Glenn
01-05-2006, 09:33 AM
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/SPORTS03/301050003/1051/SPORTS
100 things we love about the Palace
BY KRISTA LATHAM
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
January 5, 2006
To outsiders, the Palace is just a hunk of concrete, steel and glass along a highway in a nondescript area north of Detroit. Built 17 years ago, it doesn't hold the awe of ancient stadiums where the seats creak and the inadequacies are considered endearing. It has housed four championship basketball teams, yet in terms of history, can't compare to buildings like Joe Louis Arena or Madison Square Garden.
But Pistons fans recognize this is a good time to visit the Palace. Barring an unforeseen occurrence Friday night, all 22,076 tickets will have been sold for the 100th straight game.
So here's a toast and tribute to the building that since Jan. 19, 2004, against San Antonio, has been a bumping party of Pistons faithful. One hundred things we (and you) love about the Palace, the top moments in the sellout streak, the unforgettable nights and the way the next 100 could be even better:
Your favorites
1. More than anything, Pistons fans love Automotion. In e-mails to the Free Press, many of you cited the Pistons' dance team as something you "love." It's starting to creep us out a little.
2. The general atmosphere/the noise.
3. The great fans -- the camaraderie and spirit shared between strangers.
4. More often than not, a night at the Palace means a Pistons win. The Pistons went 77-21 during the first 98 games of the 100-game streak. No. 99 was Tuesday night.
5. The now famous chant: "Deee-troit Bas-ket-ball."
6. Its creator, Mason.
7. Darko sightings.
8. 'Fro sightings.
9. Hangin' at Captain's Quarters restaurant.
10. The giveaways. (See top-10 Palace giveaways below.)
11. The overall positive vibe. Sure, there are boos for the other team and some do a little heckling. But you'll never see a video taking cheap shots at another team or player or city.
12. Yelling, "Sheeeeeed!"
13. The overall classiness of the staff and production.
14. The overall cleanliness. (Many of you mentioned clean bathrooms).
15. The mascots: Hooper, and his partner, Mini Hooper.
16. The "Shout" song from "Animal House."
17. The Spare Tires. The fat guys don't get the love the girls do, but they're large and loveable.
18. The Hooper Blimp that circles the court during halftime.
19. The halftime shows. From dogs that jump fences to the woman who rides a unicycle and flips bowls onto her head using her foot.
20. The Palace Locker Room store.
21. The 2005 Remix videos that feature the 1989 Bad Boys.
22. The architecture and sightlines.
23. The flamethrowers that scare you before every big game.
24. The people-watching. Some nights, especially during the playoffs, there's no better place to see and be seen.
25. OK, maybe we need to rethink that No. 1. More than anything, fans said the team -- especially its starters -- is what makes the Palace a special place. Said fan Martin McNeil: "The Palace is a great building, but the Pistons are the thing. If the Pistons aren't great, then the Palace is empty."
Our favorites
26. Hearing "The Final Countdown." Gives us chills every time.
27. Seeing little kids wearing red and blue 'Fros.
28. Reading the occasionally clever signs fans bring.
29. The Big Ben gong that follows any Ben Wallace highlight.
30. Seeing the shirtless boy (how much sugar is that boy consuming?) dance during the time-outs.
31. Looking to see how many fans have T-shirts on in Rebound Row.
32. Waiting to hear Rasheed Wallace yell, "Ball don't lie!" after missed free throws.
33. Scanning the crowd for Kid Rock, Bob Seger or Jimmy Kimmel.
34. Learning to understand Flip Saunders' sideline quirks -- twitches, grimaces, neck cranes.
35. The moment when a Piston steps to the free-throw line at the end of a close game. The quietness and anticipation before the crowd turns loose, that's the good stuff.
The streak by the numbers
Through 98 games of the streak:
36. 77-21 -- Pistons' record, including 19-6 in the playoffs.
37. 154-202 -- Combined record of the Lions and Tigers in that span.
38. 2,163,448 -- Tickets sold.
39. 2,917 estimated times Mason has said "Deee-troit Bas-ket-ball."
40. 400,000 -- Estimated number of hot dogs sold at Palace concessions.
Top 5 biggest plays of the streak
41. Rasheed Wallace hits a three-pointer to open the second half of Game 5 of the Finals in June 2004. The Pistons outscore L.A., 27-14, in the third quarter, and the title is Detroit's.
42. Ron Artest lands a hard foul on Ben Wallace on Nov. 19, 2004, the starting point of the brawl.
43. Chauncey Billups banks in a triple from just inside the half-court line to force the first of three overtimes against New Jersey in the 2004 second round.
44. Richard Hamilton hits two free throws after Ron Artest gets called for a flagrant foul in Game 6 of the 2004 Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons get the ball back, and the Pacers never recover.
45. There are too many alley-oops to name. Richard Hamilton to Tayshaun Prince? Chauncey Billups to Ben Wallace? Pick one. They were all good.
The good, bad and ugly games
46. June 15, 2004: Pistons beat Lakers, 100-87, in Game 5 to win NBA championship.
47. June 19, 2005: Game 5 of the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Pistons lose, 96-95, in overtime after Robert Horry hits an open three.
48. Nov. 19, 2004: The brawl. Enough said.
49. May 14, 2004: Pistons lose to New Jersey, 127-120, in conference semifinals triple-overtime thriller.
50. Dec. 2, 2005: Larry Brown returns to the Palace as the coach of the New York Knicks. The Pistons win.
51. June 4, 2005: The Pistons force a Game 7 with a dominating 91-66 win over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
52. Feb. 20, 2004: Rasheed Wallace makes his Pistons debut, albeit a short one because paperwork from his trade hadn't been completed. The Pistons lost that night to the Timberwolves. But the rest is history.
53. June 10, 2004: Pistons beat Lakers, 88-68, in Game 3 to bounce back from Kobe Bryant's "Empire Strikes Back" big shot in Game 2.
54. June 1, 2004: Pistons beat Indiana in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
55. Dec. 29, 2005: The Pistons beat Miami to stretch their win streak to nine and set the record for best December in team history.
The top personalities:
56. Rasheed Wallace.
57. Ben Wallace.
58. Chauncey Billups.
59. Shaquille O'Neal.
60. Kobe Bryant.
61. Ron Artest.
62. Larry Brown.
63. Richard Hamilton.
64. Manu Ginobili.
65. Dwyane Wade.
Your top promotions, giveaways:
66. The Dunkin Donuts' Coffee/Doughnut/Bagel race.
67. Kiss-Cam. It promotes and gives away some love. Awww.
68. The in-game parachute drop. But why do those shirts always seem to fall right into the suites?
69. The free T-shirts from Palace Patrol. Just don't hurt your neighbor.
70. Free pizza delivered by Automotion.
71. Little kids racing each other and shooting lay-ups. Cute.
72. Musical chairs. Hooper is ruthless.
73. Bobblehead giveaways.
74. We hear the free Automotion swimsuit calendar is a big hit. Gee, wonder why?
75. That game where a blindfolded fan wanders aimlessly on the court, hoping to run into a frog wearing a tuxedo. Strange.
Things to watch:
76. Warm-ups, when the players goof off. See how high Jason Maxiell can toss that ball in the air to Ben Wallace.
77. Get there early enough and catch players near the tunnel coming onto the floor. Not a bad time to score an autograph.
78. The pregame introductions, when each starter makes his a unique entrance. "B-B-B-B-Ben Wallace!"
79. The players interacting on the bench. Wouldn't you love to know what they're laughing at sometimes?
80. Mr. Davidson slowly walking to his seat on the baseline near the Pistons bench.
81. Joe D.'s profile as he watches the game from the president's suite.
82. Don't forget to pay your respects to the championship banners and retired numbers hanging in the rafters.
83. Stop at the trophy case in the main atrium to see the Larry O'Brien trophies.
84. Trainer Mike Abdenour towel off Richard Hamilton's mask each time he goes in or out of the game.
85. Broadcaster George Blaha pop in and out of his seat as he tries to keep up with the action.
Your favorite food:
86. Beer. Beer. Beer.
87. Ice cream of the future.
88. Nachos with pepper and cheese.
89. Philly cheesesteaks.
90. Chicken fingers.
Unique fan responses:
91. "It's as close to Rome as I will ever go." -- Justin Heany, Lansing.
92. "I love the Palace because it's so far from home... Being that distance allows great anticipation to grow..." -- Rick Geroux, who lives 343 miles away in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
93. "I lost my wallet last year at the Palace about two games after the "incident." The next morning, the Palace front office called to say they had my wallet and everything in it!" -- Candice Duclo, Southgate.
Ways to make the Palace better:
94. Let's scratch the teal era and the brawl from its history book, mmkay?
95. Put a statue of Joe Dumars out front. Hasn't he earned that yet?
96. Can we save the streamers for truly important wins? Seems funny to see those red, white and blue ribbons falling after a win over Chicago in December.
97. If we can't get a parking lot that empties quicker, how about drivers who don't honk, are courteous and respectful?
98. How about a Pistons fans-only lane on I-75 to beat the traffic?
99. Host another championship win come June. And the next June. And the June after that.
The final word:
100. Chris Hall, Grand Rapids: "It is a fun crowd who loves teams who work hard every night. When you work hard, you need to play hard. That is what happens at the Palace. That is why it is so great."
100 things we love about the Palace
BY KRISTA LATHAM
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
January 5, 2006
To outsiders, the Palace is just a hunk of concrete, steel and glass along a highway in a nondescript area north of Detroit. Built 17 years ago, it doesn't hold the awe of ancient stadiums where the seats creak and the inadequacies are considered endearing. It has housed four championship basketball teams, yet in terms of history, can't compare to buildings like Joe Louis Arena or Madison Square Garden.
But Pistons fans recognize this is a good time to visit the Palace. Barring an unforeseen occurrence Friday night, all 22,076 tickets will have been sold for the 100th straight game.
So here's a toast and tribute to the building that since Jan. 19, 2004, against San Antonio, has been a bumping party of Pistons faithful. One hundred things we (and you) love about the Palace, the top moments in the sellout streak, the unforgettable nights and the way the next 100 could be even better:
Your favorites
1. More than anything, Pistons fans love Automotion. In e-mails to the Free Press, many of you cited the Pistons' dance team as something you "love." It's starting to creep us out a little.
2. The general atmosphere/the noise.
3. The great fans -- the camaraderie and spirit shared between strangers.
4. More often than not, a night at the Palace means a Pistons win. The Pistons went 77-21 during the first 98 games of the 100-game streak. No. 99 was Tuesday night.
5. The now famous chant: "Deee-troit Bas-ket-ball."
6. Its creator, Mason.
7. Darko sightings.
8. 'Fro sightings.
9. Hangin' at Captain's Quarters restaurant.
10. The giveaways. (See top-10 Palace giveaways below.)
11. The overall positive vibe. Sure, there are boos for the other team and some do a little heckling. But you'll never see a video taking cheap shots at another team or player or city.
12. Yelling, "Sheeeeeed!"
13. The overall classiness of the staff and production.
14. The overall cleanliness. (Many of you mentioned clean bathrooms).
15. The mascots: Hooper, and his partner, Mini Hooper.
16. The "Shout" song from "Animal House."
17. The Spare Tires. The fat guys don't get the love the girls do, but they're large and loveable.
18. The Hooper Blimp that circles the court during halftime.
19. The halftime shows. From dogs that jump fences to the woman who rides a unicycle and flips bowls onto her head using her foot.
20. The Palace Locker Room store.
21. The 2005 Remix videos that feature the 1989 Bad Boys.
22. The architecture and sightlines.
23. The flamethrowers that scare you before every big game.
24. The people-watching. Some nights, especially during the playoffs, there's no better place to see and be seen.
25. OK, maybe we need to rethink that No. 1. More than anything, fans said the team -- especially its starters -- is what makes the Palace a special place. Said fan Martin McNeil: "The Palace is a great building, but the Pistons are the thing. If the Pistons aren't great, then the Palace is empty."
Our favorites
26. Hearing "The Final Countdown." Gives us chills every time.
27. Seeing little kids wearing red and blue 'Fros.
28. Reading the occasionally clever signs fans bring.
29. The Big Ben gong that follows any Ben Wallace highlight.
30. Seeing the shirtless boy (how much sugar is that boy consuming?) dance during the time-outs.
31. Looking to see how many fans have T-shirts on in Rebound Row.
32. Waiting to hear Rasheed Wallace yell, "Ball don't lie!" after missed free throws.
33. Scanning the crowd for Kid Rock, Bob Seger or Jimmy Kimmel.
34. Learning to understand Flip Saunders' sideline quirks -- twitches, grimaces, neck cranes.
35. The moment when a Piston steps to the free-throw line at the end of a close game. The quietness and anticipation before the crowd turns loose, that's the good stuff.
The streak by the numbers
Through 98 games of the streak:
36. 77-21 -- Pistons' record, including 19-6 in the playoffs.
37. 154-202 -- Combined record of the Lions and Tigers in that span.
38. 2,163,448 -- Tickets sold.
39. 2,917 estimated times Mason has said "Deee-troit Bas-ket-ball."
40. 400,000 -- Estimated number of hot dogs sold at Palace concessions.
Top 5 biggest plays of the streak
41. Rasheed Wallace hits a three-pointer to open the second half of Game 5 of the Finals in June 2004. The Pistons outscore L.A., 27-14, in the third quarter, and the title is Detroit's.
42. Ron Artest lands a hard foul on Ben Wallace on Nov. 19, 2004, the starting point of the brawl.
43. Chauncey Billups banks in a triple from just inside the half-court line to force the first of three overtimes against New Jersey in the 2004 second round.
44. Richard Hamilton hits two free throws after Ron Artest gets called for a flagrant foul in Game 6 of the 2004 Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons get the ball back, and the Pacers never recover.
45. There are too many alley-oops to name. Richard Hamilton to Tayshaun Prince? Chauncey Billups to Ben Wallace? Pick one. They were all good.
The good, bad and ugly games
46. June 15, 2004: Pistons beat Lakers, 100-87, in Game 5 to win NBA championship.
47. June 19, 2005: Game 5 of the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Pistons lose, 96-95, in overtime after Robert Horry hits an open three.
48. Nov. 19, 2004: The brawl. Enough said.
49. May 14, 2004: Pistons lose to New Jersey, 127-120, in conference semifinals triple-overtime thriller.
50. Dec. 2, 2005: Larry Brown returns to the Palace as the coach of the New York Knicks. The Pistons win.
51. June 4, 2005: The Pistons force a Game 7 with a dominating 91-66 win over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
52. Feb. 20, 2004: Rasheed Wallace makes his Pistons debut, albeit a short one because paperwork from his trade hadn't been completed. The Pistons lost that night to the Timberwolves. But the rest is history.
53. June 10, 2004: Pistons beat Lakers, 88-68, in Game 3 to bounce back from Kobe Bryant's "Empire Strikes Back" big shot in Game 2.
54. June 1, 2004: Pistons beat Indiana in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
55. Dec. 29, 2005: The Pistons beat Miami to stretch their win streak to nine and set the record for best December in team history.
The top personalities:
56. Rasheed Wallace.
57. Ben Wallace.
58. Chauncey Billups.
59. Shaquille O'Neal.
60. Kobe Bryant.
61. Ron Artest.
62. Larry Brown.
63. Richard Hamilton.
64. Manu Ginobili.
65. Dwyane Wade.
Your top promotions, giveaways:
66. The Dunkin Donuts' Coffee/Doughnut/Bagel race.
67. Kiss-Cam. It promotes and gives away some love. Awww.
68. The in-game parachute drop. But why do those shirts always seem to fall right into the suites?
69. The free T-shirts from Palace Patrol. Just don't hurt your neighbor.
70. Free pizza delivered by Automotion.
71. Little kids racing each other and shooting lay-ups. Cute.
72. Musical chairs. Hooper is ruthless.
73. Bobblehead giveaways.
74. We hear the free Automotion swimsuit calendar is a big hit. Gee, wonder why?
75. That game where a blindfolded fan wanders aimlessly on the court, hoping to run into a frog wearing a tuxedo. Strange.
Things to watch:
76. Warm-ups, when the players goof off. See how high Jason Maxiell can toss that ball in the air to Ben Wallace.
77. Get there early enough and catch players near the tunnel coming onto the floor. Not a bad time to score an autograph.
78. The pregame introductions, when each starter makes his a unique entrance. "B-B-B-B-Ben Wallace!"
79. The players interacting on the bench. Wouldn't you love to know what they're laughing at sometimes?
80. Mr. Davidson slowly walking to his seat on the baseline near the Pistons bench.
81. Joe D.'s profile as he watches the game from the president's suite.
82. Don't forget to pay your respects to the championship banners and retired numbers hanging in the rafters.
83. Stop at the trophy case in the main atrium to see the Larry O'Brien trophies.
84. Trainer Mike Abdenour towel off Richard Hamilton's mask each time he goes in or out of the game.
85. Broadcaster George Blaha pop in and out of his seat as he tries to keep up with the action.
Your favorite food:
86. Beer. Beer. Beer.
87. Ice cream of the future.
88. Nachos with pepper and cheese.
89. Philly cheesesteaks.
90. Chicken fingers.
Unique fan responses:
91. "It's as close to Rome as I will ever go." -- Justin Heany, Lansing.
92. "I love the Palace because it's so far from home... Being that distance allows great anticipation to grow..." -- Rick Geroux, who lives 343 miles away in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
93. "I lost my wallet last year at the Palace about two games after the "incident." The next morning, the Palace front office called to say they had my wallet and everything in it!" -- Candice Duclo, Southgate.
Ways to make the Palace better:
94. Let's scratch the teal era and the brawl from its history book, mmkay?
95. Put a statue of Joe Dumars out front. Hasn't he earned that yet?
96. Can we save the streamers for truly important wins? Seems funny to see those red, white and blue ribbons falling after a win over Chicago in December.
97. If we can't get a parking lot that empties quicker, how about drivers who don't honk, are courteous and respectful?
98. How about a Pistons fans-only lane on I-75 to beat the traffic?
99. Host another championship win come June. And the next June. And the June after that.
The final word:
100. Chris Hall, Grand Rapids: "It is a fun crowd who loves teams who work hard every night. When you work hard, you need to play hard. That is what happens at the Palace. That is why it is so great."