HOUSTON -- The Pistons are now like men dancing in wet cement, never sure which pose will harden. It could be glory. For this is a team of talent, of scorers, of depth. But this is also a team that remade itself in the off-season, and for all the wins -- 44 already -- it is still difficult to figure who'll do what on any given night."That could be good," muses forward Adrian Dantley, stretching out across his hotel bed, "because the other team can't prepare too much."
HOUSTON -- The Pistons are now like men dancing in wet cement, never sure which pose will harden. It could be glory. For this is a team of talent, of scorers, of depth. But this is also a team that remade itself in the off-season, and for all the wins -- 44 already -- it is still difficult to figure who'll do what on any given night."That could be good," muses forward Adrian Dantley, stretching out across his hotel bed, "because the other team can't prepare too much."
MINNEAPOLIS -- Four years ago, Greg McMurtry sat at the family kitchen table in Brockton, Mass., across from a football coach named Bo Schembechler."Would you like to wear No. 1?" Bo asked. "If you come to Michigan, I'm gonna give you that number.""OK," said McMurtry. "Great. Sure."
MINNEAPOLIS -- Four years ago, Greg McMurtry sat at the family kitchen table in Brockton, Mass., across from a football coach named Bo Schembechler."Would you like to wear No. 1?" Bo asked. "If you come to Michigan, I'm gonna give you that number.""OK," said McMurtry. "Great. Sure."
What was once a series has become a war. Every basket for a purpose now. Every rebound for a cause. The innocence of these play-off games has come crashing down like a piano from a 10th- floor window, and you need only visit any sports bar in this country today to know what we are talking about.Detroit-Boston.Game 6.Look out."Lemme tell you something," someone will say about this NBA Eastern Conference play-off game (at 9 tonight at the Silverdome). "Those Pistons really showed me something. They're a hell of a team. They're gonna win this thing."
What was once a series has become a war. Every basket for a purpose now. Every rebound for a cause. The innocence of these play-off games has come crashing down like a piano from a 10th- floor window, and you need only visit any sports bar in this country today to know what we are talking about.Detroit-Boston.Game 6.Look out."Lemme tell you something," someone will say about this NBA Eastern Conference play-off game (at 9 tonight at the Silverdome). "Those Pistons really showed me something. They're a hell of a team. They're gonna win this thing."
"Michigan," I whisper."YOU JERK!""But--""HOW CAN YOU BE FOR MICHIGAN? DON'T YOU KNOW ABOUT MICHIGAN? THEY CHOKE! THEY BLOW IT! THEY EAT SOUP ON PLATES BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF BOWLS! MICHIGAN? WHAT ARE YOU, SOME KIND OF HIPPIE FREAK? YOU---""Michigan State?" I whisper."DIRT BAG!""But I-- dirt bag?"HOW CAN YOU BE FOR MICHIGAN STATE? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO MICHIGAN STATE?THEY MAJOR IN BEER! THEY STUDY EARTH SCIENCE! WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT MOO U.? DUH-UHHH! MOOOO! WHAT ARE YOU, SOME DUMB JOCK? MOOO!"
"Michigan," I whisper."YOU JERK!""But--""HOW CAN YOU BE FOR MICHIGAN? DON'T YOU KNOW ABOUT MICHIGAN? THEY CHOKE! THEY BLOW IT! THEY EAT SOUP ON PLATES BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF BOWLS! MICHIGAN? WHAT ARE YOU, SOME KIND OF HIPPIE FREAK? YOU---""Michigan State?" I whisper."DIRT BAG!""But I-- dirt bag?"HOW CAN YOU BE FOR MICHIGAN STATE? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO MICHIGAN STATE?THEY MAJOR IN BEER! THEY STUDY EARTH SCIENCE! WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CALL IT MOO U.? DUH-UHHH! MOOOO! WHAT ARE YOU, SOME DUMB JOCK? MOOO!"
I am glad the Lions have a new coach. And I hope he does well. But in order to save his job for next year, Wayne Fontes must improve morale, sharpen up the offense and win games.Plus, he must establish a coaching personality. As a defensive co-ordinator, Fontes was known as a nice guy who was liked by his players.Good. But head coaching is a different animal. You need a style. You need a gig. You need . . . an act.But which act to choose?
I am glad the Lions have a new coach. And I hope he does well. But in order to save his job for next year, Wayne Fontes must improve morale, sharpen up the offense and win games.Plus, he must establish a coaching personality. As a defensive co-ordinator, Fontes was known as a nice guy who was liked by his players.Good. But head coaching is a different animal. You need a style. You need a gig. You need . . . an act.But which act to choose?
