I’m so sorry Joe. I just have to stop and thank you for everything.
#1 You met my dad, brother, and I in the Grand Rapids airport. As my dad is telling you what a huge fan we all are (and truly so), Dumars glanced at my brother in a Pippen jersey and me in my Mourning Charlotte. Our dad laughed and said, “Well I guess I’m the real fan, Joe.” (I think? I was maybe 10! He’ll tell us.)
Cracks me up to this day. Joe’s bodyguard said, sign these for the kids, man. And he did. I’m just so sorry this new owner bullied you out. You’ve had a hand in every Pistons championship, winning the first Finals MVP in ’89, repeating in ’90 with the Bad Boys, and taking us to the ’04 title over Shaq & Kobe’s Lakers as GM.
He knew how to build. He’s an unselfish guy who knew defense. Michael Jordan called him the best defender to ever guard him. Just because he was rebuilding didn’t mean he should be fired. That ’04 team had a proper PG, SG, SF, PF, and C. It takes real understanding of basketball to build a team like that. It took time. This impatience by Tom Gores is bull shit.
Do you see what money does? We’re all made to believe Gores knows what he’s doing because he’s a billionaire. Our owner just made a guy resign who went to six straight conference finals as GM.
This is fucked up.