Eventually? Think 10-20 years from now.

Please note that the question is not "should they" but "will they"?

Both good questions, IMO.

should they? yes.

will they? yes.

I put no.

I know he was the heart of a very successful team so far but it's not like he was the only player. If he didnt have rip chauncey Sheed Tay he probably wouldnt have won dpoy and would probably get less votes for the all-star game. Yes he was good when uncle cliff and Stack were around but no where near where his number would be retired.

Vinnie Johnson's jersey is retired.

No and no.

The Pistons have shown that they love to parade out former players to create some buzz at the Palace.

Once the lustre wore off retiring Isiah, Joe, Chuck D, etc. to the rafters what did they do just a few short years later? Let's bring them all back in and put their names on the hardwood floor!

Doing so allowed for another "Isiah Thomas night" or "Joe Dumars night" to be added to the season ticket package at a premium.

I fully expect (even with the team under new ownership in 10-15 years) to be seeing "Ben Wallace night" at the Palace.

After all, you can only have William Hung sing the national anthem so many times, and sports teams love to sell the sizzle when selling the steak gets old.

I'm sure they will retire his number. He's been the face of the franchise during this successful run and was a good ambassador for what we represented. Once all this bad blood is put to rest, I'd be amazed if we didn't retire #3.

not while bill davidson is in charge.

not while bill davidson is in charge.

Davidson's feud with Isiah is pretty well documented.

Didn't stop him from cashing in on "Isiah Thomas night" last year.

But I agree, he'll be dead when Ben's number goes up.

Vinnie Johnson's jersey is retired.

This was going to be my point exactly.

Guy won four DPOYs as a Piston, made All-star appearance after All-Star appearance, and was the face of the franchise (before the Dennis Rodman comparisons ensue).

It goes up.

i voted no to help out what i thought was gonna be a lack of no's. this is a no brainer. it wont happen anytime soon, but it will happen. If Zeke gets love on it, then so does Ben Wallace.

If Ben Wallace is in any danger of making it to the HOF, then yes his # goes up in the rafters. Same for Rodman. That's the only way they counteract the "lack of loyalty" factor. Isiah, if nothing else, was loyal to the franchise as a player, and VJ was rewarded for his loyalty.

-Should- it be that way? That's a different question.

If this team wins another championchip with Nazr in the middle...no, but if the 2004 championchip will be the last one for the next 15 years, yes

This was going to be my point exactly.

Guy won four DPOYs as a Piston, made All-star appearance after All-Star appearance, and was the face of the franchise (before the Dennis Rodman comparisons ensue).

It goes up.

Grant Hill's # will not be retired, nor will Ben Wallace's. It's not about if he deserves it. He certainly does. It's the way he left the team. That's considered betraying the franchise. So no, he won't get it retired.

I honestly don't think it will be. He betrayed the franchsise and was only here 6 years to begin with. Vinney was here, what 10 years? That's a huge difference.

I think a better comparison is Dennis Rodman.

I'd almost bet my bottom dollar they won't. My bet is that Davidson will take Bens leaving like most fans. Sell out.

Davidson is the one guy most happy with not having to pay Ben. I'd bet he had a picture of Ben painted and placed over his mantle expect I know he wouldn't shell out for that shit.

I expected this poll to be a landslide, but I expected the opposite side being ahead.

Really surprising.

I guess you guys are still really bitter.

I expected this poll to be a landslide, but I expected the opposite side being ahead.

Really surprising.

I guess you guys are still really bitter.

I thought this poll was 'will they' with our bitterness aside?

It is.

I guess I'm wondering if the bitterness is clouding reality here.

In other words, "Yall must be crazy for not agreeing with me."

Maybe.

I'm glad to see Grizz back.

He's more than welcome in any thread where he agrees with me.

Davidson is the one guy most happy with not having to pay Ben. I'd bet he had a picture of Ben painted and placed over his mantle expect I know he wouldn't shell out for that shit.

Agreed. Honestly, the Pistons didn't want to get saddled with a 4-5 year deal for an aging Ben and I think they're pretty happy with things worked out.

LOL@me for typing "expect" rather than "except".

I voted no, and not from bitterness. He did a lot while he was here, but not quite enough. 6 years is simply not enough IMO. Unless it was 6 years at the end of his career, and we won another title or two...then I would say yes.

I don't see the wings retiring Federov's number, and he did just about as much as Ben (in more years too). They were not similar styles (Federov was flashy and skill oriented and Ben was mostly heart), but similar impacts. They both helped resurrect franchises, attracted other players and won awards at the top of their game (Federov won the Hart trophy and selke awards). In fact, Federov was probably a top 5 player back in the day, while Ben was a top 10-15 player overall. Both left on their own accord.

I agree with defrocked, Matt, RegicideGreg, Vinny and Grizz (even thought he didn't vote).

I voted no but not due to being bitter or anything like that. I just don't see the Pistons retiring his number. There are so many good players on the Pistons who could have there numbers retired someday who are still playing......Billups, Rip, Prince. Depending on their legacy with Detroit, each one of them could more in front of Ben, especially if Ben flops in Chicago (he is getting older). There are just so many numbers to retire and I don't really see Ben's being one of them, especially after defecting. It's not just about what he did but how the fans and the organization felt about him.

There, now I've voted.

The bar is high to get a number retired, not sure if he leaped over that one, but agree with others who feel its the way he left. He AINT a Piston if you leave the way you did. This won't happen while Davidson is alive anyway.

And while we debate this topic, the Knicks are actually considering retiring Allan Houston's number.

Just a little perspective.

Well, that's fucked up.

I do think that the Pistons will one day retire Ben's jersey IF....

Chicago doesn't win a ring and beat us to it.

Think about it. If they win 1 title in the next 5 years and/or contend for titles then you can expect to hear speculation about Ben's jersey being retired by them.

Is it possible for 2 teams to retire your jersey #?

Miami will retire anyone's jersey.

Yeah, I know they retired Jordan's #, but I was thinking about the mere mortals, not the NBA Gods.

I doubt any "regular" player would have his jersey retired by 2 different teams.

Fuck, Adrian Dantley can't even get his retired by 1.

The Bucks and the Lakers have retired Kareem's number.

http://www.insidehoops.com/nba-retired-numbers.shtml

According to this Barkley's got two and Drexler has two as well. There might be more, I wasn't thorough.

Yeah, I know they retired Jordan's #, but I was thinking about the mere mortals, not the NBA Gods..
didnt they retire dan marleje's number?

They retired Dan Marino's jersey.

No doubt they'll retire Shaq, and eventually Wade.

They probably should honor Glen Rice as well (franchise's all time leading scorer*).

The Jordan thing makes them look despearate/silly, even moreso after they won the ring.

Bah, I'm picturing that damn sig that Fool has now.


*Interestingly, Rice is also the Hornets all time leading scorer.

Find my damn Memo Gets Over thread!

Find my damn Memo Gets Over thread!


Check your PMs.

Thanks Glenn.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:M6xgF4yhGfoJ:wtfdetroit.com/viewtopic.php%3Fp%3D13773%26sid%3D69816a08da21c850 16644f3276703020+%22memo+owns+us%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
I think this is a great read. Also, a quality BiggChris avatar that's still functional.

Well, that's fucked up.

I do think that the Pistons will one day retire Ben's jersey IF....

Chicago doesn't win a ring and beat us to it.

Think about it. If they win 1 title in the next 5 years and/or contend for titles then you can expect to hear speculation about Ben's jersey being retired by them.

Is it possible for 2 teams to retire your jersey #?

I hate when teams that only have a guy a year or two retire numbers. Like if the Lakers won it all with Malone and they retired his. That's a joke. I was pissed when Ray Borque won with Colorado and they retired his number. That's stupid. I can't really blame him for going there to win a ring (he did play like 17 years for Boston without winning one), but why retire his number? Retired numbers are meant to honor those who made a lasting and great impact on your franchise. Not to honor a great career someone had in another city. Suppose Jim Jackson won a ton of rings. Would his number be retired in half the NBA cities?