Piston Fans Dump Big Ben

Fans jeer one of the best players in team history
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted May 8, 2007 7:20 AM CDT
Piston Fans Dump Big Ben
Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace (3) is fouled by Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, right, as guard Chauncey Billups (1) looks on in the first quarter of an Eastern Conference semifinal NBA playoff basketball game at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich., Monday, May 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)   (Associated Press)

Despite six years of success in Detroit, where his defense and charisma helped turn around a slumping franchise, Ben Wallace can't get a break from the fickle fans who once loved him. Wallace jumped ship to division rival Chicago after being offered a frankly insane $60 million, four-year deal. Detroit fans are acting like jilted lovers.

It's a personal thing, LZ Ganderson observes: Detroit fans feel they made Wallace, who  was an unknown when he signed with Detroit, but rose to NBA prominence with the rest of his teammates during their 2004 title run. In the current Eastern Conference semifinals, Detroit (with former Kings phenom Chris Webber at center) has a 2-0 lead over Chicago. (More NBA stories.)

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