Stan Van Gundy Rips Detroit Fans

[TFoA]

Van Gundy rips Pistons fans

By Greg Stoda

Palm Beach Post Columnist

Saturday, May 28, 2005

MIAMI ? This might fall into the category of inciting a riot.

It depends on what happens Sunday night in The Palace of Auburn Hills when Detroit Pistons fans get a chance to react ? up close and insultingly personal ? to what Heat coach Stan Van Gundy had to say about them Friday afternoon.

What's altogether predictable, of course, is that Detroiters everywhere will be plenty pistoned-off. They'll be fuming. They'll be more than eager to live up (or down?) to their reputation for displaying a particular style of, umm, zealotry.

But maybe Van Gundy decided the setting ? Game 3 of a long-anticipated and growingly antagonistic Eastern Conference championship series ? can't get much more hostile than it figures to be, anyway.

So, he growled first.

Except he's probably wrong about the can't-get-much-worse part, which means vitriolic might take on a whole new meaning when Van Gundy walks onto The Palace court.

And he'll have started it.

What happened was this: Van Gundy was on the AmericanAirlines Arena practice floor talking about how the road frequently is less of a disadvantage to a team deep in the playoffs.

One of his points was that a team involved in, say, an Eastern Conference championship series usually is a pretty good one and therefore reasonably capable of handling adverse situations. Another of his points was that those games usually are worked by some of the NBA's best officials, who aren't likely to be intimidated or influenced by surroundings.

All good so far.

But not for long.

Van Gundy did say it was the Pistons themselves, obviously, who make Detroit a difficult place to play.

But here's what else he said:

"Detroit, even in the regular season, has a particularly nasty crowd. They're not just loud. Those people will say anything and do anything. ... I have never understood the idea (that) because I bought a ticket to the game, I can sit there and yell anything I want. ...

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

He was just getting started.

"I think (in) Detroit and New York, you get some of the absolute nastiest people. Hey, that's the way it is. That doesn't make it any tougher to play. It's no louder than anywhere else."

And then came the real stunner in pointed reference to the regular-season brawl in the stands during an Indiana-Detroit game.

"Hey, what other arena did somebody throw beer on somebody?" Van Gundy said. "I mean, let's face it. It's a different place. We heard it in the first two games up there (this season). The second was after the (fight) happened.

"I don't think their security people cared. The thing worked out great for them, to be quite honest. ... There aren't very many arenas where you specifically hear people yelling profanities and vulgar things at you. You just hear people yelling, but Detroit's a different place. Detroit's a different place. It just is."

All righty, then.

Any questions?

The strangest aspect of the Van Gundy diatribe was that it came from a guy who's funny and glib and cerebral and typically not inclined to give any fodder to an opponent or, in this case, an opponent's fans.

It's also worth noting that Detroit defeated Indiana without incident in the Eastern Conference semifinals after the regular-season ugliness involving those rivals.

The Heat players, by the way, seemed unconcerned about the logistics of their upcoming assignment.

Eddie Jones mostly is concerned with "matching the Pistons' intensity" with the home crowd behind them. Dwyane Wade dismissed whatever "unprintable" comments he'll hear as part of the equation.

Wade probably figures if he goes for another 40 points, as he did in a Game 2 victory by the Heat, it'll be the best possible response to whatever Detroit's crowd has to say.

Which is what Van Gundy, too, finally got around to in talking about using an unfriendly environment as motivation.

"It fires you up a little bit more," he said.

Figure on Pistons fans happily and angrily taking that risk.

'Cause they must think this stuff is a real riot.

Yeah that's smart, piss off the people who THREW A CUP AT RON ARTEST. Anybody wanna bet that Stan Van Gundy is now a target to be hit with a bottle or two or twelve???

[NJTank]

I think he just put his team behind the 8-ball he shoudl have kept his yap shut dont give the fans and more fuel to make it tough for you.

[DEAD!]

I think Stan Van Gundy should try to defend himself by hanging on the Alonzo Mourning's leg .....

[Plaid Paint]

Van Gundy rips Pistons fans

By Greg Stoda

Palm Beach Post Columnist

Saturday, May 28, 2005

MIAMI ? This might fall into the category of inciting a riot.

It depends on what happens Sunday night in The Palace of Auburn Hills when Detroit Pistons fans get a chance to react ? up close and insultingly personal ? to what Heat coach Stan Van Gundy had to say about them Friday afternoon.

What's altogether predictable, of course, is that Detroiters everywhere will be plenty pistoned-off. They'll be fuming. They'll be more than eager to live up (or down?) to their reputation for displaying a particular style of, umm, zealotry.

But maybe Van Gundy decided the setting ? Game 3 of a long-anticipated and growingly antagonistic Eastern Conference championship series ? can't get much more hostile than it figures to be, anyway.

So, he growled first.

Except he's probably wrong about the can't-get-much-worse part, which means vitriolic might take on a whole new meaning when Van Gundy walks onto The Palace court.

And he'll have started it.

What happened was this: Van Gundy was on the AmericanAirlines Arena practice floor talking about how the road frequently is less of a disadvantage to a team deep in the playoffs.

One of his points was that a team involved in, say, an Eastern Conference championship series usually is a pretty good one and therefore reasonably capable of handling adverse situations. Another of his points was that those games usually are worked by some of the NBA's best officials, who aren't likely to be intimidated or influenced by surroundings.

All good so far.

But not for long.

Van Gundy did say it was the Pistons themselves, obviously, who make Detroit a difficult place to play.

But here's what else he said:

"Detroit, even in the regular season, has a particularly nasty crowd. They're not just loud. Those people will say anything and do anything. ... I have never understood the idea (that) because I bought a ticket to the game, I can sit there and yell anything I want. ...

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

He was just getting started.

"I think (in) Detroit and New York, you get some of the absolute nastiest people. Hey, that's the way it is. That doesn't make it any tougher to play. It's no louder than anywhere else."

And then came the real stunner in pointed reference to the regular-season brawl in the stands during an Indiana-Detroit game.

"Hey, what other arena did somebody throw beer on somebody?" Van Gundy said. "I mean, let's face it. It's a different place. We heard it in the first two games up there (this season). The second was after the (fight) happened.

"I don't think their security people cared. The thing worked out great for them, to be quite honest. ... There aren't very many arenas where you specifically hear people yelling profanities and vulgar things at you. You just hear people yelling, but Detroit's a different place. Detroit's a different place. It just is."

All righty, then.

Any questions?

The strangest aspect of the Van Gundy diatribe was that it came from a guy who's funny and glib and cerebral and typically not inclined to give any fodder to an opponent or, in this case, an opponent's fans.

It's also worth noting that Detroit defeated Indiana without incident in the Eastern Conference semifinals after the regular-season ugliness involving those rivals.

The Heat players, by the way, seemed unconcerned about the logistics of their upcoming assignment.

Eddie Jones mostly is concerned with "matching the Pistons' intensity" with the home crowd behind them. Dwyane Wade dismissed whatever "unprintable" comments he'll hear as part of the equation.

Wade probably figures if he goes for another 40 points, as he did in a Game 2 victory by the Heat, it'll be the best possible response to whatever Detroit's crowd has to say.

Which is what Van Gundy, too, finally got around to in talking about using an unfriendly environment as motivation.

"It fires you up a little bit more," he said.

Figure on Pistons fans happily and angrily taking that risk.

'Cause they must think this stuff is a real riot.

Yeah that's smart, piss off the people who THREW A CUP AT RON ARTEST. Anybody wanna bet that Stan Van Gundy is now a target to be hit with a bottle or two or twelve???

So you are saying that the person who threw the cup at artest and therefore was the single individual directly responsible for starting the riot was doing the right thing?

How nice.

How pleasant.

[TFoA]

Van Gundy rips Pistons fans

By Greg Stoda

Palm Beach Post Columnist

Saturday, May 28, 2005

MIAMI ? This might fall into the category of inciting a riot.

It depends on what happens Sunday night in The Palace of Auburn Hills when Detroit Pistons fans get a chance to react ? up close and insultingly personal ? to what Heat coach Stan Van Gundy had to say about them Friday afternoon.

What's altogether predictable, of course, is that Detroiters everywhere will be plenty pistoned-off. They'll be fuming. They'll be more than eager to live up (or down?) to their reputation for displaying a particular style of, umm, zealotry.

But maybe Van Gundy decided the setting ? Game 3 of a long-anticipated and growingly antagonistic Eastern Conference championship series ? can't get much more hostile than it figures to be, anyway.

So, he growled first.

Except he's probably wrong about the can't-get-much-worse part, which means vitriolic might take on a whole new meaning when Van Gundy walks onto The Palace court.

And he'll have started it.

What happened was this: Van Gundy was on the AmericanAirlines Arena practice floor talking about how the road frequently is less of a disadvantage to a team deep in the playoffs.

One of his points was that a team involved in, say, an Eastern Conference championship series usually is a pretty good one and therefore reasonably capable of handling adverse situations. Another of his points was that those games usually are worked by some of the NBA's best officials, who aren't likely to be intimidated or influenced by surroundings.

All good so far.

But not for long.

Van Gundy did say it was the Pistons themselves, obviously, who make Detroit a difficult place to play.

But here's what else he said:

"Detroit, even in the regular season, has a particularly nasty crowd. They're not just loud. Those people will say anything and do anything. ... I have never understood the idea (that) because I bought a ticket to the game, I can sit there and yell anything I want. ...

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

He was just getting started.

"I think (in) Detroit and New York, you get some of the absolute nastiest people. Hey, that's the way it is. That doesn't make it any tougher to play. It's no louder than anywhere else."

And then came the real stunner in pointed reference to the regular-season brawl in the stands during an Indiana-Detroit game.

"Hey, what other arena did somebody throw beer on somebody?" Van Gundy said. "I mean, let's face it. It's a different place. We heard it in the first two games up there (this season). The second was after the (fight) happened.

"I don't think their security people cared. The thing worked out great for them, to be quite honest. ... There aren't very many arenas where you specifically hear people yelling profanities and vulgar things at you. You just hear people yelling, but Detroit's a different place. Detroit's a different place. It just is."

All righty, then.

Any questions?

The strangest aspect of the Van Gundy diatribe was that it came from a guy who's funny and glib and cerebral and typically not inclined to give any fodder to an opponent or, in this case, an opponent's fans.

It's also worth noting that Detroit defeated Indiana without incident in the Eastern Conference semifinals after the regular-season ugliness involving those rivals.

The Heat players, by the way, seemed unconcerned about the logistics of their upcoming assignment.

Eddie Jones mostly is concerned with "matching the Pistons' intensity" with the home crowd behind them. Dwyane Wade dismissed whatever "unprintable" comments he'll hear as part of the equation.

Wade probably figures if he goes for another 40 points, as he did in a Game 2 victory by the Heat, it'll be the best possible response to whatever Detroit's crowd has to say.

Which is what Van Gundy, too, finally got around to in talking about using an unfriendly environment as motivation.

"It fires you up a little bit more," he said.

Figure on Pistons fans happily and angrily taking that risk.

'Cause they must think this stuff is a real riot.

Yeah that's smart, piss off the people who THREW A CUP AT RON ARTEST. Anybody wanna bet that Stan Van Gundy is now a target to be hit with a bottle or two or twelve???

So you are saying that the person who threw the cup at artest and therefore was the single individual directly responsible for starting the riot was doing the right thing?

How nice.

How pleasant.

Hell no, who would condone a freakin riot??? I'm just saying that would it necessarily be the smartest thing in the world to incite the wrath of a city notorious for that event???

[HedleyLamarr]

Again, this is where the media is making something out of nothing.

Detroit does have rowdy, obnoxious fans. Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban, so his comparison holds true. However, the fans won't be the ones playing basketball, and these are paid professionals, so they shouldn't be affected by the crowd. And I guarentee you that the players would admit that the fans in college arenas are more hectic than professional arenas.

[WSU151]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

[ROCHitman]

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

Oh....I guess Stan DID hear me afterall.

Seriously, as a Piston fan who's been to several games (none this year), allow me to defend them. We are not as "nasty" as he leads on. We've never heard all this BEFORE the Artest incidenent but now all of a sudden we've become the most profane and obnoxious crowd in the league????

Would you expect anything different from a blue collar town backing their blue collar team?

[Plaid Paint]

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

Oh....I guess Stan DID hear me afterall.

Seriously, as a Piston fan who's been to several games (none this year), allow me to defend them. We are not as "nasty" as he leads on. We've never heard all this BEFORE the Artest incidenent but now all of a sudden we've become the most profane and obnoxious crowd in the league????

Would you expect anything different from a blue collar town backing their blue collar team?

Wait a minute, it wasn't Artest who started the riot, it was a fan.

Quit trying to foist the blame off on someone else and take responsibility for your actions.

[ROCHitman]

"It's always sort of funny to look around in the stands and see somebody sitting with their 10-year-old kid yelling profanities at you. I always thought, 'That was a great role model.' "

Oh....I guess Stan DID hear me afterall.

Seriously, as a Piston fan who's been to several games (none this year), allow me to defend them. We are not as "nasty" as he leads on. We've never heard all this BEFORE the Artest incidenent but now all of a sudden we've become the most profane and obnoxious crowd in the league????

Would you expect anything different from a blue collar town backing their blue collar team?

Wait a minute, it wasn't Artest who started the riot, it was a fan.

Quit trying to foist the blame off on someone else and take responsibility for your actions.

Did I blame Artest?

No.

You're new here so I'll grant you pass on that one.

My point was.....how come Detroit has become the worst NBA crowd after one incident? One fan does not make a corwd nor does two or three fans.

I'd even go as far as saying that we (Piston fans) were nastier back in the late '90's when the Bad Boys were playing. The character of the team and their style of play brought out the same traits in us fans. I saw it firsthand.

I'm sorry if we don't have a Nickolson or Buffett or Spike Lee in the stands.

Kid rock says .........KEEP THE WINE AND CHEESE CROWDS out of the Palace!

[HedleyLamarr]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

When's the last time you've been to Miami? It's nothing like Denver.

[DEAD!]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

yeah, and besides they are more likely to be at a Marlins game

[See Red]

My point was.....how come Detroit has become the worst NBA crowd after one incident? One fan does not make a corwd nor does two or three fans.

Well, two incidents because of the fan that through a coin at Allen Iverson. I don't care if the fan was pointed out or not... I'm not going to reward them for doing what they were supposed to.

I will say this though. They seem to have fairly good accuracy -- they hit their target more often than not.

But hey, I'd much rather have fans like the Pistons than an entire city of fairweather fans like Miami (for all of their sports).

[WSU151]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

When's the last time you've been to Miami? It's nothing like Denver.

December.

There ARE Cubans and old people, but don't stereotype it...that's ridiculous. There are a lot of young people, and they aren't all Cuban.

[HedleyLamarr]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

When's the last time you've been to Miami? It's nothing like Denver.

December.

There ARE Cubans and old people, but don't stereotype it...that's ridiculous. There are a lot of young people, and they aren't all Cuban.

What are you, the morality police?

[EagleFan344]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

When's the last time you've been to Miami? It's nothing like Denver.

December.

There ARE Cubans and old people, but don't stereotype it...that's ridiculous. There are a lot of young people, and they aren't all Cuban.

What are you, the morality police?

Dont take it personal, WSU calls everybody an idiot on this board.

[HedleyLamarr]

Then again, since Stan is in Miami, his fans are either old or Cuban

That's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said on this board. And I'm sure you'll claim it as trying to be funny, but seriously, you're an idiot.

When's the last time you've been to Miami? It's nothing like Denver.

December.

There ARE Cubans and old people, but don't stereotype it...that's ridiculous. There are a lot of young people, and they aren't all Cuban.

What are you, the morality police?

Dont take it personal, WSU calls everybody an idiot on this board.

Damn, I was hoping to set him up....