The Wallace of Old
Big Ben (photo. Steve & Barry’s)You knew that the boo birds would be out in full effect at the United Center last night with Ben Wallace returning to town. What did you expect from Wallace? A vein-popping performance geared to show Chicago that they should be sorry they dealt him? Well he might have been more focused on the crowd’s reaction than on putting in work on the hardwood. He watched Joakim Noah double him up on the glass 20-10, and tally more boards in 32 minutes of action than he was able to grab in a single game for the Bulls all season (19).
We found this first-hand account of the game over at our friends, Blog-a-Bull…
“That was a very fun game to attend. The only downer was that it’s so hard to boo Ben Wallace since he never does anything on the court worth booing. The old bastard couldn’t even get to the line, which would’ve been a nice moment.
“Although, why boo him, Ben was great for the Bulls tonight, and I was delighted whenever he entered the game. After all, he allowed his successor, Joakim Noah, to grab 20 rebounds in 32 minutes. Noah was so good, my “what are you Boylan, a goddamned idiot?” moment(s) of the night was the overextended breaks he was giving Noah, especially to end the first half and before his final stint in the fourth.”
That’s the curious thing. Wallace has made a complete transformation in his career – not once, but twice. He went from Wizards afterthought to feared enforcer in Rock City, and now can’t even get fiery to play his former team. Wouldn’t the Big Ben of Detroit have grabbed 20 just to stick it to his former squad?
In fact, that’s exactly what he did in the 2000-01 season. After he left Orlando, he met the Magic four times as a member of the Pistons the following year. In four games he had 19, 22, 12 and 21 rebounds.
In Wallace’s defense, he’s now 33 years old and this could be party of a natural decline. But comments like he made after last night’s game make you shake your head…
”It was cool,” Wallace said, downplaying the boos. ”It wasn’t loud, but it was cool.”
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March 7th, 2008 at 8:55 am
fallinup says:
Ahhh how a fat contract changes your demeanor. Ben joined CHI to be the savior…and left as a cancer. Sure his game was on decline, but the seasons he had in Chicago were the hopeless.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:11 am
word says:
I’m glad the Bulls won and I’m glad the rookie outdid the veteran. Ben will never be as effective as he once was for any team. Well, until his contact is about to expire that is.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
college athlethes paid in full says:
Dear dime,
I love your website. Im a high school senior who is participating a debate. My topic is weather “college athletes should be paid”. I was wondering if you could put up a post about your thoughts also so i could read other peoples thought in the comments box thanks you for your time.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Joeman says:
It’s those cheap shoes he wears that causes him to not get as quick! LOL
March 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
boogey banger says:
i agree with fallinup, that big contract in his back pocket is weighin him down
March 7th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Jules says:
Noah was a BEAST last night. Easily the most active player on the court. He had 10 offensive rebounds!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Mike says:
Noah put up 13 points, 10 offensive boards, and 10 defensive boards.
My question is, does this qualify as a triple double?
They are three different stat categories and he had double digits in each. But on the other hand, is it okay to seperate the offensive and defensive boards?
What do you think?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
NBA Observer says:
Chicago is 5-1 against Detroit in the regular season meetings where Ben Wallace was a member of the Bulls. So he WAS still finding ways to stick it to his old team.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:48 am
chrisGO says:
last nights game was VERY satisfying for Chicago fans
…as happy as I am about the win, the damage is already done:
- wallace got signed
- chandler got shipped out
- boylan is a moron
- we’re stuck with Hughes’ contract
* im still wanting Pax to get the axe this summer.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Celts Fan says:
the other problem is, and I remember thinking this when Chi. signed him a few years ago, Ben Wallace is a 6’9″ CENTER whose game is based entirely on effort, athleticism, and strength. That’s the protype for a guy who’s skills go VERY QUICKLY when he starts to age. At 33, he’s not able to do what he once did and he’s not big enough to make up for it with just brute strength and size.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Celts Fan says:
*a 6’9″ center w/ no offensive game whatsoever.
and the Wallace signing and subsequent Tyson Chandler trade single-handedly destroyed the Bulls rebuilding efforts.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Dag, Ben…what’s going on man? Shoulda never left the D’; that was the perfect fit for you.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Myrie says:
Wow…
What journalism. Who wrote this article?
Was the usage of “the old bastard” and “….what are you Boylan, a goddamned idiot” really necessary?
I appreciate real talk and candor, but please respect your reading audience.
Unnecessary, unprofessional and uncalled for.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Kobeef says:
Great night for Chicago.
Despite what some say about him, Hughes is a better piece for this team than Big Ben was. He plays tough D, and does everything you need from a SG.
Chicago needs to decide what they are doing with Heinrich and Gordon but if they do that right (Trade Heinrich, keep Gordon) they could turn this ship around.
Deng is another question – he seems to have all the tools but could they get something better at SF? Maybe sign and trade for Iguodala?
Tyrus and Jokaim seem to be a nice PF and C pairing for now and have lots of potential to grow.
Good luck to the Cavs as they try to keep lebron happy with Chicago’s garbage.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Myrie says:
college athlethes paid in full—(#3)
Collegiate athletes will never get paid. That is the last thing on earth the NCAA will allow.
It would not bother me at all if college players were paid, all other facets are collecting money off of them. But its just too unrealistic.
Which sports do you pay? You cannot pay football players and not the basketball players. You cannot pay the baseball players and not the lacrosse players or fencing atheletes. If you pay the swim team, you must pay the volleyball team and the track team. If you pay male atheletes, then you must pay the female athletes. If you pay seniors, then you must pay freshman.
See…too unrealistic. And besides, ALL of them are STUDENT-athletes. The student aspect comes first. By paying them, you make them professional students; which perhaps in itself will contradict what each university stands for.
Then…beyond that…if you pay student atheletes, then you must pay student-engineers and so on.
Very difficult to break down.
…keep in mind however, that although student athletes do not receive cash for performing, they do receive other perks most of the student body population do not receive. ie…special stipends, priority housing, bird courses (lol just had to throw that one in there) and not to mention possibly a free (virtue of scholarship) education.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Faze 2 says:
Myrie it’s a blog called “BlogaBull” – you know the style that those writers use
March 7th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Myrie says:
Faze 2–
Oh. I see.
Thanks.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
GEE... 109...Been pulling caperrrrs says:
System Player.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
YallAllReadyKnow says:
college players should get paid
March 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
doc says:
Ben lost that motivation when he got paid.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
jnuh says:
ben wallace – professional paycheque casher