Marquis is pretty forgiving and understanding of Ben Wallace's decision.

So it’s come to this: Ben Wallace, the heart and soul of our beloved Detroit Pistons has left the team to become a member of the Chicago Bulls. Sad isn’t it? Well not exactly. While I admired Wallace’s work ethic, determination, drive and will, it was time for a change. It’s a change I was reluctant to acknowledge, but one I’m willing to accept.

I admit I was huge fan of Big Ben’s. In fact, I’ll even go on the record as saying I looked up to the guy. Though it is difficult for me to imagine Ben in anything but a Piston uniform, I’ll always remember the way he helped define our team, with his ability to absorb rebounds and play that Piston brand of stifling defense night in and night out. As exciting as it was to witness Wallace’s growth throughout the years, it was painful to see his “decline” as he tried to adapt to Flip Saunders’ “innovative offense”. His inability to adapt exposed Ben as more of liability than an asset in the new look Pistons, when his scoring average (which wasn’t much to begin with) fell slightly and his free throw percentage plummeted into the abyss. You could almost sense Big Ben’s unhappiness with the entire offensive direction which eventually led his one way trip to Chicago.

For many fans, it seems that Ben used this city, this team and its fans to make a name for himself just so he could bolt out of the town the second another team offered him more cash. In reality, Wallace’s choice to leave was nothing more than a business decision. So, before we characterize him as the local Benedict Arnold (or Benedict Wallace as many Detroiters referred to him as) we must realize he has a career and most importantly a family to tend to.

As sad as I am to see him leave, I’m looking forward to development and emergence of young players, particularly Jason Maxiell. He’s shown he can generate some of the energy and intensity we’d come to associate with Big Ben.

Regardless of what the future holds, I want to thank Ben Wallace for all of the hard work and dedication he brought to the Pistons, and to the city as well. He helped bring us a championship and an identity, so I wish him only the best. That is until he comes with the Bulls to play the Pistons.