Comments on: Hatchet Job http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/ Punditry and other sins of commission Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Layup drill: Zach Randolph edition | Detroit Bad Boys http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-42 Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:31:26 +0000 http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-42 [...] Speaking of Ben, my feelings on his departure are fairly well known. But I'd be remiss if I didn't present the opposing viewpoint as well. Human Victory Cigar has done an artful job of presenting the flip side: that Ben Wallace was a loyal Piston for six years, gave the team its workmanlike identity, and deserves better than being lumped in with Larry Brown, Allan Houston, Grant Hill, and other turncoats. No, I'm not inclined to agree. But I'm lawyerly enough to recognize the merits of both sides. [...] […] Speaking of Ben, my feelings on his departure are fairly well known. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t present the opposing viewpoint as well. Human Victory Cigar has done an artful job of presenting the flip side: that Ben Wallace was a loyal Piston for six years, gave the team its workmanlike identity, and deserves better than being lumped in with Larry Brown, Allan Houston, Grant Hill, and other turncoats. No, I’m not inclined to agree. But I’m lawyerly enough to recognize the merits of both sides. […]

]]> by: MotownPride http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-41 Mon, 04 Dec 2006 21:26:48 +0000 http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-41 Excellent. I think you've successfully captured what makes the media onslaught against Ben leave a bad taste in my mouth and the mouths of pro-Ben fans across the globe. Obviously we live in a "what have you done for me lately" society, but I find it ironic that the picture of Ben rewritten by Detroit's media is one that better describes the storytellers. Disloyal and bitter. So much has been made about the ecomomic implications of keeping an aging Ben Wallace on the payroll, but I agree THC, the cost of not keeping him may be felt from years to come. This is not about declining skills. This is not about not fitting a changing NBA formula for winning. This doesn't even have much to do with money. This is about showing some gratitude for years of hard work and the dedication required to return a formal championship team back to glory. This is about the absence of respect. Doesn't look like Ben is going to find it in Chicago. He's still trying to get back into DPOY form. Let's hope the Pistons organization gets back to the form that made them one of top organizations in proffesional sports. Respecting and empowering players so much that the average player would love to be in a Detroit Pistons uniform. Great read. Thanks for sharing. Excellent. I think you’ve successfully captured what makes the media onslaught against Ben leave a bad taste in my mouth and the mouths of pro-Ben fans across the globe. Obviously we live in a “what have you done for me lately” society, but I find it ironic that the picture of Ben rewritten by Detroit’s media is one that better describes the storytellers. Disloyal and bitter. So much has been made about the ecomomic implications of keeping an aging Ben Wallace on the payroll, but I agree THC, the cost of not keeping him may be felt from years to come. This is not about declining skills. This is not about not fitting a changing NBA formula for winning. This doesn’t even have much to do with money.

This is about showing some gratitude for years of hard work and the dedication required to return a formal championship team back to glory.

This is about the absence of respect.

Doesn’t look like Ben is going to find it in Chicago. He’s still trying to get back into DPOY form. Let’s hope the Pistons organization gets back to the form that made them one of top organizations in proffesional sports. Respecting and empowering players so much that the average player would love to be in a Detroit Pistons uniform.

Great read.

Thanks for sharing.

]]> by: the stat sprocket http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-40 Mon, 04 Dec 2006 14:17:06 +0000 http://www.humanvictorycigar.com/2006/12/04/hatchet-job/#comment-40 Nice THD. The days when there was any civility left in media coverage are long gone. Now the outlets think that if they want to be heard they need to be louder, more obnoxious, and more demeaning than the next guy. And by golly, it seems to work. One thing to always keep in mind is that the media, its dilettantes, and its self-important pundits are only reflections of us. The mirror they hold up reflects us and not them. If we don’t like our reflections, there isn’t anyone to take care of that other than ourselves. Responsible media is a partnership. My hope is come that late February day when the Bulls are in town, that the crowd at the Palace stands as one and cheers the man who perhaps more than anyone on the team brought a championship to Detroit. And then, they sit back and watch the Pistons take the Bulls apart. But when Ben sits back down, they all cheer again. For once a reflection of the real fans would be nice. And if someone wants to lob a cup of beer at press row, that might be all right too. Nice THD.

The days when there was any civility left in media coverage are long gone. Now the outlets think that if they want to be heard they need to be louder, more obnoxious, and more demeaning than the next guy. And by golly, it seems to work.

One thing to always keep in mind is that the media, its dilettantes, and its self-important pundits are only reflections of us. The mirror they hold up reflects us and not them. If we don’t like our reflections, there isn’t anyone to take care of that other than ourselves. Responsible media is a partnership.

My hope is come that late February day when the Bulls are in town, that the crowd at the Palace stands as one and cheers the man who perhaps more than anyone on the team brought a championship to Detroit. And then, they sit back and watch the Pistons take the Bulls apart. But when Ben sits back down, they all cheer again. For once a reflection of the real fans would be nice. And if someone wants to lob a cup of beer at press row, that might be all right too.

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