Ben Wallace Refuses to Enter Game

[FreshPrince22]

The team playing well and winning and Ben not getting fined is definitely a good way for it to turn out, but you can't possibly be suggesting that this was what he had in mind all along.

He was pissed with the way the team was playing. Maybe saying it in words to the team off the court wasn't working, so he did something that he knew would make his teammates pay attention. I don't see why that's so inconceivable.

[Pistons < Spurs]

and to think this thread almost died.

That's exactly what I was just thinking..............

[Pistons < Spurs]

He was pissed with the way the team was playing. Maybe saying it in words to the team off the court wasn't working, so he did something that he knew would make his teammates pay attention. I don't see why that's so inconceivable.

I think you're giving Ben too much credit. I do not think this was a planned incident. I don't think he said to himslef "what will get these guys to listen to me?? I know!! I'll refuse to get off the bench!!". IMO his emotions got the best of him. He got pissed and threw a tantrum.

Yes, the outcome may be that the guys get re-focused and show more of their agressive nature on Defense.........But this wasn't some master plan that Ben came up with.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Ben Wallace. You are my ambassador of kwan...

[cs100]

I think you're giving Ben too much credit. I do not think this was a planned incident. I don't think he said to himslef "what will get these guys to listen to me?? I know!! I'll refuse to get off the bench!!". IMO his emotions got the best of him. He got pissed and threw a tantrum.

Yes, the outcome may be that the guys get re-focused and show more of their agressive nature on Defense.........But this wasn't some master plan that Ben came up with.

I agree with you for the most part. It was a childish tantrum, a reaction to his frustration and it got results. But whatever his reasons and excuses were, he PUBLICLY DISRESPECTED HIS COACH, HIS TEAM AND HIS FANS. All may be forgiven, but the fans there and those around the world who have kids may not think the same thing when their kids start doing the same thing to their parents, teachers and coaches.

Ben is the leader of the team. A leader needs to show discretion. Believe it or not, Ben is a very popular player and role model and what he does transcends beyond the basketball court. His actions and behavior influence many young people. He should be held accountable in some manner. If anything, he should at least understand that his actions affect more than just his team.

[Darrin]

Problem is, that might not have gotten him a win. Then what? Who would remember the 22 boards then? That is no excuse for a grown and very well-paid man behaving this way.

In comparison to his peers he is not well-paid.

$7,350,000 for 2005-06, or 1.29 million dollars less than Kelvin Cato.

[FreshPrince22]

$7,350,000 for 2005-06, or 1.29 million dollars less than Kelvin Cato.

Pretty sad

[Obstructed_View]

Pretty sad

Yes, I cry a little bit whenever I think about Ben having to squeak by on a paltry seven million, three.

[Darrin]

Yes, I cry a little bit whenever I think about Ben having to squeak by on a paltry seven million, three.

Read the first sentence: relative to his peers. I'm lucky to see in 5 years what he makes for one game. But it's all relative. Compare his salary to the guys he has faced in the playoffs: Antonio Davis, Antoine Walker, Derrick Coleman, Keith Van Horn, Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, and Tim Duncan.

It's all relative to the NBA. If someone gave me 7 million as opposed to the 35 million he's made over the life of his deal, I'd retire at the ripe age of 22. But if I was worth 14 million, and I got 7, I'd feel undervalued.

I can't believe I just defended the multi-millionaire.

[Obstructed_View]

Read the first sentence: relative to his peers. I'm lucky to see in 5 years what he makes for one game. But it's all relative. Compare his salary to the guys he has faced in the playoffs: Antonio Davis, Antoine Walker, Derrick Coleman, Keith Van Horn, Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, and Tim Duncan.

It's all relative to the NBA. If someone gave me 7 million as opposed to the 35 million he's made over the life of his deal, I'd retire at the ripe age of 22. But if I was worth 14 million, and I got 7, I'd feel undervalued.

I can't believe I just defended the multi-millionaire.

I was responding to "Pretty sad", hence the quote.

[pache100]

I agree with you for the most part. It was a childish tantrum, a reaction to his frustration and it got results. But whatever his reasons and excuses were, he PUBLICLY DISRESPECTED HIS COACH, HIS TEAM AND HIS FANS. All may be forgiven, but the fans there and those around the world who have kids may not think the same thing when their kids start doing the same thing to their parents, teachers and coaches.

Ben is the leader of the team. A leader needs to show discretion. Believe it or not, Ben is a very popular player and role model and what he does transcends beyond the basketball court. His actions and behavior influence many young people. He should be held accountable in some manner. If anything, he should at least understand that his actions affect more than just his team.

That was sooo well-said and right on the money.

Yes, I cry a little bit whenever I think about Ben having to squeak by on a paltry seven million, three.

Yeah, me, too.

[anthologyct]

back-to-back beatdowns of playoff teams on National TV (and the Cavs have been on fire lately). Think his teammates got the message he was sending? It may have been a ty thing to do if you take it for face value, but I bet it's unfolding exactly how he wanted it to. This may be just the boost the Pistons need heading into the playoffs.

Exactly ........... I don't agree necessarily with the "FORM" in which Ben chose to express his disappointment with the team ............... But, I think a very crystal clear message was sent to 'Sheed, Rip, and to a lesser degree Chauncey, to stop with the bull ! It's playoff time!

I can't tell you how many games that we took nights off, even when they won. They could have been blowin' out teams by 15ppg every night. But Rip hadn't been cutting off screens as hard as usual, and tryin' to go too much 1-on-1 with defenders. 'Sheed wasn't setting hard enough screens, and not going aggressive in the paint, like he has for the last couple games. And Chauncey, (his Co-Captain), wasn't standing up and correcting those behaviors on court. So Ben took a stand! Message sent and received.

Chaucney is the Leader on the court for the Pistons. Ben is the leader in the locker room. Chauncey's more vocal, and usually does all the talkin' ............. but you get the sense that Ben has things under control, and is the enforcer of the rules.

[anthologyct]

PUBLICLY DISRESPECTED HIS COACH, HIS TEAM AND HIS FANS.

First man, how can you assume to know what Fans in Detroit feel like? I don't feel disrespected. And I doubt very seriously from the players and coaches reactions that they felt disrespected either.

[leemajors]

how could flip not be disrespected when he was cussed out on the sideline by an adult acting like a petulant child?

[Darrin]

Exactly ........... I don't agree necessarily with the "FORM" in which Ben chose to express his disappointment with the team ............... But, I think a very crystal clear message was sent to 'Sheed, Rip, and to a lesser degree Chauncey, to stop with the bull ! It's playoff time!

I can't tell you how many games that we took nights off, even when they won. They could have been blowin' out teams by 15ppg every night. But Rip hadn't been cutting off screens as hard as usual, and tryin' to go too much 1-on-1 with defenders. 'Sheed wasn't setting hard enough screens, and not going aggressive in the paint, like he has for the last couple games. And Chauncey, (his Co-Captain), wasn't standing up and correcting those behaviors on court. So Ben took a stand! Message sent and received.

Chaucney is the Leader on the court for the Pistons. Ben is the leader in the locker room. Chauncey's more vocal, and usually does all the talkin' ............. but you get the sense that Ben has things under control, and is the enforcer of the rules.

The only thing that bothers me about this line of thinking is that it was overkill. I'm not entirely sure what his overall complaint was; they've kept the specifics in-house (a staple of Dumars, Dobek, and Wilson).

But what I will say is that if all he wanted to do was jolt these guys, he went over the edge and the next time he needs to get in their face, it will pale in comparison to that act. If he pulls it again, he's suspended by the team and he becomes the bad guy no one listens to.

I just think it was overkill.

[Darrin]

I was responding to "Pretty sad", hence the quote.

But that quote means nothing if he's not responding to my initial post.

[ForestBrain]

Eh, these guys know eachother so well, and like eachother so much, that this was good for them. Ben knew what he was doing. The Pistons had been playing poorly, and look at them now. Didn't hurt the team a bit.