“Dining With the Stars will close out the 2009 spring season with George Blaha, a familiar voice in the broadcast and sports world in metro Detroit.
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Tell us in 100 words or less why you want to have lunch with Blaha at Buddy’s Pizza in Farmington Hills. E-mail your entry to BuddysDiningStars@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Thursday, June 4.

Dining With the Stars is sponsored by Buddy’s Pizza and the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers.

The contest winner will be treated to a limo ride from Class Plus Limo, a makeover courtesy of Christine from Beauty Salon in Birmingham, a $100 gift certificate from Reaver Diamond Co. in Southfield and a dance exhibition by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills.” Via Hometownlife.com

Count that baby and a foul….I mean, count me in!

Vladan Katanic
Austria (yes, he’s traveling over 4500 miles to see  some Pistons Games!)
More on that later!

Sarah Day
Bowling Green, Ohio

Darlene Meyers
Shippensburg, PA

Ryan Walters
Carleton, MI

Steve Kearney
Washington, MI

Michael McElhenney
Troy, MI

In honor of George Blaha’s induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Monday, February 9, 2009, I’m dedicating this Pistons ticket giveaway to him.

One of the most recognizable sports personalities in Detroit and the NBA, George Blaha will begin his 33rd consecutive season as the television and radio play-by-play voice of the Pistons in 2008-09.

The “Voice of the Pistons” is now the longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in the state of Michigan.

If you know Pistons basketball, you know George Blaha.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how much I adore the man, that’s why I would like you to honor the him for his knowledge, entertainment and the love for the Pistons he displays with every word he utters.

To win a pair of tickets to The Pistons.com Suite and an Ultimate Pistons Experience on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 when the Pistons face Dwyane Wade and The Miami Heat, you have to do your best to pay tribute to George Blaha.

Do whatever it takes to honor George. You might win a pair of tickets to the game and maybe even meet the man himself.

Do your best Blaha play-by-play, write a poem about him, tell me why you appreciate him, or just surprise me.

Send your entries in by Sunday January 25th to – need4sheedcontest@gmail.com

All entries must have your submission with the following:

• Subject Line – George Blaha HOF
• Your Full Name
• Address
• Age
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Simple, right?

Thank You to The Pistons again for giving Pistons fans a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Key Points:

• The Pistons were ready for this one and it showed. Though the crowd essentially knew this game meant nothing, they were ready for some Ohio punishment.
• After watching the broadcast I loved Special K’s comment that The Pistons were “Ready” Detroit is like “Joe Frazier.”
• After wondering which Pistons team would show up before the game, it was clear after a minute had been played.
• Detroit held the Cavaliers to 18 in the First, 15 points in the Second, 17 in the Third and 21 Fourth quarter points.
• There isn’t one player on the Cavs that stood out other than Devon Brown. Does that tells the whole story?
• Mr. Maxiell had another great night. Every time Maxiell went to the hole it was with so much force he could have powered a small village. Jason finished with 13 points, a blocked shot and 3 boards in 22 minutes.

• Theo did a heck of a job on the defensive end all night. I know we all want to see Amir get more minutes, but having a guy like Ratliff, who defends the basket so well, is such a great thing to have. Theo blocked 2 shots, scored 2 points and grabbed 2 boards in 19 minutes.
  
• Tayshaun had a few really nice drives to the basket. His putback on a Chauncey layup was especially nice. He spoke of Trader Jack giving The Pistons a pep talk before the game and wished our friend Mr. Blaha a Happy Birthday in his post game interview. Tay finished the night with 12 points, 7 boards, 4 assists and 2 takeaways.
• Rebound war won 43-37.
• NBA.com Highlights of the Game.
• Ben Wallace went down in the third quarter after hurting his back on the offensive end of the floor. What you didn’t see on the broadcast was after he fouled Rip to stop the action he collapsed to the ground and then had to be carried off to the locker room by his teammates. I hate to see anyone go down, but what has been happening to Ben since he left the “D” is quite sad.

• Sheed scored the Pistons only three pointer of the night. Sheed blocked 3 shots on the night and finished the game with 9 points and 7 boards. He also caused Mike Brown and LeBron James to each pick up a technical foul after (for once in his career) James didn’t get a call on Sheed’s block. The Palace crowd went wild.
• I was listening to the post game show on 1130 AM on the drive home and Matt Dery said that LeBron was so frustrated during the game that he kicked a water bottle, it flew over the bench and hit someone. If that was Sheed……10 game suspension.
• Nice Amir….Get that *&^@ out of here.

• You could actually see LeBron give up early in the third quarter when Detroit was up by more than 20.
• The Jack McCloskey ceremony was quite touching.
• Happy Birthday Mr. Blaha.
• Detroit shot 45% on the night to Cleveland’s 36.
  
• Chauncey had quite a night making sure he controlled the game flow. Mr. Big Shot finished with 13 points and four assists with a couple of pretty nice plays.

• Antonio McDyess was the player of the game. Dyess had another double-double with 12 points, 10 boards and 2 assists. Dyess has his shot back and he’s been playing lights out lately. Credit Billups for making sure he gets Dyess the ball when he’s open and in his spot.
• The Cavs never led, and Detroit’s biggest lead was 25.
• Statistically it meant nothing, but boy was it nice to get the beat down.
• Rip played through the cobwebs, going just 3-for-12, but leading the Pistons with 14 points. It was nice to see him back on the floor but he said he’s in a lot of pain during a post game interview.
• Even when he’s wide open it’s impressive.

• Does this mean Detroit knows how to beat the Cavs?
• Cleveland has lost six straight and eight of nine on the road.
• When Trader Jack started his speech off by saying..”we sure are giving those Cavaliers a beating”, I smiled and was concerned all at the same time. Why wake sleeping dogs, right?
• Afflalo did well defensively and Stuckey knocked down a great shot off the glass as the shot clock buzzer expired.
• I’m going to have a happy Sunday, I hope you do too. Next game on Tuesday at Minnesota.
  

Thanks George!
And thanks to all the members of Team N4S for making sure I didn’t miss this.

I have fond memories of A.D.’s time in Detroit and was one of those people who felt bad that he missed his ring, even though I loved Aguirre. I was young when it all went down, and inside stories didn’t always make it to fans, so this video did a nice job of refreshing some memories and putting things into perspective.

He’s in there for a couple of seconds, so make sure you don’t miss the ageless Blaha? And yes, he was “Counting That Baby and a Foul” back then too.