As Pistons fans go, not many jump through as many hoops as DBB reader Ohad does just to follow the team. For most of us, watching a game is as easy as turning on the TV, whether it’s watching Blaha and Kelser on a local channel or being subjected to the “other” announcers on NBA League Pass. But when you’re on the opposite side of the globe, it takes a bit more determination and creativity.
By Ohad Ilovich
It’s hard to be an Israeli basketball fan. It’s even harder if you like watching the NBA. With the most complete sport package money can buy in Israel, you get one local league game, one Euroleague game and maybe two NBA games a week. Usually I don’t watch the NBA games cause’ they hardly ever put a Pistons game and usually go for the games where stars like Kobe, Lebron and other physically gifted players take over the game. Add to that the fact that most games are aired live at around 4am and you get the picture…
Now is a good time to thank god for the internet. I have to tip my hat to DavkaBT which has given me access to many stones games these past few months. Only problem with that can be described with the Detroit-Dallas game I downloaded recently. I had to spend the whole day at work warning whoever I saw not to talk to me about the game. I skipped reading DBB, the Israeli online newspapers, NBA.com and that sums up about everything I do online at work other than you know … work. Upon getting home I had to wait until 9pm for the download to complete and sit down till 11. I couldn’t even wait with it since next day the Spurs’ demolition was broadcast and I was pretty sure the Dallas game would be mentioned, thus ruining it for me.
So why the Pistons? I think the first time I saw them play was when I was a big Michael Jordan fan. I’d like to emphasize that doesn’t mean a Chicago fan. I just loved to see him play. I can remember vaguely the games Chicago and Detroit had back then (I was 13 in 1991) but I do remember the physical punishment Chicago suffered and all the hard fouls Jordan received. Even though I liked him and was happy he still did his thing I could appreciate the more physical aspects of the game. I kept watching the Bulls do their thing during the 90’s but mostly I enjoyed Rodman’s defense and rebounding and of course all his other antics. The end of the 90’s spelled three years of mandatory army duty and when you come home for two days every other week you’re not interested in basketball. Mostly, you’re interested in women and alcohol. I only started really following the team once the worst problem child in the league joined them – Sheed. What can I say, I like players who get T’s, bang around in the post and generally don’t live up to the “code” David Stern tries to impose over the league.
Another reason to like the Pistons is that although the Raptors are considered the most “European like” team in the NBA (which I have to mention got Anthony Parker and Maceo Baston from my favorite Israeli team – Macabi Tel Aviv), the Pistons have a lot of the same qualities. European players are less athletic than you average NBA player. To compensate for that they focus on two things – high shooting percentage and basketball smarts. So basically you get a group of unselfish players who keep looking for each other and who can score on every position. Plus they are very good at exploiting mismatches especially after pick and rolls. Sounds familiar? Another thing about European basketball is that the big guys can usually shoot 3’s well which opens up the inside for easier penetrations by the guards who as I mentioned aren’t that fast and physical. Again this has become reality with Sheed’s 3pt ability.
All in all watching the Pistons once or twice a week doing their thing is probably the first time I’ve enjoyed NBA ball other than watching Jordan. Now that I get to see some classic NBA games and I see him dropping 50, it isn’t as fun as it was when I was 13. It’s much more fun to see five guys play as a unit. And maybe, just maybe, even going all the way this year once again.
Good story Ohad. Maybe this will help you watch games more: http://forum.myp2p.eu/viewtopic.php?id=23851
Its a link to the Archived Games for NBA League pass. Here are most of the games that are 1-2 days old but are streamed instead of downloading. It loads really quick and is better than having to wait for davkabt to have the game and then downloading it.
Games that aren’t on nationally will be there. So on saturday they should have the pistons-kings game that was on friday.
Ohad, it is funny, but your story sounds a little like what happens when we try to watch maccabi here in the states. A friend of mine is a shaliach here with us at Michigan State. We come in and discuss the games, sometimes watch live updates. Last week he was all excited because Sport5 was supposed to stream the game online, sadly it wouldn’t load for us in the states.
On another note, a friend of mine lived in Jerusalem, and had an american (maybe specifically a detroit package?) satellite package, and I know everyone gathered at his apartment for many games, even though they were usually on in the middle of the night. Good luck with the quest, you definitely made a good choice.
I can totally relate. I currently live in Darwin, Australia and I live and breathe Pistons through the net. The local pay tv here almost never shows Pistons games and generally only shows 2 NBA games per week.
I have never met another Aussie Pistons fan, if you read this blog let me know!
I am always impressed when I see Pistons fans in other arenas. And let me say, that I ALWAYS see Pistons fans in other arenas. I see my fair share of NBA games on League Pass and it almost seems to me like the Pistons have at least one jersey-clad fan at every road game (usually more). When I went to the Pistons-Clippers game last season, the Pistons’ fans were more audible than the Clippers fans and I have heard comparable stories from other cities (Atlanta comes to mind). I haven’t really noticed this trend being so commonplace with other NBA teams except maybe the Cavs, Nuggets and/or Lakers (ie: Bron/Kobe/Melo-AI fans)
This means at least one of two things 1) People who consider the Pistons their team, have abandoned the struggling Detroit economy and are therefore residing all over the country (myself included, Los Angeles) or 2) The Pistons’ team basketball (think Spurs, less flopping, more personality and more Americans) appeals to fans of the game who don’t have a particular team to cheer for or value the Pistons so much as their number 2 that they would go out and wear their merchandise to a game. I truly believe that while the first scenario is more common, the second scenario contributes a sizable peice to the Pistons’ fanbase, and it excites me.
Ohad’s article reminds that the reach of the Pistons’ organization isn’t just local or even national, but it is in fact international and that truly warms my heart that people go through all these geographical hurdles to stand behind the Boys in Blue. Most of us love this squad not only because they represent Detroit, but for what they represent in the sport of basketball. I think under Joe D.’s direction a lot of us have fallen back in love with the organization that once brought us the team-oriented Bad Boys. Sure, we followed the Stones when we had Grant Hill, but this play hard, play defense, play like a team and win era in conjunction with the rapid technological advancement makes Pistons’ basketball easier to (more obsessively) follow. It’s a great time (and has been so for the last half decade) to be a Pistons’ fan. From top to bottom, it’s a classy organization worthy of our collective pride.
Darwin? Dang. Even Australians think Darwin is far away. Wasn’t one of the families from Neighbors written off the show by moving to Darwin?
That was a great article.. As like Laughton above I can totally relate to this article.. Laughton I’m not an Aussie Pistons fan but a New Zealand Pistons fan! I watch my games through NBA League Pass which is awesome.. I know a few people who claim to be pistons fans but are really just ‘bandwagoners’ who switch from team to team… I’m the only loyal pistons fan I’ve come across in New Zealand.. But Omad I totally feel you in terms of finding it hard to watch Pistons games..
I would love to live in Detroit and go to live Pistons games and experience being part of a whole city who truly embrace and go crazy for this team but to be in honest in a weird way I sort of enjoy being the only hardcore pistons fan I know of in my city as it makes me feel really unique haha..
I am a big Pistons’s fan in Taiwan.（Taiwan is a relatively small country on the eastern side from China.） And there are some Pistons fans in Taiwan, too. But our sports seldOm broadcast Pistons’s games. So we would look for mms if the game is not on national TV.
I started to love Pistons since I saw them played Nets in the 2003~04 playoffs. I remembered that time they went though double overtime and lost the game, because of that I decided to support them. A pretty weired reason. I also started to notice the slimest and guietset player on the team — Tayshaun Prince. During the following summer I searched on the Interest for his profiles. The more I read about him the more I love him. He is such a special player, never talks too much, maybe can’t found any tattoos on his body, not like any players. But he did all the smallest thing on the court and never complained never wanted to get credit.
After the summer I started to read Pistons’s news from Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and ESPN. The more I read, the more I love Pistons. I like their brotherhood, my favorite player Tayshaun, the funniest guy Sheed, the calmest guy Billups, the hardest work guy Ben Wallace and the specialest DJ Mason etc….
All the love for Pistons, so I went to The Palace of the Auburn Hills to watch two Pistons games in February 2006. After came back, my love for Pistons is still at the top. I wish I can live in Detroit and watch all Pistons games as I like.
I only work in Darwin because of my job (Army). Where I’m originally from is Albany which is 4500km SW on the south coast of OZ. James, i have met a fair few so called NBA fans that are bandwagon-ass-cats. I bet you can appreciate how hard it is to talk to mates about that stuff, all they do is rubbish the sport and try to convince you that AFL or Rugby is better. My mums new husband is the only person I can talk NFL, NBA to and thats because he’s from Philadelphia!
As for going to a live Pistons game, thats my ultimate dream!
I seem to have this crazy obsession with Detroit teams. I started supporting the Pistons when they drafted Grant Hill (96?) because One on One (a sadly defunct BB mag) had this awesome feature on him.
Since then I have followed the team intently and I even own the 2004
championship season DVD.
I think maybe I should get a DBB shirt next, something about a certain player that eats babies…….
Great article.
I’m a Windsor boy currently living in China, and it’s impossible to watch any Pistons games here. Once in a while you get to see a Houston or a Bucks game, but that’s about it. And if you throw in the time difference, forget about it…
I tend to get most of my info from blogs (like this awesome blog), the AP recaps and box scores. I know the box scores don’t tell the whole story, but I’m becoming a box score junky.
How is that the Spurs and Pistons have dominated the league for the past few years, but they still get so little national coverage? It’s pathetic. The Clippers get more coverage…
Luckily, I’ll be back in North America before the playoffs, so until then, DetroitBadBoys.com is what does it for me. Keep up the great work.
Wow, this is awesome.
Yeah Laughton one of my mates is a diehard Sonics fan so I can talk to him about NBA.. The rest are mainly bandwagoner’s.. So there’s not many people I can talk to about the NBA..
Two years ago I went to my first NBA game (and only one) which was the Lakers/Heat game (05-06 season) at the Staples Center where Shaq and Bynum both had big dunks which led to an altercation.. The game was simply amazing and was such a good experience..
When I’m older I would love to travel to Detroit and go to my first Pistons game ever! Can’t wait till that day..
P.S Laughton I have that DVD as well and love it! I could watch it all day haha..
I thought I had it bad being exiled in DC. Thanks for the very interesting read, Ohad. And Matt - kudos to you for letting DBBers chip in once in a while; it adds to an already quality blog.
God, I feel so proud to be a Pistons fan right now. Practically in tears. You all need to plan a trip out here for a Pistons game in Auburn Hills…
I remember Albany, I think. Our tour stopped there, and we went to the Albany Night Club (I think it is actually called that). There was a Phys. Ed. teacher from NZ (a total drunkard, ironically, which is why I liked her, beyond her looks).
After hitting the club, and other various drinking games, she and I went to look for food. Nothing was open, so we asked a police officer where to find food. He pointed us to a bakery that was not to open for several hours, but whose proprietor would feed the miscellaneous while baking.
We each had some sort of meat pie with tomato sauce (free of charge, which was rare), and a danish of some sort. I kept thinking I should just kiss the girl from New Zealand, cause why the hell not? The stars were amazing. There is nowhere in the United States where you can see the glalaxy the way people in SE Australia do, or even anything close. Don’t go camping and think you have any idea. It’s not close.
I didn’t kiss the NZ PE teacher, drunk as we both were, and laissez faire as she was. Up until that trip, I had not learned to have confidence in myself. I regret that night, for that reason, beautiful as it was.
The pastries, however, were delicious.
I think it was Albany.
If any of you gentlemen make it here for a game, and I am attending said game, first beer’s on me. I love how with all the “me first” attitudes and “bad role models” (pacers/former pacers) the team I support transcends the boundaries of SE Michigan. It’s easier to walk around other cities wearing a Kobe/Bron/Kendrick Perkins(hahaha) jersey, since it’s hip(or whatever the kids are saying, I”m 27). We are becoming America’s Team, and obviously beyond. Cheers
Matt G - thanks. I’ll give it a shot
Jordan - a few years ago we had an option to buy NBATV but our cable/satalite had an altercation with them and they just stopped in the middle of the season.
It’s amazing to see how many other people have o go through what i do to catch the games…
Another little story is when i was in Thailand a couple of years ago and i saw in one of the markets a Ben Wallace jersey. It was obviously a fake and i asked the guy how much it was. he said 3000 baht (~80$). now if you want to spend the night in a goot hotel it could cost you about a third of that easily. I tried to negotiate with him but he wasn’t going any lower than 2500 so i let it go. looking back maybe that was a good choice.Don’t know if i’d wear it now…
Kev, If your referring to the SE of OZ perhaps you mean Albury?
Its a town on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. I have been there for work stuff and all I remember was that it was bloody cold, well, colder than anywhere else i have been. Which brings me to a time when I was in Kuwait and a BB game against some US soldiers….:)
That was kinda a forced shot wasn’t it?
Too much beer….
great story! really cool to hear about your dedication to the pistons. when i went to israel on a trip last year i was really scared that i would miss a couple games from the pistons-bulls playoff series. but to my surprise i actually got a chance to watch a couple of them and the best part- they were commercial free! but i understand that most games are not broadcasted like the playoffs are.
Nope, I meant Albany, but also meant SW, not SE. I know I was in that town at some point, because we stopped there for the blowholes or something (are there blowholes? Maybe a landbridge?). I just don’t know if the rest happened there or in another town south of Perth.
All I can say is that I love technology. I’ve been a huge Pistons fan since the late 80’s and it used to be a pain in the butt to try and locate any basketball info up here in Canada. The land of Ice, Snow and Hockey.
The only way I could stay up to date would be to read the local paper and check the box scores and nba standings. Most of the time this was even out of date, since the paper wouldn’t have any of the west coast games as these finished after the paper was sent to the print press. I’d watch the local sports shows, but they would give the NBA about 5 minutes of coverage during the hour long show. For watching games, we would get between 2-3 games a month, as I was on basic cable. Very frustrating.
Now that I have satellite tv, and internet streaming games… I’m in heaven. I’ll never miss another game
GO STONES!
seriously. to me it totally puts in perspective some of the short-sighted and insulting moves stern has made to try to raise revenues. right now there are millions of people sneaking in the games for free one way or another and millions more just reading box scores. a one time, 10 dollar charge for LP games on the internet would make millions and generate millions later in increased merchandise sales.
god bless the internet and god bless the nba. a match made in heaven.
Ohad,
I know how you feel
maybe we can catch a rare tv game together
IsraeliPiston
Yep, you got the right place. Blowholes, Natural Bridge, lots of old people and roundabouts.
IsraeliPiston,
And wake up at 4am to listen to simi riger and ofer shelah?they’re nice commentators but not nice enough to get up that early. Maybe during the playoffs some of the sports bars will air the games….
Hey, Ohad, nice article. With the baht currently trading at 33, it’d be an even more expensive fake jersey. But, then again, from a country which sells fake Johnny Walker Black, what would you expect?