Page 1 of 4
Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from name
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 9:05 pm
by ChainLink
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/24/stan-van-gundy-fires-back-at-cavaliers-owner-after-he-says-pistons-should-remove-detroit-from-their-name/#commentsStan Van Gundy fires back at Cavaliers owner after he says Pistons should remove ‘Detroit’ from their name
Unless you’re a Pistons fan, the best part of having Stan Van Gundy back in the league as the team’s president of basketball operations and head coach is the unabashed way in which he gives his opinions.
Van Gundy fired back at Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who said in a recent interview that the Pistons should remove “Detroit” from their name because the team actually plays its home games in Auburn Hills.
“Detroit doesn’t have an NBA team, because they’re somewhere 30 miles north of here, right? They’re in Auburn Hills, right?” Gilbert said on “Mojo In The Morning” on 95.5 FM, via 6abc.com (and HoopsHype).
This aggression will not stand, man.
“Dan Gilbert has some selfish interests for saying what he said,” Van Gundy said on 105.1 FM in Detroit. “I think we know what those are. Finally I think he has enough to worry about with his own team than worrying about us.”
Van Gundy’s remarks about “selfish interests” may have to do with Gilbert having invested millions in downtown Detroit. Gilbert also has spoken to Pistons owner Tom Gores “four or five times at the owners meetings,” where he’s brought up the topic about a downtown move, according to The Detroit News. …
“Tom Gores has been involved in the city of Detroit, not just the surrounding area,” Van Gundy said. “There are teams all over the place that carry the name of the city but represent an entire area. Where we play isn’t that much relevance.”
The moral of this little back and forth is simple: Van Gundy has returned, so any slights — perceived or otherwise — will not go unnoticed, or be allowed to slip by without a biting response.
Another reason to hate Dan Gilbert and the Cavs. Wished SVG would have called him out for his team being such a failure and having to "luck" into three #1 overall picks in the past four years.
I don't happen to know anyone who lives in Auburn Hills, but I'll bet that even they're fine with the name DETROIT Pistons.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 9:30 pm
by piston1423
I see it as a slap in the face, that's for sure. He needs to worry about not screwing up the draft for a 2nd year in a row or in a few years the team will have to change it's name to the Seattle Supersonics.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 9:32 pm
by E-Z
I have always been pissed that the Pistons don't play within city limits. Generally I'm irked when people claim they're from or live in the city of Detroit when they actually live in the surrounding areas. Yeah, sure it's usually for convenience for those that don't know where West Bloomfield is or what not, but Detroit should have its team back.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:00 pm
by Sheeeeed
I doubt Gilbert would be opening his mouth on the issue if the Pistons moving downtown didn't mean money in his own pockets.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:08 pm
by HotelVitale
Eh, there's a lot of truth behind that statement. It's not like the Pistons play in Dearborn or even Royal Oak--they play at the far north of metro Detroit. It's geographically very very far from the center of the metro areas, let alone the city proper. I don't know the full history, but seems like the move was meant to make the subdivision type of suburbanites more comfortable going to games. I always thought that sent a strong message: the Pistons are for those people first, and the rest of the city second.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:09 pm
by c rasheed
Hate on all the Cavs all you want but Gilbert is right. It's just plain sad how isolated the Pistons are from Detroit.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:38 pm
by RTM
c rasheed wrote:Hate on all the Cavs all you want but Gilbert is right. It's just plain sad how isolated the Pistons are from Detroit.
I understand that, but it's besides the point. You never heard Gilbert complain until he started buying up the city and make a huge investment in Detroit. It's only after he became financially interested that he had a big problem with it.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:47 pm
by ComboGuardCity
The old you're not really from Detroit if you're from the burbs schtick. Who cares where the team is? It's 30 miles away.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 11:00 pm
by ImHeisenberg
I think Dan Gilbert should remove his head from his arse, but I doubt he'll take my advice.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 11:19 pm
by Q00
I don't care about his comments but I love that we have a leader now who isn't afraid to respond to these things and stand up for our franchise, and in such a swift manner too.
If Joe was still the boss he would've just let Gilbert trash our franchise and said nothing. He probably wouldn't have even addressed it indirectly through the media weeks later. With Stan, not even hours after Gilbert said it, he called into the radio directly himself and put an end to it immediately.
Some might prefer a President/coach who stays in the background and doesn't get into this drama, but in todays media world you need a leader who isn't afraid to speak up. Stan really is the perfect fit for this team right now, on and off the court.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 12:19 am
by wire28
Ilitch family > Gilbert
SVG breaking his foot off in Gilbert >>>
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 12:43 am
by Ghost
*thinks about the Dallas Cowboys*
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 12:47 am
by Liqourish
E-Z wrote:I have always been pissed that the Pistons don't play within city limits. Generally I'm irked when people claim they're from or live in the city of Detroit when they actually live in the surrounding areas. Yeah, sure it's usually for convenience for those that don't know where West Bloomfield is or what not, but Detroit should have its team back.
When did Detroit lose the Pistons? When Bill Davidson built them a Palace? A state of the art facility still replicated by other franchises to this day?
If Detroit wasn't so poorly run, everything wouldn't be leaving city limits, including the people that irk you when they state where they are from.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:01 am
by E-Z
Liqourish wrote:E-Z wrote:I have always been pissed that the Pistons don't play within city limits. Generally I'm irked when people claim they're from or live in the city of Detroit when they actually live in the surrounding areas. Yeah, sure it's usually for convenience for those that don't know where West Bloomfield is or what not, but Detroit should have its team back.
When did Detroit lose the Pistons? When Bill Davidson built them a Palace? A state of the art facility still replicated by other franchises to this day?
If Detroit wasn't so poorly run, everything wouldn't be leaving city limits, including the people that irk you when they state where they are from.
No one has to blame but themselves. Don't point the finger at anyone. We all have the choice to do whatever we want, don't chalk up excuses as to why things are. Just own your decisions. Davidson didn't have to move the team anywhere, but he did. Same for anyone who left the city. Just don't get upset when you get called out on it.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:14 am
by ComboGuardCity
E-Z wrote:Liqourish wrote:E-Z wrote:I have always been pissed that the Pistons don't play within city limits. Generally I'm irked when people claim they're from or live in the city of Detroit when they actually live in the surrounding areas. Yeah, sure it's usually for convenience for those that don't know where West Bloomfield is or what not, but Detroit should have its team back.
When did Detroit lose the Pistons? When Bill Davidson built them a Palace? A state of the art facility still replicated by other franchises to this day?
If Detroit wasn't so poorly run, everything wouldn't be leaving city limits, including the people that irk you when they state where they are from.
No one has to blame but themselves. Don't point the finger at anyone. We all have the choice to do whatever we want, don't chalk up excuses as to why things are. Just own your decisions. Davidson didn't have to move the team anywhere, but he did. Same for anyone who left the city. Just don't get upset when you get called out on it.
...and there is nothing wrong with anyone that did.
Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:32 am
by ChainLink
Ghost wrote:*thinks about the Dallas Cowboys*
Better yet the NY Giants and NY Jets, both of whom don't even play in the state of New York.
49ers' new stadium is also 45 miles southeast of San Francisco.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:36 am
by Liqourish
E-Z wrote:Liqourish wrote:E-Z wrote:I have always been pissed that the Pistons don't play within city limits. Generally I'm irked when people claim they're from or live in the city of Detroit when they actually live in the surrounding areas. Yeah, sure it's usually for convenience for those that don't know where West Bloomfield is or what not, but Detroit should have its team back.
When did Detroit lose the Pistons? When Bill Davidson built them a Palace? A state of the art facility still replicated by other franchises to this day?
If Detroit wasn't so poorly run, everything wouldn't be leaving city limits, including the people that irk you when they state where they are from.
No one has to blame but themselves. Don't point the finger at anyone. We all have the choice to do whatever we want, don't chalk up excuses as to why things are. Just own your decisions. Davidson didn't have to move the team anywhere, but he did. Same for anyone who left the city. Just don't get upset when you get called out on it.
Called out because I left Detroit? I left Detroit because people broke into my home, tried to steal our appliances and blew the house up in the process. We lost everything. So social services moved us to an area with a better school district and low income housing until we got back on our feet. Am I still from Detroit? Bet your ass I am. Do I still love MY city? Bet your ass I do. I don't give a damn if it irks anyone that I claim Detroit as my hometown.
I've loved the DETROIT Pistons my entire life. And I go to just as many Pistons games as Tigers and Lions games. Because they are my teams and I root for them. Dan Gilbert is doing a good thing investing in the downtown area and buying up 22 buildings for pennies on the dollar. The reason he can afford all those buildings? Because of the plight creating by a poor city council with corrupt policies. The very thing driving out businesses and people. You can't profit from the corruption and then call out the people getting away from the corruption.
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:55 am
by PrivateZer0
I do not think there is anything wrong with calling the team the Detroit Pistons. Sure it might be in a suburb, but honestly, why does it even matter so much? I'm a big Pistons and Tigers fan and I go to see both teams all the time. Hell, I even go to school in Detroit and happily make the trip with my friends to watch the Pistons play even if we aren't winning. Just because I don't live in Detroit (during summer break) doesn't mean anyone can't say I love Detroit. It's just nice to live in a safer area with a better environment. That doesn't mean people like me who don't live in Detroit don't give back to Detroit in ways such as through community service. It's not like we have the team in Toledo or Mackinaw. Detroit just the most well known city in Michigan and the name has a nice sound to it. Honestly, why does it even really matter? The New York Jets play in New Jersey!!
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 2:25 am
by rmfc
What a loser!
Re: Dan Gilbert says Pistons should remove "Detroit" from na
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 2:28 am
by Scout Taron
No reason for the Pistons to move to downtown. Suburbanites are the people who go to the games. And at worst it's a comparable distance for any suburbanite, and much closer for the rich areas farther north.