50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

buddahfan · Dec 26, 2007

Its amazing how much of this stuff you can forget over 50 years.

Here are just four that kind of stand out for me.

31. Jan. 4, 1976: In one of the franchise's worst moves, the Pistons decided to take Marvin "Bad News" Barnes in the ABA dispersal draft, passing on Moses Malone. Barnes lasted 65 games over two seasons, Malone is in the Hall of Fame. (In hindsight, I guess I know why I had forgotten about this, ouch)

35. Oct. 25, 1978: Coach Dick Vitale had just gotten out of the hospital, where he'd been treated for a stress-related illness. The Pistons would get their first victory (after starting the season 0-5) -- but Vitale never saw it. He was ejected by Tommy Nunez after going ballistic on a call. He had to be bear-hugged and carried off the floor by a security guard.

37. May, 1964: Draft nights always have been memorable (and not always in a good way) for the Pistons. On this night, general manager Charley Wolf opted to draft Jumping Joe Caldwell with their first pick. Not a bad pick, except he passed on a guy named Willis Reed, who became a Hall of Famer. (see comment to #31 above)

42. June, 1989: A few days after Rick Mahorn proclaimed, in the celebration following the Pistons' first title, "I am proud to be the baddest Bad Boy you've ever seen," Mahorn was selected by the expansion Timberwolves. The Pistons could not protect him, and Jack McCloskey's attempts to offer the Timberwolves a trade were rebuked.

50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

buddahfan · Dec 26, 2007

This one I remember as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.

8. June 19, 1988: The Pistons were less than a minute from beating the Lakers in Game 6 and winning their first NBA championship. Isiah Thomas, playing on a gimpy ankle, scored 43, including 25 in an heroic third-quarter effort. But Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made the winning free throws after a Bill Laimbeer foul, and the Lakers went on to win the series in Game 7. The image of Thomas and Laimbeer stealing champagne from the Lakers locker room and drinking it together in their empty shower room while vowing to win the title the next year remains indelible in Pistons' lore.

He never fouled him. Bad Boy Bill's attempt at a slap down, he couldn't jump so he would block shots by slapping down on the ball before the shooter could elevate it enough to shoot it, missed Kareem by at least a foot.

50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

buddahfan · Dec 26, 2007

More forgotten memories. This must have been in the press at the time?

10. Jan. 5, 1994: News breaks that Isiah Thomas will retire at season's end and sign a $55 million deal to become team president. The news is attributed to unnamed sources, but owner Bill Davidson, not ready to commit to the deal, knew only two people knew of that plan -- he and Thomas. Thomas said he didn't leak the information. But Davidson didn't buy it and took the proposal off the table and severed his relationship with Thomas.

Maybe Dr. D. leaked it? LOL

This one McKrapsky must be making up.

11. Dec. 11, 1979: Jack McCloskey is hired as the team's general manager. His first order of business was to offer the Pistons' entire 12-man roster to Los Angeles for Magic Johnson.

On the other hand, the following two years we were a combined 37 - 127, so maybe this story is true. LOL

50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

buddahfan · Dec 26, 2007

Maybe this is why Dr. D traded Stack.

21. April 27, 2000: Down 2-0 in their first-round series against the Heat, Pistons forward Jerome Williams made critical remarks about teammates, challenging their work ethic and commitment. When told of the comments, Jerry Stackhouse broke off his interview, stormed into the locker room and pummeled Williams. Teammates, annoyed with Williams, let Stackhouse pound away for several minutes before Terry Mills broke it up.

We almost got AI for him, but instead wound up with Rip

19. August, 2000: Shortly after trading Grant Hill, team president Joe Dumars nearly pulled off a trade that would have sent Jerry Stackhouse and others to Philadelphia for Allen Iverson. The deal was killed at the last minute when journeyman Matt Geiger would not waive his $2.5 million trade kicker.

50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

buddahfan · Dec 26, 2007

Here is a short video of the Pistons Knicks OT game from the 1984 playoffs focusing on Zeke's 16 points in 90 seconds.

Comments from Daddy Rich, Zeke, Dave Bing, Kelly Tripucka etc. Zeke talks about B. King and what an incredible release he had.

enjoy

16 points in 90 seconds - Need4Sheed.com

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50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

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50 YEARS, 50 MEMORABLE MOMENTS

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