The Jephro Show AHY - And Ben Wallace, Too | AHY - And Ben Wallace, Too |
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Written by Art Michalski Anger Management |
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| Saturday, 15 July 2006 | |
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And then there's Art's take. Not so forgiving.
An Open Letter to Ben Wallace July 17, 2006
Dear Mr. Wallace, On July 4th, hours after Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman made his graceful exit from the NHL, we got the shocking news that you were also leaving the Motor City, for the far less talented Chicago Bulls. It shouldn’t have been a shock to us that you were leaving. We had heard for the previous week that this might be happening. What was shocking was your motive for leaving Detroit to play for a mid-level team, scraping for a playoff spot each year: A million more dollars a year… This shouldn’t have been a shock to us either, but Pistons fans everywhere thought that you were above the money, and would re-sign. The Pistons organization turned you from a meaningless role-player in Orlando, to an NBA All Star, and the face of a winning franchise. We all know the stereotype: professional sports stars are greedy, and will turn on anyone if you throw one more extra dollar in their face. Quite frankly sir, you are living up to and confirming that stereotype. Chicago offered you $52 million over 4 years, while the Pistons offered you $48 million for the same 4 years. The difference: a million dollars more a year. Part of me can’t blame you. If someone offered me a million dollars a year more than what I am making now, I would do just about anything to take that offer - things I can’t even describe in this letter. But you make more money in 3 weeks, than I do in a year. I don’t already make 7.5 million dollars a year. The Pistons offered a deal that was way above what you were worth, and you scowled at them, much like you did a good deal of the past season. Now, if you can’t take constructive criticism, I suggest you stop reading this letter now, because you may find what I am going to say harsh and uncomplimentary. Quite frankly, the way you acted during this season changed my opinion of you. I always thought you were a team player, one who supported decisions that were for the betterment of the team. I always knew you were one of the best defenders in the league, and thought you took pride in that accomplishment and reputation. Instead, I watched as you complained about playing time and your role on the team, whining incessantly to your coach about shooting opportunities. I read during your introduction in Chicago that you “didn’t want to be the type of guy that shoots 20 times a game”. Believe me Ben, when you got the ball this past season, most of us didn’t want you to shoot once a game, let alone 20. I would scream as teams fouled you, hoping the Pistons could just take the ball out, but knowing they wouldn't. We all knew you were going to airball the free throw. Airball a free throw? For cryin’ out loud! Only 7 year olds do that, not NBA players getting paid 13 million a year! Your attitude was indifferent as you lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was like you didn’t even care about winning, and now maybe we know why. You were already planning your exit strategy. It changed from being about winning, to being about getting paid. It’s a shame. I didn’t expect this out of you. Rasheed Wallace, maybe, but not Ben Wallace. So, as I wrap this up, I have some advice for the Bulls as Ben Wallace makes the busy trip on I-94 and loses the phone number of the team that made him a star: Congratulations, you overpaid for an aging center with a remarkable 21 percent free throw shooting average in the playoffs. 13 million a year for four years! This guy is not going to turn into Dirk Nowitzki, not now, not ever. What did you think you were gonna get – 20 boards and 20 points per game? Dream on! He is going to give you 10 rebounds and 6 points a night if you’re lucky. Kirk Hinrich is no Chauncey Billups, and Ben Gordon is no Rip Hamilton. The deficits he brings will be all the more glaring without Chauncy, Rip, Tayshaun and ‘Sheed covering up and making up the difference. You will be no better off with Ben Wallace, than your were with Tyson Chandler. Worse maybe. Chandler’s younger, cheaper and producing the same numbers. Time will tell, but I bet you’d have a better shot with a 44 year old Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen again than with Ben Wallace. Here in Detroit, we’re hurt, but we’re not worried. I’ll be buying tickets to see the Bulls at the Palace, and I will boo him, much like I did Larry Brown when he came back to the Palace this past season. And we’ll probably be seeing you in the playoffs as well, with the Bulls as the 7th or 8th seed, getting your ass properly spanked right out of the playoffs in the first round for several years to come…. Just like everything else in Chicago, you paid too much for too little.… Sincerely,
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