Shut Up, Ben Wallace
Pistons fan Alan Paul hates to see Ben leave Detroit, but wonders why he can’t stop whining about it…
by Alan Paul
As I’ve written here before, Big Ben’s leaving the Pistons was a big blow to me an my family. Just the other day my 8-year-old son Jacob said to me, “I hate Big Ben now, Dad. That sucks.” So does his language, but I was feeling him. Big Ben has been my favorite player for the past five years or so, a passion that obviously was passed on.
I wrote several stories on Ben for Slam, from the first Hype to the first big feature. I enjoyed talking to him and always loved watching him play, especially from close to the court, where you can really observe his lateral quickness, hops, strength and court savvy. I loved what he brought to the game and I was very letdown to see him leave. But I was sanguine, figured that’s how things work and you can’t blame the guy for signing such a deal.
But now that he is in Chicago popping off, it’s pissing me off. Ben gives the appearance of being a stoic, hard-working, nose-to-the-grindstone guy, and obviously he is in many respects. It’s inspirational how he turned himself from an undrafted free agent into a perennial All Star. But let’s be real: Ben feuded with George Irvine, he feuded with Rick Carlisle and he feuded with Larry Brown. Now he’s at least partially blaming Flip Saunders for his decision to leave Detroit. He’s a bit of a malcontent.
What really made me sit up and take notice and write this is Ben’s bitching about sitting on the bench of his final quarter with the Pistons. That’s just an astounding thing to whine about. The Pistons were down 19 in a win-or-die game and Ben is probably the worst offensive starter in the League. And he had made 8-or-24 (33-percent!) of his free throws in the series and the Heat were starting to foul every time the Pistons crossed halfcourt. How could Saunders have done anything but put in McDyess, a player who could actually shoot?
As a journalist, I appreciate a player actually speaking from the heart.
As a Pistons fan, I wish Ben would keep his mouth shut and put his nose back to the grindstone.
22 Responses to “Shut Up, Ben Wallace”
Oct.17 at 3:57 am
Ang says:
amen.
Oct.17 at 4:01 am
bja says:
Well put. It used to drive me wild when Ben was mentioned as an MVP candidate. How can you consider a guy for MVP when he shoots like a 12 year old who picked up the game last week?
Oct.17 at 5:00 am
DVLb0y613 says:
How could he whine,he got what he wanted, screw the championship all he wanted was to get paid,he got 60 million reasons to be happy!! What an ass!!
Oct.17 at 6:16 am
Question says:
bja… the same way you can consider a guy who plays defense like a small girl an MVP candidate… (but leads the league in assists and turns a sub-par team into a perrenial Western Conference powershouse)… it’s no different.
Oct.17 at 7:50 am
Ronald says:
^ Yes it is different. You cannot cover free throw problems, except for not allowing the player to play. And a player on the bench is a useless player.
Oct.17 at 10:26 am
Ryan Jones says:
I did not know grapes tasted so sour in China, AP. C’mon man, it’s preseason, so there’s nothing esle for anyone (SLAM included, if you’ve seen our new issue) to ask dude about. Everybody’s asking him the same questions over and over again, and while it might be admirable of him just to say “I don’t wanna talk about it anymore,” he’s at least answering the questions asked of him.
You can still jump on the Cavs bandwagon, Alan. It’s not too late…
Oct.17 at 11:37 am
TrippleX says:
My Top 5: Nash, Dirk, Gasol, AK47 and Kobe
Oct.17 at 12:02 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
You Go Girl!
Oct.17 at 12:03 pm
t dot j. says:
my top 5: christina milian, jessica alba, vanessa minnilo, scarlett johanssen(cuz i don’t discriminate against da whyte girlz), and dat singer girl cassie. ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tdot……….
Oct.17 at 12:08 pm
allenp says:
Good post by Question. If you ignore glaring problems in one player, you can ignore them in another.
Oct.17 at 12:15 pm
Shiz says:
U can’t forget his shit talkin about Doc and the Magic. He wasn’t even that great on D as a Magic…yes they coulda used him three years later, but he was garbage when they had him. I used to like Ben before he sparked off a riot in Detroit for being too sensative. You tellin me that two nights after guarding Shaq, you feel violated enough by Ron Artest to put you’re hands on em? No. This what happened. Yall was loosing (more like gettin AIRED!), you QUIT, and got mad cuz aint no quit in Ron and he fouled you. It wasn’t even a flagrant II!!Ever since then he just dont get it done for me anymore. Maybe he’s starting to reach that point in his career where his mouth has more game than he does…Im not saying its true, but he is on the downslide and a 6′8″ center with no offense whatsoever can’t have that long a shelf life. And apologies to any middle school girl playing basketball. We know most of you are better shooters than Ben, but it sounds funny
Oct.17 at 12:43 pm
Joel O's says:
Lest anyone forget it was Big Ben who started the whole “malice at the palace” brawl by shoving Ron-Ron after Artest hard-fouled him…
Oct.17 at 1:29 pm
Natalie says:
I feel you, as the days go by I get more and more frustrated with Ben’s comments. As a Pistons fan I’m looking for the reincarnation of Ben in Jason Maxiell.
Oct.17 at 1:48 pm
Rob Stewart says:
don’t hate on Ben
Oct.17 at 2:01 pm
illydiva says:
My top 5: CWebb, J O’Neal, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Raja Bell. Nice piece, Alan.
Oct.17 at 2:05 pm
SkyDubai says:
don’t hate on ben for taking the extra cash and stiffing the Pistons cuz of the 5, 10 million more than Chi-Town was offering. For an athlete like Ben who’s already got a ring, individual accolades, the next pressing thing is being secure for life financially. You and I both know that if someone offered us 100K+ to join our competitor, we’d take that offer & say bye bye to our present boss..
Oct.17 at 2:15 pm
Dallas J. says:
Word.
here’s my top 5: Eddie Griffin, Zach Randolph, JJ Redick, Stephen Jackson, Vin Baker.
Oct.17 at 5:04 pm
cantgetneerme says:
No more of this top rubbish it is really boring people. Big Ben is not the man chicago need to be the heat, pistons, wizards or the cav’s they will still not make it past the first round. They need a center that could score. Big Ben is definitely not that man
Oct.18 at 5:34 am
NASTY says:
how can i guy be a two-time MVP when he plays defense like a 12 year old??? beats me
Oct.18 at 9:30 am
ryan says:
i agree with alot of the people above but u also gotta think what he can do. He’s a hustle player and he can create enegery for his team. He can slow down shaq and help on wade. He can create fast breaks off of his defensive work. and best of all and the way to score when ur down by 19 is to have the ball on the offense right and can give the 2nd and 3rd attempts for his team. and u cant blame him for leaving. havein a what 70 win season and getting swept by the heat and not being played the way he thinks he can be productive yes he may not be very good offensively but but he has power in the post. and most off all its all a bussiness not only u gotta work ur ass off but u also gotta look after ur self
Oct.22 at 12:25 pm
Shane says:
ryan is right and amen to ap. i also agree with natalie but im hoping jason has mcuh better offense than ben. he is starting out goo dtho all thoes dunk backs and missed freethrows. and by the way shiz ben is 6′9″ just a minor detail. and ben can play offense jsut not he way peopel liek him 2. in the 2004 season he had some offense it was called garbage points (put backs) and oopps and this is how he plays. im nto saying he will ever be able to play liek that again but that is ben wallace ball
Dec.5 at 11:33 am
patrick says:
calm dawn big ben is the best