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.

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.

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?

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.

If anything i think that would be the only way it would be retired

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)

The Wing’s wisely declined.