Chris Webber signs with Pistons; will play wide receiver
Sometimes a number is just a number. Maybe.
So Chris Webber signed with the Pistons. No surprise there, really. He gets to play for a championship, in front of the people he grew up with. Oh, and he still gets $35 million plus from the 76ers. Good deal.
But then the photo from the press conference came out, and he was standing between Flip Saunders and Joe Dumars, holding a jersey with the number…84? Seriously? This is probably the first time a pro basketball player has held up a jersey with the number 84 on it since the ‘84 Draft—if it even happened then. As it turns out, Webber’s usual number 4 is retired in Detroit (for Dumars) and he let a nephew pick his new number.
No word yet on whether the nephew was a big fan of Randy Moss in his Viking days, or a big fan of George Orwell or just likes polonium. But what IS sure is that Webber will take the court for the Pistons…as number 84. Weird. Although I suppose he IS semiperfect (go back to the “polonium” link).
Basketball players have been wearing high numbers since the first days of professional basketball—George Mikan wore number 99 for the Minneapolis Lakers—but they fell out of vogue somewhere along the line, and didn’t return until the ’90s. Shawn Bradley wore 76 (because he’s 7-6), Gheorge Muresan wore 77 (because he’s 7-7), and Dennis Rodman wore 91, 70 and 73 (because he’s crazy). Currently, Ron Artest is wearing 93 for the Kings after wearing 91 with the Pacers (because he’s…well, you know).
Welcome to the club, Chris. And for the Pistons’s sake, let’s hope you most resemble Mr. Mikan. Um, in his prime, of course.
20 Responses to “Chris Webber signs with Pistons; will play wide receiver”
Jan.17 at 2:15 am
Chief says:
whatever this sixers shti has got to stop..should’ve saved this for summer not now…what good is this gonan do them now.
Fuck they just wanna suck all season long so they are a shoe in for the lottery.
Jan.17 at 3:14 am
Russ Bengtson says:
DAMMIT. I just saw that ESPN.com had a similar note on their “Daily Dime” today (no. 6). Oh well. I’m leaving it up anyway.
Jan.17 at 3:48 am
Patrick says:
no, i think he’s predicting his numbers in detroit, ppg and rpg. second one might be fouls.
Jan.17 at 8:39 am
Alex says:
Im down wit C-Wizzebb bein back in the motown and now da bad boyz have a new thug in town and its time for the Pistons to regain the spot among NBA powerhouses
Jan.17 at 12:19 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Randy Moss was traded to the Raiders about 12 hours before Webber was traded to Philly. Very coincidental.
I’d rather have Randy Moss on my basketball team and Webber on my football team (to hold for field goals or something. He still has great hands!) at this point.
Jan.17 at 12:59 pm
Dylan says:
I believe that chris webber will do very good in detroit, him and rasheed in the post. Expically since the baby Muhammed is cying about his playing time
Jan.17 at 6:42 pm
Devin says:
ok the 6ers need to stop actin like they rebuilding and actually start rebuilding because their dealing with andre miller and andre igudala as ther stars and until andre 9 can shoot the 6ers wont earn my respect like they had back in 01′ now to c-webb. 84? 84? how old is his nephew cuz i cant even count to 84. if i was c-webb i would have retired i mean a bad finish in sac-town (haha sac-town)and a horrible carrer in phili come on. im all for a starting over in a new town but not in d-town were dose he expect to fit in on this team. IM DONE
Jan.17 at 6:44 pm
Devin says:
oh yea the 6ers better make some damn good pick im talkin bout oden or durrant or hansburogh or someone. bottom line come june i dont wanna see the 6ers pull a knick (bad draft pick)
Jan.17 at 11:01 pm
Drolfe says:
*fast forward to the end of the season*
Pistons Knocked ut in 2nd Round, Webber Complains About Lack of Minutes.
-In other news, Chris Webber’s leg muscles discovered to have left his body in 2001.
Jan.18 at 3:01 am
melson says:
Yo what’s good slam I think c-webb coming 2 da pistons is great 4 detroit and bad 4 da rest of da east and west they already was on da verge with the team they have now, but with webbers passing and low post scoring make this deal a [no pun intended] slam dunk 4 da next nba champs deetroitt basketball pistons.
Jan.18 at 3:48 pm
Matt says:
chris webber will be great with us (Pistons) YEAH
Jan.21 at 1:22 pm
Mike D. says:
Word in D-town is that C-Webb’s nephew once had a dream that Chris played for the Pistons and was wearing number 84, so that’s why he picked it. Go pistons.
Jan.21 at 9:35 pm
IllaNoyze says:
Well if Chris plays like he could if healthy then let him wear whatever number he wants then..
Jan.21 at 9:36 pm
niQ says:
i’m not gona believe all the hype til i see webber play at LEAST 10 games without getting injured.. i got this man in my fantasy league and it aint pretty.. he’s like 10 points below last year’s average ppg.. and now that he’s in detroit.. the situation is similar to ai and melo.. the shots are gona be more divided amongst the players.. billups is . well. mr big shot.. hamilton is a straight scorer.. rasheed puts up the 3′d.. prince CAN score.. and now webber?.. watch the starting line up all average 13 points per game.lol
Jan.22 at 1:31 am
ryan says:
great pick by the pistons,if c-webb will accept his role. the only problem with detroit if c-webb demands the ball.
Jan.27 at 2:47 pm
J R says:
its a good move cause they arent payin him shit. if he complains or doesnt fit with the team well, they can just get rid of his ass. and ron wears 93 cause it kinda looks like qB.
Jan.29 at 12:05 am
Agent Zero 4 M.V.P. says:
I heard Ron Ron wears 93 cos thats when he first ever played ball
Jan.30 at 11:59 am
rob says:
RON WEARS 93 because this is the year his sponsor kickz was established. they put it next to their logo at times. therefore they called his clothing line tru warior, which is also his music alias. cross-marketing to the fullest.
Jan.30 at 3:30 pm
ferg says:
melson sure is an idiot
Jan.31 at 10:56 pm
Clarky says:
another teams garbage is another teams GOld.. but in C-WEBB’s Case, id make an exception… I love him when he did his thing in Sacramento DUring their Playoff games against the Lakers.. but now his smile is the only reason why coaches still let him play… he cant run as fast as he can.. his mid range shots arent as good… tyra banks left him..and he wont be gettin alot of minutes especially because he plays the same position as Wallace and Mcdyes… well mcdyess sucks too… they shouldnt have given up Ben Wallace… but what the hell, they dont need Big Ben no more since Shaq isnt really as dominating as before… bottom line, Drop Webber if he cant adjust to Piston Basketball