Pistons players are bitches, UPDATED: And it gets worse

[DeToxRox]

Five Pistons Engage In Player Protest
Feb 25, 2011 14:04 PM EST

Half of the Pistons players missed Friday morning's shootaround in what a team source called a "player protest."

Tracy McGrady, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton and Chris Wilcox did not show up to Friday's morning shootaround.

Ben Wallace also wasn't present, but he has been dealing with an ongoing family matter for several weeks.

Austin Daye and Rodney Stuckey showed up as shootaround ended.

According to team spokesman Cletus Lewis, McGrady was out with a headache, Prince had the stomach flu, while Wilcox and Hamilton apparently missed the bus without a reason. A team source confirmed Prince's and McGrady's illnesses, adding Wilcox overslept.



Kuester was unsure about how he might proceed for the team's 7 p.m. game Friday night against the 76ers.



"We have some things … some excuses, not excuses, absences because of headaches and stuff like that," Kuester said. "We'll go with this group right now."


Only Charlie Villanueva, Jason Maxiell, Will Bynum, Ben Gordon, Greg Monroe and DaJuan Summers were present and fully participated. Jonas Jerebko also was there, doing his usual rehab workouts.
Via Vincent Goodwill/Detroit News



Fuck these players for being spoiled bitches.

Fuck Joe Dumars for trading Chauncey Billups and then not rebuilding the team. All it did was get rid of the one positive element in the locker room and now the inmates run the asylum.

Fuck Karen Davidson and her team for fudging the books which led to Mike Illitch not buying the team as this would not have flown under his watch.

Fuck Charlie V for actually being one of the guys to show up.

[DeToxRox]

Also should be noted two days ago Dumars said he wants to bring Tayshaun and McGrady back.

Awesome.

[MikeVic]

Get rid of Daye and Stuckey now. They didn't side with the people walking out and they didn't side with the people that showed up. They couldn't commit to their decision. Boo.

[DeToxRox]

Get rid of Daye and Stuckey now. They didn't side with the people walking out and they didn't side with the people that showed up. They couldn't commit to their decision. Boo.

Well I did hate both already. No respect for flip floppers. Get 'em out.

[Gary Gorski]

This franchise is a joke. Gores needs to buy this thing, blow out Dumars, Kuester and the rest of the staff and every player on this roster outside of Jerebko and Monroe. Sign and trade Tayshaun in the offseason, buy out Hamilton or let him sit at home for the next two seasons and effectively end his career, let McGrady walk, package Daye and Stuckey somewhere (or give them away if someone will take Gordon or Charlie V with them), trade Ben in his last year.

This thing is going to take 4-5 years to rebuild and that's if someone starts working on it tomorrow.

[Maple Leafs]

On the topic of spoiled athletes, I thought this taje by Jeff Pearlman hit home:
Jeff Pearlman » Jon Rauch: Unemployable Dolt (http://www.jeffpearlman.com/jon-rauch-unemployable-dolt/)

Anyhow, after waiting and waiting and waiting for Podsednik (he eventually arrived, and was delightful), I approach (Jays' reliever Jon) Rauch. He was sitting at his locker, flipping through mail.

“Jon, hi, I’m Jeff Pearlman from Sports Illustrated dot com.”

He didn’t look up. “Yeah?”

“I wanted to see if we could talk for a minute.”

“You have two minutes.”—still not looking up.

“Uh, OK. I wanted to ask about your neck tattoo.”

“No, I don’t talk about it.”

“Really?”

“No, I’m tired of talking about it.”

“OK”—and I walked away.

Now, for the record, I’m not mad at Big Jon for not talking to me, or for not talking about his tattoo. It’s his right, and I’ve never resented an athlete turning me down. Hell, I once flew to Chicago just to profile Paul Konerko. When I got there, he said, “You know, I just don’t like the attention. I’d rather not do this.” Hey, no problem. What I loathe, however, is the rudeness that permeates through professional sports.

In my life, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question or approached without looking up at the person. Have you? Seriously, have you? It’s the rudest, most dismissive way to behave, and I don’t get it. Again, I don’t know Rauch. Maybe he’s a wonderful guy. Maybe he’s shy. Maybe he hates SI.com. Maybe I smell. But reporters go through this stuff all the time—clubhouses being like frats, where the ballplayers are the cool guys and the writers are the geek freshman plebes.

[molson]

What are they protesting? The fact that they suck?

[Ksyrup]

Yes Rauch acted like a dick, but with all due respect to Pearlman, maybe athletes feel like they are better than other people and more entitled because supposedly professional sportswriters approach them and want to talk about their tattoos. When you inflate a person's sense of self-importance by harping on some mundane aspect of their life or personality that has nothing to do with sports, this is what you get.

[larrymcg421]

They've sure come a long way since this thread: Hey Celtic Fans - Front Office Football Central (http://operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=62706&highlight=hey+celtics)

[Logan]

Yes Rauch acted like a dick, but with all due respect to Pearlman, maybe athletes feel like they are better than other people and more entitled because supposedly professional sportswriters approach them and want to talk about their tattoos. When you inflate a person's sense of self-importance by harping on some mundane aspect of their life or personality that has nothing to do with sports, this is what you get.

Was thinking the same. Thought something similar when new Net Deron Williams was asked about his upcoming (5 months minimum) contract extension decision for the 80th time on his first official day with the team. You can tell he already hates answering the question that he can't even pretend to answer right now, and he's already getting short with people. The likelihood of him eventually blowing up at someone is pretty strong. And yes, it's part of the job, but they're human too.

I get annoyed to shit when my father asks me something for the third time, and he had a part in bringing me into the world. I'd be a terrible athlete, as I'm pretty damn impatient (and chubby and slow).

[Logan]

BTW, looking at the list of who attended, isn't it entirely plausible that they were boycotting the horrible Villanueva/Gordon dual signings...maybe a little too late?

[Chief Rum]

Yes Rauch acted like a dick, but with all due respect to Pearlman, maybe athletes feel like they are better than other people and more entitled because supposedly professional sportswriters approach them and want to talk about their tattoos. When you inflate a person's sense of self-importance by harping on some mundane aspect of their life or personality that has nothing to do with sports, this is what you get.

I hate reasoning like this. It's akin to the "girls who wear short dresses deserve to be sexually assaulted" argument.

I'm not going to give athletes attitude passes just because they're put on a pedestal.

[RainMaker]

Just to play devil's advocated with Rauch. Reporters are often dicks too. Writing pieces on players where they put words/thoughts into their heads. Trying to explain performances based on a players personality that they really know nothing about. I can't tell you how many times I read an article and think how pissed I'd be if I was the athlete (think anything Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotti writes).

Rauch is probably just a dick, but it's sort of funny when writers who frequently take liberties with atletes get upset that one won't be their lap dog.

[Chief Rum]

Just to play devil's advocated with Rauch. Reporters are often dicks too. Writing pieces on players where they put words/thoughts into their heads. Trying to explain performances based on a players personality that they really know nothing about. I can't tell you how many times I read an article and think how pissed I'd be if I was the athlete (think anything Skip Bayless or Jay Mariotti writes).

Rauch is probably just a dick, but it's sort of funny when writers who frequently take liberties with atletes get upset that one won't be their lap dog.

There's a big difference between being "a lap dog" to writers and simply being courteous to normal standards. Rauch fell way short of the latter, and Pearlman is within his rights to be upset at that treatment. He deserves at least the base courtesy we all should be giving each other.

[stevew]

it looks like this usually.

[stevew]

Supposedly the Cavs were in talks to acquire Rip and buy him out, but one side backed out.

edit-Looks like Rip was unwilling to take the Cavs offer on a buyout and was was unwilling to play in Cleveland.

[RainMaker]

There's a big difference between being "a lap dog" to writers and simply being courteous to normal standards. Rauch fell way short of the latter, and Pearlman is within his rights to be upset at that treatment. He deserves at least the base courtesy we all should be giving each other.
I agree. Rauch seems like a dick. Just saying that I think there is disrespect both ways.

[miami_fan]

How the hell does this shit happen to Mr. D's team?

[Bigsmooth]

It's akin to the "girls who wear short dresses deserve to be sexually assaulted" argument.

Yeah it's not that they deserve it, it's that they are asking for it.

[Ksyrup]

I hate reasoning like this. It's akin to the "girls who wear short dresses deserve to be sexually assaulted" argument.

I'm not going to give athletes attitude passes just because they're put on a pedestal.

Wha? Who's giving him a pass? The reality is, he probably acts like he does because reporters and others have enabled that attitude. I don't get the comparison at all. Maybe the reporter ought to ask himself what importance his question about the dude's tattoo has to do with anything.

That said, he was a dick before the guy even asked his question, so there's no excuse for him treating the guy that way. But it's not hard to understand why some guys act like they do.

[Zinto]

This is honestly my last straw with this group of players. I hate watching Q coach poorly but if tonight is any indication I hope he keeps his job the rest of the year and makes those guys ride the bench. Honestly Rip and Tay ruined their Detroit legacy in my mind at least.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Anybody that would trade for those involved (re: Detroit) seems like to get what they deserve. And honestly, what coach in their right mind sees any of them coming & jumps for joy?

[miami_fan]

Anybody that would trade for those involved (re: Detroit) seems like to get what they deserve. And honestly, what coach in their right mind sees any of them coming & jumps for joy?

The same could be said for anyone who believed they would perform better for this rookie NBA head coach than they did for the rookie NBA head coach that fired last year.

[bronconick]

Morons. The best time to throw a hissy is not when someone is debating whether to buy your franchise, which, by the way is the only way half of those guys are getting out of Detroit before their contracts expire, because Karen Davidson isn't going to approve jack-squat for changes, including hiring a new coach.

[DeToxRox]

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FzK-YbJWb_c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[DeToxRox]

Yep, the benched guys laughing at Kuester after he gets tossed.

[DeToxRox]

lol awesome:

STEIN_LINE_HQ Marc Stein
Sources say Pistons vets tried to organize teamwide boycott of shootaround before Detroit's last game prior to All-Star break vs. Indy


STEIN_LINE_HQ Marc Stein
That walkout was called off, sources say, when word reached some of those vets that Kuester would be ousted during All-Star Weekend

[Gary Gorski]

I hope every other coach and GM is getting a good look at this pathetic group of players. I've lost any shred of respect for them after this stunt.

I also hope that this group of losers realizes that they weren't traded prior to the deadline because NOBODY WANTS THEM. The best some team would offer for Tayshaun Prince was an injured guy with an expiring contract and a worthless draft pick. They probably would have paid Cleveland to take Hamilton's contract and buy him out (and Rip stupidly rejected the buyout which was his only chance out of town). I don't think there have been any phone calls for Stuckey, Daye or Ben Wallace - all cheap contracts and easy to trade for.

And even worse than tarnishing the legacies of guys like Rip and Prince...I feel Dumars has tarnished his as well because this is his fault. Its his fault he let the inmates run Flip Saunders out of town, run Michael Curry out of town (who the players all LOVED when it meant they got rid of Flip) and now will run John Kuester out of town (who needs to go anyways because he is a lousy head coach). Dumars has allowed this franchise to be poisoned and I will be as happy the day he is let go as Lions fans were the day Matt Millen was fired.

[Mustang]

There is a reason I don't watch the NBA.

If (when) the Bucks leave town, I'm not sure it will register that much on my give-a-crap meter.

[Balldog]

Joe Dumars has lost his fucking mind, Prince should've gotten dealt and Rip should just get released. These guys are going to taint the younger guys before too long.

[Chief Rum]

Wha? Who's giving him a pass? The reality is, he probably acts like he does because reporters and others have enabled that attitude. I don't get the comparison at all. Maybe the reporter ought to ask himself what importance his question about the dude's tattoo has to do with anything.

That said, he was a dick before the guy even asked his question, so there's no excuse for him treating the guy that way. But it's not hard to understand why some guys act like they do.

I know what you're saying, and, yes, I understand why the players would act that way. I just don't think it's excusable, and that's what it seemed to me you were saying. You're saying now that's not what you're saying, but that's what it seemed like before. Like you were blaming the "victim" (Pearlman) instead of Rauch (thus, rapist to rape victim analogy).

BTW, that reporter needs to file stories to keep his job, and many of them are human interest stories and what not, particularly on slow news days. If he truly were to ask himself about the "importance" of his question, he wouldn't be a sports reporter, and sports journalism wouldn't exist. After all, how important is sports, really? I would spend less time blaming the reporter for doing his job and more time blaming Rauch for not only failing his own job requirements (being a multi-million dollar employee for a business dependent on customer relations does indeed require media skills and public professionalism), but for also failing to meet the basic requirements of a social human being.

[RainMaker]

Ben Wallace was a piece of shit cancer when he was in Chicago too. Not a surprise to see him part of that bunch. Kuester is a horrible coach but every one of those guys should be suspended immediately.

[miami_fan]

How come a team like the Spurs never have these sorts of issues?

Oh wait, they have solid management in place. Makes sense now.

[Gary Gorski]

Joe Dumars has lost his fucking mind, Prince should've gotten dealt and Rip should just get released. These guys are going to taint the younger guys before too long.

What do you mean before too long? Stuckey has essentially turned into Rip 2.0 and apparently Daye is on board with the mutiny too so I'm pretty sure Rip, Tay and Ben got to those two already. At this point I would just send the three of them home until their contracts expire.

[Ksyrup]

I know what you're saying, and, yes, I understand why the players would act that way. I just don't think it's excusable, and that's what it seemed to me you were saying. You're saying now that's not what you're saying, but that's what it seemed like before. Like you were blaming the "victim" (Pearlman) instead of Rauch (thus, rapist to rape victim analogy).

BTW, that reporter needs to file stories to keep his job, and many of them are human interest stories and what not, particularly on slow news days. If he truly were to ask himself about the "importance" of his question, he wouldn't be a sports reporter, and sports journalism wouldn't exist. After all, how important is sports, really? I would spend less time blaming the reporter for doing his job and more time blaming Rauch for not only failing his own job requirements (being a multi-million dollar employee for a business dependent on customer relations does indeed require media skills and public professionalism), but for also failing to meet the basic requirements of a social human being.

Goes without saying that the "importance" of a question in the realm of sports should have something to do with the sport. We don't care what their views are on world events (though, like HOllywood people, when we make them feel so important that they think we care about their views on such things, again - this is what you get).

My original comment was not directed specifically at Pearlman but sportswriters in general. He didn't deserve the treatment based on this one specific incident; but the cult of personality treatment these guys get in general from sports writers (evidenced by starting a conversation with a pitcher about his neck tattoo) makes these kinds of interactions unsurprising.

[Ksyrup]

Who is John Kuenster? Coach, player? Never heard the name before.

[Passacaglia]

Coach

[Balldog]

What do you mean before too long? Stuckey has essentially turned into Rip 2.0 and apparently Daye is on board with the mutiny too so I'm pretty sure Rip, Tay and Ben got to those two already. At this point I would just send the three of them home until their contracts expire.

Stuckey is a lost cause anyway, Daye and Monroe would be the two I'd be most worried about. Your right it looks like Daye is on board with these losers, but from the games I've watched he's not shown the bullshit that Rip, Tayshaun, etc. have shown. I'm sure Dumars will just fire Kuester and resign all these bozos as usual.

[jbergey22]

What a bunch of ass clowns. They are all making more than they should and this is how they repay the organization?

[MrBug708]

Glad to see Afflalo was sent out of town before this fell apart, not that he would have been part of this

[Maple Leafs]

Yes Rauch acted like a dick, but with all due respect to Pearlman, maybe athletes feel like they are better than other people and more entitled because supposedly professional sportswriters approach them and want to talk about their tattoos. When you inflate a person's sense of self-importance by harping on some mundane aspect of their life or personality that has nothing to do with sports, this is what you get.
Disgaree on two fronts. For one, if you get a giant tattoo on your neck then you should be prepared for people asking oyu about it. And more importantly, you can turn down a question while still maintaing some basic human decency.

[jbergey22]

Disgaree on two fronts. For one, if you get a giant tattoo on your neck then you should be prepared for people asking oyu about it. And more importantly, you can turn down a question while still maintaing some basic human decency.

Im not sure why but this attitude bothers me more when the player is very fortunate to have a job. They should be thankful the team let them have a job. Rauch isnt exactly a pitcher that a team needs in order to be successful.

I can handle Kobe or Lebron being a dick every once in awhile because of the constant media scrutiny they get but someone like Rauch should be frikin happy someone even wants to talk to him.

[DeToxRox]

This is what led to Rip being benched back last month, according to Adrian Woj:

February 26, Yahoo Sports: As stunned coaches and teammates watched, Hamilton bellowed at Kuester that he had been a failure in his two seasons in Detroit, blown the opportunity the franchise afforded him and was nothing more than a career assistant coach, sources said. Despite Hamilton yelling within inches of him, Kuester didn’t respond.

Several of the team’s younger players were mortified watching it and privately told agents and associates they wished they had the courage to stand up, confront Hamilton and try to take control back from the disgruntled veteran. Nevertheless, Hamilton influences a powerful lobby in the Pistons’ locker room, including veteran leaders Tayshaun Prince(notes) and Ben Wallace(notes).

[Neon_Chaos]

Kuester has lost that team a long time ago.

[Chief Rum]

Goes without saying that the "importance" of a question in the realm of sports should have something to do with the sport. We don't care what their views are on world events (though, like HOllywood people, when we make them feel so important that they think we care about their views on such things, again - this is what you get).

I don't think you have ever worked as a journalist, have you? Understand, all writers have deadlines to make, and if they don't have a real story, they have to go find one, or their editors will go find someone else who will do that. Pearlman thought Rauch, with his huge neck tattoo, might be an interesting player to do a profile piece on, or at the very least to write up something about the tattoo. He knows Toronto fans at least will see the tattoo and want to know what that's about, or will want to know about their new pitcher. There's a demand for information, even the most unimportant, and Pearlman is tasked with the job of finding it.

Your comment shows a clear lack of comprehension of what being a reporter on a day to day basis is all about. When I did community news for the LA Times, I spent a ton of hours sitting on city hall meetings that most people could care less about, but we were writing for the few who did. Or sitting down with the local police chief to get the story on an investigation going on, which doesn't really affect more than a few people, and having to write a bit on charity work the police are doing so they'll be more helpful with me. This is the kind of thing writers on deadlines have to do. And there is no such thing as a writer not on a deadline (not a paid one anyway).

My original comment was not directed specifically at Pearlman but sportswriters in general. He didn't deserve the treatment based on this one specific incident; but the cult of personality treatment these guys get in general from sports writers (evidenced by starting a conversation with a pitcher about his neck tattoo) makes these kinds of interactions unsurprising.

And as I said, I understand that. IMO, you're being too conciliatory to the attitude. There is no excuse for Rauch acting in that manner, none whatsoever, I don't care if 100 writers had just, one by one, come up and asked him the same question, the first 99 of which he gave a normal short quote about.

[Zinto]

This is what led to Rip being benched back last month, according to Adrian Woj:

February 26, Yahoo Sports: As stunned coaches and teammates watched, Hamilton bellowed at Kuester that he had been a failure in his two seasons in Detroit, blown the opportunity the franchise afforded him and was nothing more than a career assistant coach, sources said. Despite Hamilton yelling within inches of him, Kuester didn’t respond.

Several of the team’s younger players were mortified watching it and privately told agents and associates they wished they had the courage to stand up, confront Hamilton and try to take control back from the disgruntled veteran. Nevertheless, Hamilton influences a powerful lobby in the Pistons’ locker room, including veteran leaders Tayshaun Prince(notes) and Ben Wallace(notes).

I can't believe how out of control the players have gotten. The problem was Sheed belittled Flip when he was coaching and it taught a younger Hamilton and Prince that they could just disrespect the coached and Dumars would not step in. I am not sure what the rotation is going to be tonight but I would love to see that 6 man rotation again but I know it maybe too much to ask for on a back to back.

[Ksyrup]

Understand, all writers have deadlines to make, and if they don't have a real story, they have to go find one

And that, in short, is the problem. A story about a guy's tattoo is not a real story.

[Ksyrup]

Disgaree on two fronts. For one, if you get a giant tattoo on your neck then you should be prepared for people asking oyu about it. And more importantly, you can turn down a question while still maintaing some basic human decency.

Eh, I disagree on point one, since THAT sounds like the "she's wearing a short dress so she should expect to get hit on" excuse. And on point two, I don't disagree, but again, it goes back to making these guys think they are so important that they don't need to treat everyone with respect because they think they are special enough that a stupid ass tattoo is worthy of writing a story about.

[EagleFan]

I heard in passing last night that the Pistons only used 6 players in the game yesterday. Was it the 6 who showed up for the shootaround?

[Ksyrup]

Coach

Really? HEAD coach? Wow, I've never heard that name before today. I don't follow basketball, but I run into it enough with highlights and stuff that you'd thinnk the name would have come up before. Huh.

[General Mike]

I heard in passing last night that the Pistons only used 6 players in the game yesterday. Was it the 6 who showed up for the shootaround?

yes.

[EagleFan]

yes.

awesome

[jbergey22]

And that, in short, is the problem. A story about a guy's tattoo is not a real story.

Because you dont think something would be interesting doesnt mean a different person wont find it interesting.

Besides, the point of asking these questions is to possibly uncover something interesting.

What if he was kidnapped by 80 members of the Hells Angels who tattoo'd him up as a young child and that is what has given him his motivation in life. Does that make the tattoo slightly more interesting?

[Matthean]

Really? HEAD coach? Wow, I've never heard that name before today. I don't follow basketball, but I run into it enough with highlights and stuff that you'd thinnk the name would have come up before. Huh.

Dumars for whatever reason seems to have a rather quick trigger when it comes to keeping coaches so at some point you are left with lesser names.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If you're 6'11" and put this on your freakin' neck, http://www.azcentral.com/i/sized/0/4/7/e298/j350/PHP49A1B58960740.jpg then I'm having a tough time believing you aren't looking for some attention. Idiotic to be an asshole if someone happens to ask about it.

[Chief Rum]

And that, in short, is the problem. A story about a guy's tattoo is not a real story.

Welcome to the 21st century and the Information Superhighway.

[DougW]

If you're 6'11" and put this on your freakin' neck, http://www.azcentral.com/i/sized/0/4/7/e298/j350/PHP49A1B58960740.jpg then I'm having a tough time believing you aren't looking for some attention. Idiotic to be an asshole if someone happens to ask about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------
I hate reasoning like this. It's akin to the "girls who wear short dresses deserve to be sexually assaulted" argument.

I'm not going to give athletes attitude passes just because they're put on a pedestal.

Yeah it's not that they deserve it, it's that they are asking for it.

[Mota]

Players have too much power. If they don't like something they sit out, or do holdouts if they want a new contract.

Teams should be allowed to pay players in the same way. If they're overpaid, all of a sudden start giving them 50% of their cheques as a "pay-out" of sorts.

Same excuse as the players, their cheque machine had a headache.

[stevew]

AND IT GETS WORSE!!!!

[miami_fan]

Players have too much power. If they don't like something they sit out, or do holdouts if they want a new contract.

Teams should be allowed to pay players in the same way. If they're overpaid, all of a sudden start giving them 50% of their cheques as a "pay-out" of sorts.

Same excuse as the players, their cheque machine had a headache.

And if they out-perform their contracts, they get immediate raises?