Ron Wilson was on with Brady and Watters last night. Of course he was asked about Berger-Gate. More specifically he was asked how he felt he has been treated by the Toronto sports media. Wilson claimed to not pay any attention to it. He says he only watches TSN when he needs to watch a game they are covering. I find this hard to believe, but whatever. I think these guys know exactly what who says about them and their team each and every day. Wilson then went after Howie:
“Howard goes around implying that we should tank and that I should try to lose or I shouldn’t be try to win. I take great exception to that. What kind of lesson would I be teaching young players whether we had 1 2 3 4 5 or 6 of these guys become part of a winning team, how can I stand in front of them and demand excellence if I don’t give my best too? At the end of the day, that is what that was about.”
Brady asked the obvious question, how can you say that you don’t listen to the media yet take exception to stuff that guys are writing or saying?”
“Well you hear it all second hand. You hear it when guys like Howard in the way they ask the question. The players come up to us and ask us how they are supposed to answer questions like that. We owe it to our fans and to the other teams in the league to give our best efforts every night. ”
Watters said to Wilson I think you need to build by drafting in the top five, but you as coach can’t control that.
Wilson said, that he totally agrees and he understands but that it is in his DNA and the players DNA to play to win.
you can listen to the whole interview here….
On a sad note, Bill Davidson, current owner of the Detroit Pistons and The Palace of Auburn Hills and former owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning passed away last night at 86 years old. Davidson was one of the most charitable guys of this era and clearly loved his sports. He was the owner of the former Turner Cup champion Detroit Vipers, and the Detroit Shock of the WNBA. During one year, the Pistons, Shock and Lightning all won their respective league championships, a rarity to say the least. I had the fortune to meet and spend some time with Mr. D. while I was living in Detroit from 1994-1997. The Michigan community has lost some amazing guys over the last several years and Davidson is one of the last of an amazing breed. He will be greatly missed in the NBA inner circle. He was the most loyal owner to David Stern. I am sure the good folks at Palace Sports and Entertainment will continue the proud ways of Mr. D for years to come. Here is hoping so.