is gone because of salary cap reasons and not anything he ever did while in Detroit. In Detroit Ben Wallace was the best competitor and teammate you could imagine and the best defensive player in the league more than once. That should be his legacy, not juggling contracts to free up money for Amir Johnson and guaranteed contracts for two first round picks.
Over time and due in part to what appears to be his impending decline, I’ve stopped drinking the Ben haterade unless it’s gameday. So I feel as though I’m much more able to view this question without emotional bias than I was at this time last year.
While I do think that Ben was much better and much more important than Dennis Rodman, I don’t really think that Ben’s six seasons showed anything that deserves stronger consideration for jersey retirement than The Worm. Ben was more dominant on defense. Many of the DBB faithful have said he was “face of the franchise” even if Taco John’s prophecy of him ascending to Yzerman status as “Capt. of Detroit Sports” was wholly undeserving. I think Rodman might’ve been just as beloved as Ben was. I think at the very least that Rodman carried a reasonably comparable role. I will admit that I was born in 1984 so I may be doing some revisionist history of an era where I wasn’t at my best with observation, but I think I’m making a fair comparison. We all know how the organization has ruled on Rod the Bod’s number. I would contend that the same should hold for Ben.
Someone feel free to tell me I’m out of my mind regarding the comparison of Ben and Rodman, but please don’t try to tell me that Ben was most assuredly on his way to automatically becoming the undisputed captain of Detroit sports.
One thing Ben has working in his favor that Chauncey, Rip and Tayshaun don’t is that Ben was here during the lean times. After Grant Hill left, a lot of people initially gave up on the Pistons, and even though they only won 32 games in 2001, by the end of that season a lot of people were starting to realize that there’s “that one guy with the ‘fro” worth paying attention to. He was the linchpin to Dumars making all the subsequent moves to bring the other guys into the fold.
Maybe he wasn’t Yzerman, but who ever will be? Two decades with a team (and three titles to boot) may never happen again in Detroit sports. But at least during his last 2-3 years in Detroit, I’d argue he *was* the most relevant face of Detroit sports, and probably second most recognizable behind Stevie Y.
No way Ben’s # should be retired. He was an icon who left for a bag of money. If he stayed, he could’ve made a nice living for himself here after he retired and been a big community figure (like Dave Bing has done).
As far as Stuckey wearing #3… cane you blame him? for loving D. Wade? While I am a HUGE pistons fan, D. Wade is probably my fave NBA player, too. Well, OK, Rasheed is, but D. Wade is close. As a basketball fan, how can you NOT love D. Wade. He’s a superstar talent without the ego. He’s real level-headed and modest. Now, I do have a bias… D. Wade & I were college classmates. For as big of a star he was (even in college), he was always a real nice guy who never tried to draw attention to himself.
Travis Diener & Steve Novak (Pacers and Rockets), on the other hand… huge pricks.
Only those who were loyal to the Pistons organization deserve to have their jersey retired.
Dumars
Isiah
Laimbeer
Lanier
Johnson
Bing
Daly
Davidson
Ben Wallace? Ben bailed out on his teammates and the city. He will only be remembered as a great Piston, but he shouldn’t be praised by retiring his number.
Poor Wallace couldn’t stand Flip Saunders’ methods so he decides to run. At least Rasheed Wallace is sticking it out.
Basically in my opinion it comes down to this… Nobody can blame Ben for taking more money from Chicago. It was on so many levels the absolute right move for him at the time. Additionally I REALLY don’t think Ben’s play declined that much in Chi-town so much as the whole frontcourt plays like that so he didn’t exactly stand out.
That having been said, Ben had ever opportunity to be the ever lasting face of this franchise. He chose not to do that. He chose to air his opinions of the franchise on national TV in a losing locker room and within days took a very lucrative ride out of town.
I do not blame him for those choices, but as EVERYONE in Pistonsland knows (hi Zeke!) Mr Davidson does not forgive or forget. I wouldn’t be suprised if Bill is secretly HAPPY Stuckey took the number. Don’t think for 20 seconds that Davidson wouldn’t rip down Isiah’s banner if he thought the fanbase would go for it.
It’s not personal Ben, but you’re with us or you’re not.. for life…or not.
I say split the baby down the middle.
Ben could have worn #3 for Detroit until he retired if he wanted to. He didn’t.
Give it to Stuckey now. Maybe when Ben retires they can retire it then. Of course, if Rodney’s as good as advertised, who knows - a dual retirement???
No, Ben will not have his number retired here. He is a great player, who did a lot of great things while on our team. Players who have their number retired should be those who stick it out through most (if not all) of their career. By leaving for more money, he showed us that he really doesn’t care about the organization any more, and I doubt he was really concerned about getting his number retired when he left. Sorry Ben, but I don’t think you belong up there with Joe, Bill, or Isiah.
Ben did NOT deliver a championship to Detroit. He was part of the championship, but it was not solely because of him the championship was won. Tayshaun had more to do with it than Ben. SCREW THE FRO. Loyalty is honored in Detroit, NOT a bigger contract.
Benefits of reserving #3 for potential retirement: makes the team appear slightly more player-friendly and fan-friendly, leaves door open for mending fences w/ Big Ben after he retires, provides another reminder of championship team, discourages rookie from idolizing a guy he’s gonna have to guard.
Benefits of letting rookie wear #3: … appeases spite?
Reward loyalty with loyalty. Big Ben ditched us (in a very deceiving manner), why should we honor that? Stuckey, #3 is all you. Own it.
Do I see Dennis Rodman’s number among the retired?
Dennis had a better exit than Ben did.
I won’t see Ben’s number retired.
How about we just hang an inflatable Ben from the rafters? Or retire his ‘fro
For whatever it’s worth, I don’t see the Dennis Rodman situation as being comparable. He played seven years in Detroit and was only a full-time starter in his last few. And he won two DPOY, not four.
The only thing that taints Ben in my eyes is the way he left, but I admit I already think of his legacy a bit differently now than a did a year ago. I wonder if that will continue over time, with some fans softening their stance on the guy. (Not saying that’s right or wrong, just curious …)
I can not see Ben getting his number retired here, for the simple fact he walked out on the team and the city.
As for what I think, even though Ben did walked out, we SHOULD reconize what he brought to that ‘04 team and the years before that when it was JUST HIM. I DO think we should retire his number BUT not right now or even soon after he actually retires. If Stuckey ends up having a spectacular career here, maybe we should retire the “3″ in honor of both guys(kind of how the Lions did for the number “20″ with Barry Sanders, Lem Barney and Billy Sims). I know it would be kind of unfair to Stuckey as an individual player but that would be the consequence for taking a number who was made famous by someone else.
In refference to what Matt said:
Plus let’s be fair. Ben Wallace has NEVER shown up to a photo-shoot in a blushing bride costume. He’s also done way less acid, has more tasteful tatoos and isn’t an embarassment to the player he once was.
Still not agreeing that Ben’s number should be retired but Matt is absolutely right. Dennis Rodman’s case is worse. He’s like the Flava Flave of basketball.
I blame ben leaving mainly on Joe D. picking flip as our head coach.
If you are ben wallace and you are getting all this money from whoever, no matter what you want to do with it, If you cant do it with 48 million then you cant do it with 60 million either… what ever “it” is.
He didnt like flip and so he bailed on us to a D minded team that would pay him that crazy sum of money, its that simple. It was NOT the money.
So basically, if we could have kept LB I think Ben would have stayed and his number would be retired and maybe had more playoffs success. Larry Brown why did you have to screw all that up, and that knick fiasco…yeeesh
Anyways, retiring Bens number? if he makes it to the hall of fame and Stukcey flounders then yes. If not then no.
Last year my answer would have been Stuckey wears #3, but time heals all wounds. I am in the camp that believes Ben left for good reason, and Joe D didn’t match for good reason. With Bill Davidson, the richest man in Michigan, the luxury tax is not an option. Accordingly, their wasn’t really that hard of a decision to make. Keep Ben or Chauncey but not both. Ben is older and plays on bad knees and with bad wrists. Chauncey is the straw that stirs the drink.
But I digress. Ben gave his heart and soul to the organization and its fans. He also was at the ground floor of rebuilding. I believe he, Corliss and Lindsey were the only Pistons on the 03-04 Pistons to play in teal. Additionally, I can’t count the amount of times the Pistons got a big stop at the end of a game due largely in part to Big Ben’s defense. Chauncey may be Mr. Big Shot, but Ben was Mr. Big Stop.
Ultimately, I’m in the opinion that Stuckey does not wear #3, and wait and see whether or not to retire Ben’s number.
On a side note– Happy Trails Corliss “Big Nasty” Williamson. Good Luck in your future coaching career.
Let’s try an analogy: Will Kevin Garnett’s number be retired in Minnesota? Postulate, Pistons Peeps.
does it take a really long time for jerseys to be retired post the actual retirement of the honored player in question? is it like a 10 year wait? or is it completely arbitrary? seems like the numbers that are quickly taken off the shelf belong to players who retire as a player of that team i.e. joe d, laimbeer, etc. and obviously ben won’t be in that category. with the way things played out and ben being a few years from hanging it up, it’ll probably take the entire playing career of rodney stuckey before the pistons start talking about raising #3 to the rafters.
big ben sold his legacy in detroit for about $1 million after taxes(pistons last reported offer-52 mil). that includes all that goes with it. if you reward mercenary players, you retire the number.if you reward players that are loyal to the team and region,then you do not.
btw, thats a million a year difference
Whether Ben’s number gets raised is a question for another day. Maybe 8-10 years from now the team might be in a low spot thinking back to the glory days of the ‘04 championship and all those conference finals. Ben could be welcomed back in Detroit if he stinks out the rest of his contract in Chicago and ends up hurting a Piston rival. The main reason for me to not want Stuckey in #3 is because I hate Wade and his way of scroring via the whistle. This Piston team has enought trouble dealing with refs as it is (I love Sheed anyway) without our top rookie emulating a “Superstar” player who gets put on the line with every inside “near contact situation.” I know what number Hot Rod wears won’t impact his style of play BUT it will make me feel alot better watching the future of the franchise if our first round pick insn’t looking AND playing like Wade.
2 years ago, nobody would’ve even questioned weather or not to hang #3 from the rafters. Was there any other player on the floor who commanded so much attention from the other team or the fans? (Fro’s in the crowd, the gong, last one introduced) I think his # gets retired, and I don’t think that Joe or Mr. D are mad at him for leaving. Can you see ben taking bench time so that amir and max could get minutes? Watch chicago this year and see how they manage with 2 top 5 picks sitting on the bench. No, everything worked for the best (unless we could’ve traded the wallaces for kg), and Ben was the greatest piston on the floor for his entire 6 years. I’d also send up Hill’s #, too.
Ben left us - regardless of the situation he left. You didnt see Yzerman leave during the hard times, you didnt see Mr. Dumars leave during the hard times, can anyone say Teale jerseys?!?!…simply put, Ben will never have his jersey retired anywhere. enough said.
Let’s retire Grant Hill’s Jersey number! Isn’t that the same thing as Ben?
besides being a good player, to retire a players jersey for your team there are certain criteria you have to meet. I’m just putting these out there for everyone to slice and dice.
1) The player must be exclusively associated/identified with your team. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t have played for other teams, but his playing for your team greatly(at least double?) outlasts any other organization he played with… with more weight being given to the years at the end of his career. Billups-yes, Rodman-no, Rip-yes, Ben-no. Here’s one to think about: Shaq. Lakers or Heat?
2) The player must, at some point, voluntarily choose to play with that organization. Sign with that team in the off-season, OKing a trade to the team, or resigning a contract all qualify. Maybe it should be rephrased as “Never voluntarily choose another organization.” The point is, as long as the team is being fair (and I think Joe was very fair with Ben’s contract) you don’t go anywhere else.
3) The organization can never have traded the player away… unless they somehow reacquired the player. This is kinda interesting in Rodman’s case. We traded him for Sean Elliott. This would eliminate Shaq from being retired from being a Laker. This also eliminates Sheed from being retired a Blazer(or Hawk =P)
4) The player must exemplify what the organization wants to see in all players… on and off the court. I don’t think Rodman qualifies for this one… but it gives Lindsay Hunter a shot. Bill Laimbeer. Isiah. Dumars. All players the organization wants future players to model their game/attitude after.
… I can’t think of any more. You guys can run with it if you want.
Personally I’m suprised at how comitted everyone is one way or another. Not trying to be insulting but it just seems kinda silly really. History has made it VERY clear who Bill Davidson is. It’s not the leaving for more money so much as the complaining about the coaching staff on the way out, I mean that.
Morally you can debate the issue in circles all day. Factually Bill Davdison will not see Ben Wallace’s number retired while he is alive.
Seriously, that’s why guys with big mouth’s simply VANISH from Pistonsland after they retire, and guys who want to stick around have to move up through the front office ranks so slowly (Joe D, Bill Laimbeer, etc).
Not even close. Loyalty, and having your image associated to an organization is a big part of getting your number retired. Ben passed on both of those when signing with the Bulls.
There are a lot of things I like about Ben, both on and off the court, but in terms of getting your number retired, those things are secondary to being loyal to your organization.
I don’t blame Ben for leaving (even though I was mad when he did), but I really don’t think we should retire his number. It might be different if he was old, and had never won a title, and thought Chicago had a better chance then Detroit, but that was not the case. He left for the money. So I say, let Stuckey have #3
“Factually Bill Davdison will not see Ben Wallace’s number retired while he is alive.”
Wallace has at least another 3-5 years left in his playing career, and if the jersey is retired, it’ll likely be a good 3-5 years after he stops playing. I really hate to say it, but Davidson may not be around to make that call either way.
That’s cold, Matt. Even if I think it could/should be retired, Stuckey should still be allowed to use it in the mean time, in getting back to your original question.
I’m not against Ben’s number being retired in the future, but the way I look at it is he could have guaranteed that it would happen and he passed. If it doesn’t now, he’d better not complain about it. When Chauncey resigned, he right out talked about taking his legacy into consideration, and Ben obviously was willing to give his up.
I don’t think Rodney wearing #3 means it can’t be retired for Ben later, though. Look at the Tigers. I don’t think they would not retire Trammell’s number even though it has been worn since (Sheffield).
Naw that’s fair, I thought of the EXACT same thing when I typed it. Maybe then things WILL change in Pistonsland. However I really do mean it when I say Bill Davidson doesn’t drop grudges…. so yeah, dropping stone dead might be what it’d take
Seriously, it’s cold but it’s not really “innacurate”.
plain and simple…
If Rodman’s number isn’t retired then Wallace’s shouldn’t be either… I think both men were about the same physically and athletically…
I say no to Wallace’s number being retired.
“Someone feel free to tell me I’m out of my mind regarding the comparison of Ben and Rodman, but please don’t try to tell me that Ben was most assuredly on his way to automatically becoming the undisputed captain of Detroit sports.”
Obviously I’m not trying to tread on Stevie’s legacy. Like Matt said, Yzerman’s career was special, spending over 20 years with the team, and winning three titles, never once did we hear about him considering leaving (although I’m young, so maybe early in his career). He’ll definitely be a favorite for Greatest Detroit Athlete Ever, and my thought is he would be a prohibitive favorite.
But Ben would likely have become the most recognizable athlete in Detroit, and a player who exemplifies the values that people here cherish. Verlander’s too young, Roy Williams is too flashy, none of the young Wings have delivered on the promise of the team yet. He would have had some run as the most loved athlete in Detroit if he came back, and winning another title would have probably put him pretty high up on the mountain of Detroit Sports History.
At one point there was a running rumor that Yzerman was on the blocks for Alexei Yashin (no I am not kidding), that’s about the only time I remember “Yzerman” and “trade” or “leaving Detroit” coming up at all. It was right after we flamed out vs NJ and just before Scotty came (and Keith “I swear he’s a hockey player even though he can’t skate” Primeau was traded for Shanny). Something about “The obvious answer is more Russians”.
The Wing’s wisely declined.
Actually my bad, apparently it was POST Bowman and pre Shanny… and apparently it wasn’t the first time:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/sportsblog/2007/01/paying_tribute_to_steve_yzerma.html
“Twice during Yzerman’s tenure, there were rumours that he was going to be traded. It’s well-known by now that Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch wanted Pat LaFontaine in 1983, visibly slumping in his seat when the Islanders took him one pick before Detroit would draft. Legendary New York general manager Bill Torrey admitted that one of the reasons he made that choice was for a potential trade years later.
That opportunity came in 1991. LaFontaine demanded a trade and Torrey’s first call was to then-Red Wings GM (now Ottawa coach) Bryan Murray. There were some discussions, but Murray asked Torrey if the trade could get done without Yzerman going in return. When Torrey said no, Murray ended the conversations.
In 1994, with Bowman now making the hockey decisions, the Red Wings were coming off the seven-game stunner to San Jose. The Senators wanted Yzerman and were willing to give up Alexei Yashin to do it. (Really, can you imagine Bowman and Yashin? What a sitcom.) Bowman kind of confirmed this the other night, but the team learned there was no way Yzerman could be traded during Detroit’s home opener after that season’s lockout.
Fans – realizing their captain might be dealt – provided such a show of love and support that Bowman and everyone else realized they couldn’t trade him. He was simply the most popular person in the organization, and no one else was close. That’s when any discussions died. ”
Wow, just reading that article made mee feel good. Thanks for the millionth time Steve. (Also I’m starting to wonder if the reason I don’t watch the Red Wings very much anymore has ALOT more to do with no Stevie Y than it does with my fury over the lockout, which had been my stated reason until now… interesting)
No one thinks that Pistons will retire the number 3, as tribute to Ben Wallace and Rodney Stuckey’s career(if Stuckey turns out to be a spectacular player)?
If anything i think that would be the only way it would be retired
As the years pass two things are going to become clearer and clearer:
1. Both LB and BW’s departures had a lot more to do with Bill Davis, Joe Dumars, and later, Flip Saunders — than ANYTHING ELSE.
2. If the management had decided to keep them here — which it had the option to — we’d be looking at a true championship dynasty right now, with at least 3 titles.
…and as for hanging Ben’s jersey up in the rafters: no. It should have been, but it won’t be.
No reason to deny Rodney Stuckey the opportunity to wear the #3 right now. The comments on this blog alone show a substantial division amongst fans, and retiring the number will remain a significant debate for at least a few years. When the time to seriously consider retiring the number comes up - minimum 8-10 years seems safe - we will know a lot more about the player wearing it to determine whether that player should change uniform numbers. While Stuckey may be the real deal, it was not so long ago that another Rodney, coming from a lesser-known college and with high expectations, did not fare so well with the Pistons.
I say let Stuckey have the #3.
Ben Wallace did enough to have his # retired for the Pistons… unfortunately, then he did enough to not have it retired.
The Pistons didn’t low-ball BW when chose to take Chicago’s offer. It was a good offer and they had to leave room under the cap to re-sign Billups this year. If he had just walked, then we’d all forget that at the end of his tenure BW pulled some lame moves like refusing to re-enter games and calling out his coach + team mates.
Now he continues to bad-mouth Flip while he is a member of the rival Bulls. He makes it a point to let the world know that he thinks Flip is a worse coach than LB or Skiles. Turn those comments around for a second - what if Flip publicly stated that BW was less of a player than others he has coached? Pistons fans, players and others would never forgive him for taking shots like that at one of our favorite players.
For someone who demands a lot of respect, BW doesn’t always give it back. He never seemed to forgive Flip for pulling him in 4th period of playoff games when Pistons were trailing and needed offense. Ben was a great player, but it was his lack of offensive skills and his horrid free throw shooting that got him pulled when the Pistons needed to score a lot of points quick late in a games. Pretty lame to blame the coach when it was his free throws clanking off the rim.
If Ben Wallace wanted to be retired a Piston, then he could have stuck around, or at least stopped taking shots at the organization after he left. I’ll always appreciate what he did, but why should the organization treat him well now?
Stuckey is the our #3 now. To retire a number the player has to Retire too. So Ben Wallace play for Division Rival.
Stuckey can use number #3, if the organization pretend honor Ben in future, That`s OK (I don`t agree), but I know what Big Ben means to the Pistons.
For now, Stuckey has the right to use Number 3, just because Big Ben not retired yet.
I think A) if Stucks wants the number he should be able to wear it…and in 15 years or when the number is no longer being warn and Ben has retired then hang the number from the rafters. As sour as his exit was, I think most of the D is over it and a time to honor him will come in time.
All you people saying Ben should have been “loyal”, you do realize the NBA is a business right? The league isn’t just about “entertaining the fans”, these players have lives they have to live after they retire. Theres about a 10-12 year window for good players to play in the NBA, and thats providing they don’t sustain a career damaging/threatening injury in the process–why shouldn’t these guys try to get as much money as possible before they retire?
Ben was a core piece, as well as the most recognizable face, of the Pistons championship team in 2004. Ofcourse his number should be retired.
Until the number is actually retired, I don’t see why Stuckey shouldn’t be able to wear it. If he has a great career in the D and Wallace’s number is retired, just retire his too–big deal.
Ben was great to the end. He gave it his all. With Flip being more offensive minded, Ben saw the defensive-minded Pistons trademark changing. He didn’t fit in totally anymore. He was “bad” to the end and should be honored. Nobody will ever fit his shoes again. He was one of the greatest, most hard-working of all the Pistons. We let him down, not him. We love you, Ben. If your number is retired, it would be a credit to the great years you gave the Pistons. If the Pistons don’t retire it, it would just be another sign to show that Basketball has become just another business more than a sport. Better to go out with your head high than become another Barry Bonds, wait til they send you off with your tail between your legs. Stuckey will never fill the shoes of Ben Wallace. Ben’ll get a least one or more defensive honors. There’s no comparison. If you don’t retire his #3, then hang Stuckey up there with it…maybe he’ll grab a rebound or block a shot for our Chaplin face, grave Mr Ben Wallace.
Stuckey deserves it. Although i’m not a huge detriot fan i do love the players on the team. but my favorite boy now is another washington kid that went to school 15 min from where i live. stuckey will do big things for you and if you haven’t noticed before he got injured his name was listed in the top 5 players to win ROY. so if your looking for a future savior in a gaurd i think you don’t have to look no further. number 3 will be hung in the rafters some day but the name on the back will not say wallace (he did skip out on you guys by the way don’t kid yourselfs) it will say stuckey.
Everyone of you that said “yes” are not very smart. He is not near as good as any of those other people in the rafters. Maybe you should think about what you said earlier in the year. Look how good Stuckey is doing in the playoffs. Think about it one more time.