• The Ben Wallace to the Pistons speculation is gaining ground.
• New assistant coach Brian Hill on board in Detroit.
• Don’t miss the Pistons summer league wrap up on Sunday Night July 26, at 8 & 10 pm followed by a must see Special on the one and only Chuck Daly at 8:30 & 10:30 pm on Fox Sports Detroit.
• Eli Zaret caught up with Chris Wilcox when the Pistons inked his contract.  Get to know him in if you already don’t.
• For all of you who keep inquiring…Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Austin Daye, DaJuan Summers, Jonas Jerebko and the voice of the Pistons John Mason have all been Tooned. Wilcox is on his way and the sidebar with the faces will be changed once the full roster is set.
• And by the way…you may not have been the only one who missed the Charlie Villanueva Toon….he asked me himself when he was getting one.  Little did he know he missed it…and FYI he liked it.
• I was pretty sure Will Bynum was going to come after me with all the photoshop fun I had with his interview, but he actually loved it.  Thank goodness, I thought I was going to have to go into basketball hiding, which I would assume would involve me going to Memphis and covering the Grizzlies.
• Summer League Video Highlights Austin Daye.
• Summer League Video Highlights of DaJuan Summers.
• Summer League Video Highlights of Jonus Jerebko.
• Deron Washington is doing his best to make the Pistons.  Plus another YouTube classic from my friend Elie Seckbach with Deron.
• Austin Daye let us know via Twitter that he signed his contract with the Pistons.  “@Adaye5: Just signed my contract haha great day about to head to Spokane fir a lil and see some friends…” If you were following Austin or myself you would already know.
• Um…why didn’t I play in George Blaha’s High Hopes Golf Invitational? Pairing up with the Microwave would have been awesome. (Photos)
• Chris Weber gives us his Fab Five Pistons.

• Michael Curry and Rip Hamilton beef.
• Resigning Antonio McDyess may be difficult. Personally I would like Dyess to go to a contender and get his Ice. If he’s not a stand up guy who gave his all to do what he had to do to win, I don’t know who is.
• George Blaha on the Pistons retooling.
• Free Press Draft Grades.
• The Magic among the many that want Sheed.
• Daye care.
• Former Pistons playground up for auction.
• Need4Sheed Mock GM league at PASPN ready for players…and as always I’m giving away a T-Shirt to the winner.
• Daye may help but more depth is needed.
• 18 to 20 million in cap room could help Dumars land a quality FA.
• Austin Daye YoTube Videos and some from the Pistons second round pick Jonas Jerebko.
• If you still aren’t following me via Twitter, you should be…I’m pretty quick on the Tweet.

What do you I have to do to have lunch with George Blaha?

“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.
Advertisement

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!

The Pistons once again let a fourth quarter lead slip away that led to a too-easy Calderon layup that sent the game into overtime. Detroit pulled away with a 9-0 run to begin OT, but Marion’s free throw pulled Toronto within 97-94 with 52 seconds left. Rodney Stuckey turned the ball over on the other end, but with Antonio McDyess on the bench after fouling out…Jason Maxiell saved the day.

Final Score -- Pistons 99-95 OT

Key Points:

• Turnovers! A miserable 18 for Detroit on the night.
• When Sheed is out, plenty of paint points are given up. Toronto scored 48 down low.
• How about Arron Afflalo who twice hit HUGE (3 point) shots to help the Pistons in this one. After a Pistons timeout, Hamilton found Arron Afflalo for a three pointer from the corner, giving Detroit an 88-84 lead.  From virtually no playing time, to solid go-to guy.
• I just like saying Pops Mensah-Bonsu.  In fact I think I may just start using it as a part of my everyday vocabulary.  Now I just have to think of the meaning to give to it.
• Detroit shot 49% on the night to Toronto’s 40%.
• Detroit caught a break when recently hot Raptors center Andrea Bargnani left in the first quarter with flu-like symptoms and did not return.
• Did Rip and Rodney just switch positions? Another career night for Rip Hamilton with 16 assists.

Photo/Getty Images

• “I just told myself to keep trying to make plays, not just for yourself but for your teammates, and I thought guys did an excellent job of knocking down shots,” Hamilton said. Via The Detroit Free Press
• Rip did lead the Pistons with 24 but he had an awful shooting night going just 8-for-26. He did have another career assist night, but 6 turnovers and 8 against the Knicks, that has to stop.
• Hoops Addict was in the locker room post game with Detroit. Though Ryan touched on something we have been talking about for what seems forever, he did mention to me that he caught Mr. Blaha in the bathroom making sure his locks look perfect on the air.
• Rip did start to get hot in OT and jump started the team to a 9-0 run.
• Another DD for Antionio McDyess who quite frankly is the MVP of the season for Detroit.  Dyess put up 16 with 13 boards and was probably robbed on the Tayshaun putback that may have won the game for Detroit.  Looked close but off the cylinder it was if you ask me.

Photo/Getty Images

• NBA TV Highlights of the Game.
• Do you realize Rip has been putting up career numbers since he was put back in the starting lineup? 30 assists in two games….move over Isiah.
• Jason Maxiell 16 points on 8-for-9 shooting, while saving the game with the block and the jam in OT.  I questioned him starting, but he did more than fine. He added 6 boards, a steal and 2 blocks on the night. A +14 for the game for the Baby Eater!
• “I thought Max’s energy was off the charts,” Curry said. “I thought our guys didn’t have their legs tonight (second straight overtime game), but Max and Arron Afflalo really gave us a lift.” Via The Detroit News
• Stuckey scored 17 in 40 minutes with 4 assists, 5 boards and 3 turnovers.  I know he’s learning, but is it just me or do the turnovers he does pick up come at the worst times?
• Tayshaun Prince, 11 points on 5-14 shooting with 8 boards, 4 assists, a blocked shot and a takeaway.
• Antonio McDyess has played 89 minutes the last two games.
• We are mourning the passing of a great man so I did my best to show that we miss him here at N4S with the ribbon at the top of the page. He was a class act and a Champion of a man that left one heck of a mark on the World.   Mr. Davidson will be missed.
• A very fitting and touching comment that holds true for me from Benjo in the comments “One of my only wishes in my lifetime is to be able to make the world a better place than it would have been without me. I know you don’t like accolades but YOU ARE MY HERO, Mr. D. Rest in Peace and God bless you and your family.” Indeed, he did leave the world a better place.

UPDATE “All details are not known, but it’s safe to say that Bill Davidson’s wife, Karen, will succeed him as owner of the Pistons, according to Palace Sports and Entertainment president Tom Wilson” Via The Detroit Free Press

The Pistons are in Toronto tonight to take on the 23-42 Raptors.  If Detroit pull out a win tonight it will be the first season sweep of Toronto in 11 years.  The sweep aside a win could help the Detroit, who are current sixth in the Eastern Conference,  but only a half game ahead of Philadelphia.

This is the surely a time when Detroit has to buckle down for a more desirable spot come April.

Rasheed is doubtful for tonight’s game and the Pistons will know more about the status of Allen Iverson in a week or so.

“I’m in no rush,” Wallace said a few minutes ago prior to Detroit’s morning shootaround. “I’m taking it day to day.” Via MLive

With the game Dyess played on Wednesday….he deserves more than this tribute mix, but that’s all I have for you right now.

The Good/Bad and More

• Toronto has lost six straight, a slide during which Chris Bosh has averaged 25.5.
• Toronto has the East’s second-worst record.
• The Pistons close the season with a favorable schedule.
• Maxiell with start again for Rasheed.
• The Bench brings the energy.
• Juiced Sports Blog talks to Bill Laimbeer.
• Doug Collins on his deep admiration for Daddy Rich.
• You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone -- Blaha on Sheed

Tip off is at 7:00 PM and will be locally broadcast on FSN. If you can’t watch it you can listen in locally on 1130 AM WDFN, or follow the game with a live feed on NBA.com.

Keep and eye and ear out for the abundance of Pistons fans in the crowd in Toronto. The comments are yours…

You may have wondered why I didn’t give you a blow by blow of Need4Sheed Suite Night at The Palace with our new friends from Austria.  Well, you can read about their experience over at Pistons.com where I was honored to tell their story.

And make sure you read Vladan and Martin’s daily journals of their trip over at Dunk on U.

Thanks again to David Wieme and The Detroit Pistons for making such special trip turn out magical. And from Vladan and Martin themselves, here is part of an email I received this morning.

Natalie,

If you see David, George or Greg Kelser, please tell them how much we appreciate everything they have done for us and that we will always remember this day for the rest of our lives.

We can’t even describe how much everything you have done for us means to us.

Saying that tonight was something special is truly an understatement.  I know the Pistons finally put up a win, in dramatic fashion by the way, but what happened for our new friends from Austria is something to remember.

Special thanks to George Blaha and Gregg Kelser who were kind enough to take time out of their busy pre- game schedule ….

And then to Shout out Vladan and Martin on the broadcast.

What you don’t hear or see on that clip is what David Wieme of The Pistons did to make the boys’ 5000 mile trek something they couldn’t possibly imagine or forget. Thank You Dave, you’re kind of a big deal.

And thanks to all of you who emailed, and commented on the site so we knew it happened minutes after it happened.  Team N4S is quick!

Sheed and George Blaha at their finest!

Sheed with the dagger to beat the Timberwolves 98-89. (more…)

Congrats to all the winners of Need4Sheed.com’s Blahariffic Suite Night at The Palace!

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

Thought you missed out on Need4Sheed’s last Suite Night at The Palace Contest? Don’t worry, I have another chance for you to win the ultimate Pistons fan experience!

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.

It was a tough way to put an end to the Pistons’ seven game winning streak. Iverson was once again put in the spot to take the last shot, but this time AI’s last-second shot didn’t go down and the Pistons lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 84-83.

Key Points:

• Exciting game, yes – but you just can’t keep squandering double digit leads (14) and expect to keep winning games.
• One word……..Turnovers. Thirteen to be exact. It was the ones late in the game that helped Portland go on a run and take this game away from Detroit.
• Travis Outlaw hit the game winner for the Blazers with 8 seconds on the clock. He’s burned the Pistons before so I wasn’t surprised when he hit that shot.
• No Rip, no Sheed and foul trouble for Amir.
• Say what you will about Kwame Brown but he looked as good as we need him to be. Thirty minutes with 9 points on 4-for-5 shooting with 4 boards, a steal and 2 blocked shots.
• 13 boards for Dyess, who is stunned the Pistons lost this one. “I can’t believe we lost, I am still in disbelief, stunned, the way we played, how well we played on defense — but we just let it slip away.” Via The Detroit News
• Forget the fan call-in voting that had Rodney Stuckey as the Player of The Game. Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 26 points looking so sharp early. Tayshaun played 44 minutes going 13-for-21 with 8 boards, an assist, a steal and a block. Player of the game in my book and solid play from Prince since he was put back in his SF position.

Photo/Getty Images

• Tayshaun Prince Highlights.
• Tayshaun was hot, Allen was not (6-for-19). If I’m the coach, I put the ball in Tay’s hands for the last shot.
• 32 points in the paint for Detroit to 38 for Portland.
• Aldridge looked great again for Portland, dropping 26 on the Pistons and making it look easy.
• Just three Pistons in double figures.
• Was the game a little too late for you? FSN did a fine job with the quarter by quarter break down of the game.
• Maybe it was nerves……. He started off just fine and it looked like it was going to be another great night for Stuck, but maybe it was all the family and friends in the crowd that led to Rodney’s (sub par for him) game. Thirteen points on 4-for-12 shooting with 6 turnovers.

Photo/Getty Images

• When you win the war of the boards 40-28 and have 2 double digit leads in a game you should win, right?
• More Maxiell please! Is it me or is Curry not utilizing the Baby Eater?
• The Pistons need to make their late game free throws. Detroit was 9-for-16 on the night at the stripe.
• I know we lost, but I’m still impressed with how Detroit has played without Rip and Sheed. And Dyess for that matter. I would think Rip and Sheed would be back by now! Right?
• Is it me or do you have the feeling something is brewing in the front office?
• Ben from BlazersEdge got a glimpse of the Carolina AF1 Sheed’s.
• It’s always nice to hear from Pistons fans at road games, Jennifer Peal was at the game last night and had something nice to report. ” I was at the game tonight and ran into none other than the man himself, George Blaha. He was the nicest most kind person i’ve truly ever met. He signed my t-shirt along with Special K and I also got a picture with him, which I am sending your way. As if that wasn’t great enough, as I am sitting in my seat chatting with fellow pistons fans around me (there were many by the way), I come to find out I am sitting next to Rodney Stuckey’s Jr. High school teacher. She had driven all the way from Seattle to come to Portland to see him play.  And Blazers fans just “loved” my ball don’t lie shirt.”

• Another Pistons fan, Nicolas King, a Detroiter now living in Portland wasn’t at the game but he did work at the hotel that the Pistons were staying: I’ve run into a few players, McDyess, Stuckey, Tay, even MR BLAHA!! and they are very nice and polite. I thanked McDyess about bringing the energy back to the stones and for just coming back, I told Blaha about how i remember lambs lowdown and Kenny’s Key’s to winning he was loving it, I asked Mr Kelser if he wore any powder blue yet from the Sheed MSU-UNC bet and he said Sheed hadn’t provided him the gear, the list goes on. Another tidbit, I saw Sheed a few times, and we are an art themed hotel so we have to pick our favorite artist for our name tag, naturally i picked “Rasheed Wallace” as mine, I’ve been dying for him to see it here but he’s just too intimidating when he walks by, but nonetheless my Name Tag is Sheedtastic. Rasheed came to the front desk and asked me for another key to the room, so I made one and then showed him my name tag and explained how I had his name on my name tag for my favorite artist, he smiled and thanked me, as that happened the front door man asked me in front of him how long was I reading need4sheed today and Sheed started to crackup.

• Classic….leave them in the comments, West Coast trips always have me up late, but I just finished watching the replay of this one.
• PistonsNationBlog gathered Pistons bloggers to ask the question “Rip or Iverson to the Bench?”, I bet you can guess my answer.

Need4Sheed’s Sweet Suite night at the Palace was this past Friday night for The Pistons game vs The Kings.  Thanks go out to all of you who entered the contest, but didn’t make the cut this time around. Don’t fret, you just may have a chance in the near future to experience a one of a kind night too.

We met early in the West Atrium of the Palace, hours before a normal person would head out to catch the game. While waiting to get our tour we all got to know each other and how we all ended up in a place that we hold dear.

Steve and Gina drove straight in from Dayton Ohio and were in such a hurry to make it in time they didn’t even stop for a bathroom break.

Jason and his wife didn’t want to be late, so their drive in from Muskegon had them more than a few hours early in Auburn Hills.

Ryan and his wife Jennifer drove from Toronto a day early to stay with friends in Windsor so they wouldn’t miss a thing. They ended up in Auburn Hills at noon and decided to hang out at Meijer to kill time.

Nic and his girlfriend drove in from Toledo and were so early they went to a movie.

Noa Daniely, even though she was a winner, couldn’t make it to the game all the way from Israel. She was with us in spirit.

We ended up calculating all of the miles we drove to get to The Palace that day and it was well over 1000.

Pistons Fans….

We were taken on a tour of the Palace when nobody but the staff and a few fans were in the building, and quite honestly it felt like our own little playground. Our tour guide for the day, Pistons marketing genius Dave Wieme couldn’t have possibly showed us a better time. Not only does he know his Palace history, he’s kind of a big deal around there.

And he’s a good photographer.

As we sat courtside watching Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell, Arron Afflalo, Walter Herrmann and Rodney Stuckey practicing before the game we collectively decided that Pistons assistant coach Harold Ellis looks a lot like Stephen A. Smith.

Another treat….Dave stole Coach Steve’s 2004 Championship ring so we could see it up close. Me…well it looked pretty damn good on my hand.

Now Mr. Wieme has a ring too, but doesn’t break it our unless (if you believe him) he’s going to a wedding, “or something.” Don’t kid yourself people that “or something” is trying to score with the ladies, and after seeing it, I’m telling you it works. That thing is HUGE.

And Coach Steve had his on at work….that’s just how he rolls. Thanks Steve!

Ramon decided he was going to ask Curtis Rodney Stuckey when his next CD was going to drop, but chickened out.

No Pistons fan will ever be the same after standing side by side with Walter. It’s just not fair he’s got better hair than I do.

Diesel said hello.

We waited at center court, but right before we were about to go to our Suite to get ready for the game we saw Tayshaun Prince and Antonio McDyess start to warm up.  So we stayed and got a treat from Mr. Blaha.

Now you all know how I feel about George, but let me just tell you this man is one of a kind. As we sat watching Dyess and Tay, George and Special K were doing there pre-game show a few feet away from us. When they took a break I politely waved to George and said hello. He then walked over to me gave me a big hug and kiss and wished me a happy new year. Then asked who I was at the game with. When I told him I was with a group of winners from the site his smile grew even larger and then started to orchestrate a group picture without me even asking.

I mean the man made sure we set that picture up, had Sue the guest services attendant take it and made sure he sat next to me. He then said hello to everyone in the group and shook their hands. In fact I think we may have even held up his taping of Pistons live because Special K looked like he was anxiously awaiting his return to his courtside chair in front of the camera.

As I said goodbye and thanked him he asked me, do you have one of these? Holding up a Pistons media guide, I said no, “you do now,”  he replied.  He took out a sharpie and was about to sign the cover when I instead made him sign my favorite Pistons T-shirt.

Sweet, sweet string music!

We then headed up to the suite to enjoy the game.

It’s one thing to get to experience the things we did, but it’s another to sit down and watch a game with 12 people who have as much passion for the team as you do. Enjoyable is putting it mildly.

Halftime treat:

• Hot Dogs
• Popcorn
• Pretzels and
• Larry O’Brien

Not only did Dave bring the 2004 Championship Trophy up to the Suite for us, but he let each of us hold it. Ryan took it to heart, if that’s not a smile of joy I don’t know what is. I just hope he looks that excited when he holds his child one day.

Oh and the Pistons won!

I can’t thank Dave enough. The Pistons are an organization that truly knows how to treat their fans. Dave really has passion for what he does and loves the team as much as the rest of us do, and it shows in everything he does.

I may be one of the luckiest people I know. I started this whole thing because I love this team. I do this all because I love this team. I go to the games because I love this team.  I get to share my love for this team with all of you, Pistons fans just like myself who bleed red, white and blue.

Because of Dave I got to do what I love most, I get a chance to see the smiles on Pistons fans faces when they are standing on the court for the first time, talking to George for the first time, standing next to Amir Johnson for the first time and getting a chance do something not many people get to do, hold the Larry O’Brien trophy in their arms.

Things that just cant be measured.

What a Sweet night.