Rasheed Wallace: Most Frustrating Athlete in Detroit Sports History
So says Detroit Free Press writer Jamie Samulsen:
For me, far and away, the answer is Rasheed Wallace. I don’t think any athlete I’ve ever watched or covered has driven me more nuts than ‘Sheed. Maybe it’s because he can be so good. Maybe it’s because some suggest he’s talented enough to be one of the greatest players of all time. And maybe it’s because his ardent backers are always telling me that I just don’t “understand” him. He’s a great teammate they say. He cares about playing the game the right way so much so that it takes away from his individual game. Whatever. I’m almost as sick of the blather surrounding Rasheed as I am of the player himself.
I just wish I knew what to expect night in and night out. Maybe the paper could start listing Rasheed’s status the same way they do the starting pitchers in baseball. If Rasheed planned to care that night, they could indicate it in the game preview. Or if he planned to be passive and lazy, they could let us know too. Who would have thought we’d get that Rasheed in Game 6 against the Celtics, but that’s exactly what we got. Oh well.
What do you think? We talk about it all the time in the office – after a while, ‘Sheed’s schtick gets pretty old. To the point where I’m not sure I’d want him on my team at all. Everyone always loves to talk about how he’s the most talented post player in the League, but after a while, I’m not sure it’s worth it …
Source: FREEP.com
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August 19th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Batman says:
From what I’ve seen when he plays he wants to take too many 3 pointers…gotta be more aggressive closer to the basket on O and D.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
doc says:
He could play for my team any day.Come back to Philly Sheed since they hating on you in the D.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
doc says:
He could play for my team any day.Come back to Philly Sheed since they hating on you in the D.Like he aint the reason they got that chip.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Rev. Paul Revere says:
Sheed, great player who I love as a Philly boy. But I agree, the man could have been nasty. Remember when Portland blew that huge lead to the Lakers? Sheed was killing it on the block, and when he wanted to, he was the best low-post player in the game. But he stopped playing down low, opting to become a shooter, which is great at too, but the man is a beast on the block. As a UNC and Philly guy, I always wonder what Sheed could have been if he had KG’s drive.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
MJAX says:
Sheed is the truth, and has been since ever since.. He left UNC shooting 60% from the field – thatz just nutz!!!! I am from Portland, and it was a true Radio Raheem Love-Hate thing going on when he was here. I think he simply gets wrapped up in the process and politics of the L, and it disgust him.. Almost like when you have to work a job to help feed your family, but you hate the job, but your family has to eat. He hates something in the L, but realizes it gives him his bread and a chance to ball which is his love.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
rob stewart says:
Sheed could have been a lot of things but his career is on te downside now. He’s getting old and that’s why he’s probably shooting so many 3′s. He’s becoming a Robert Horry gone crazy.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Michorizo says:
Frustrating athletes don’t have rings or are having women problems at home. From what I hear Sheed has a happy home.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Danilo says:
“I just wish I knew what to expect night in and night out”
Don’t deal with humans, then. Rasheed Wallace is a man, a human, not a machine. Sadly, that makes him unique in the League. He could be the best power forward of all time? I don’t care about it. He is what he is: a man who acts and thinks like a man. And that, my friend, is way more important than being a top power forward.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Fuck that ungrateful writer. Its so obvious that Sheed is the reason why Detroit has that championship, the Pistons had a good squad but getting Sheed is what took them to the other level, and kept them at that elite level.
Its also very obvious that Sheed doesn’t come out to play all the time, and he should be more aggresive. My take is that if you dont want him, trade him, but you aint doing no good by hating on him. What did this writer think, his little article is the kick in the ass thats gonna transform Sheed into KG?
Sheed is a man, not a machine like previously stated, and he got a ring that he deserved, more than this lil critic/writer will ever have.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
alex says:
no, we’re talking about potential here. we’re talking about him wasting away his talents jacking up three’s when his low post turn around J is virtually unstoppable and unblockable. Remember this guy is a professional basketball player, he is being paid to play, and give his best effort night after night. I’ve said before that he’s better than Dirk or EB – IF he only had it straight.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
doc says:
He already got more rings then them.So what they need to work on?
August 19th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
w says:
It’s kinda funny that Rasheed can get a ring not trying, yet KG, Allen, and Pierce needed two other hall of famers to get it done…
August 19th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
alex says:
what kind of argument is that? just because he has a ring then he’s better? he’s on a very good Piston team that could’ve won 2 more rings if he played as hard as Rip or Prince. The whole point of the article is to emphasize that he is underachieving.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
doc says:
No Alex it dont mean he better.It mean all that good citizenship and working hard aint get them what Sheed got.And they both got damn near a dime in.So they not good examples.Its plenty of dudes who will say Sheed better than both of them.Im not one but they still exist.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
w says:
In no where did I say he was better than them, I said all three of them are hall of famers. I don’t think that he will be one. I was simply pointing out its funny that someone who doesnt try got his ring before those three.
And as for the point of the article; I dont think Dime expects everyone to agree with them.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
doc says:
Maybe they get a ring if Tayshaun doesnt turn into Lebron’s bitch.I didnt see Sheed fuck up in that game 7 vs the Spurs.That was Rip getting cooked out there by Manu.Win as a team lose as a team.They didnt blame the chip on Sheed but they wanna blame loses.I say stop bitching yall just aint good enough no more.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Ian says:
w
you serious???
lets get real here people always want to blame vince for being a waste of talent
but this man right here is the biggest waste ever and many people want to give him a free pass comonnnn
13 ppg 6rpg six fukin rebounds are u kidding me he takes more three pointers a game than what he rebounds
yeah sure he won a title but i think that if vince gets traded to the spurs he would get one also
ill say it sheed is the biggest waste ever and if that bitch were on my team id be pissed also
August 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Ian says:
alex
thats a big if right there but reality is dirk and brand are WAY better than this man
August 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
BxBaller says:
@ Danillo
I totally agree. Thats exactly why I like dude, he’s got that “I don’t give a fuck, I’m Me attitude”
August 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
doc says:
@ian-13 and 6 are last year.Hes a old man now.Thats not a good stat for this.And you know I think anybody can get a ring on TIMMYS Spurs but Sheed was the force that got his ring.We can act like it was somebody else all we want but they had that same team together for about 2 50 win seasons before Sheed got there and he took them over the top.And the year they won was because his emotional sparks.Now they old and falling off his sparks turned into cancer.Typical hateful media.PS-Real men dont call other men bitches except if they standing in your face and can hear you.I got you asking for my oldhead autograph.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
GEE...I'm da pappy! says:
I am ova dude. It brings me to thinking of other dudes that I ball with on a regular. I promise it’s one of the weirdest things to me. Some cats I have balled with will have all the talent in the world, or be the best cats in the gym and play with a nonchalant attitude that translate in their on court shootin and defense often.
It makes me sicker than sick. For a dude to have all the talent in the world and play some games (for reasons unknown) like “whateva”. Mind you the rest of us are counting on dude to do his thing, especially in games where you need him to carry ya squad or at least go at the other best player on the opposite team to even things out.
Sheed reminds me of those type of cats. I used to defend dude in hopes he would come out of the Imma show you all a glimpse of what could and should be when I want to. Still he just does whatever pretty much. I can’t really defend no cats like that.
I heard “If you need someone to motivate you to play hard you ain’t got no business on the field”. Well of course Sheed got business on the court cause dude can ball, but for him to be able to do so much more and not deliver consistently and sometimes not at all…bah!
Yea he put Detroit ova but it ain’t to say that some other bigs couldn’t have done the same thing in retro. I am over dude. I am so glad he didn’t go to Houston. Dudes like him don’t really care about the game a lot to me, but then again with dudes like him you often dont know what they care about at all. I’d wish he would try harder or at least show more effort in caring about what is going on around him in the game.
He lost his I really matter to the game presence. In cases like his you wish talent was something tangible that you could take away from him and give it to someone who really wishes they could do more and cares more. Im at a conclusion wit dude.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
smity far away says:
@ Danilo #8
@alex #10
@doc #20
i agree with what ya’ll basically said (and all this bitch callin and all that on the internet is real funny too…call sheed a bitch to his face…)
frustrating cause everybody expects him to be able to do more…but he is the player he is…matter fact, we expect every player to be able to do more than they do, don’t we? what star in the league does all they can do every night? somebody tell me…and yeah, i would want sheed on the bulls.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
GEE...I'm da pappy! says:
Nope I really don’t expect Jordan, Paul, Kobe, Timmy and the list goes on to do more like Sheed. Cause usually they bring it on a more consistent basis in moments needed and act like they actually care abput what is going on and the part they play in the matter.
This ain’t so much about every night in as much as it’s about crucial moments, times and when you are really needed as a supposed leader or for many “The guy”.
For those that like him and want him on your squad enjoy the antics and inconsistency and nonchalant play and mockery that often comes with his game. As for those that don’t like dude or those that are tired of his entertainment if you will, many would rather someone else.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
chrisGO says:
@post#5
GREAT analogy
August 19th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Tim says:
Not to blame anyone else, but are we forgetting that his production started to slip after LB left the squad. He just didn’t respect Flip…and just did what it took to get by with him it seemed. Still not an excuse…but its just a thought. We’ll find out if thats why when Curry takes over this year.
People want to say that they ain’t any good anymore…As a Detroit fan, I’m not buying that. Its not like Boston just ran them over. 100% Billups and you might have a different story. Again, just something to chew on.
But I think the point of the article was just pointing out the frustration involved in being a Pistons fan with Sheed…Especially that game against Boston. Dude swearing at ESPN cameras cause they are doing their job. Sheeds one of my fav players, but not when that stuff happens…
And to whomever said Sheed was the reason the Pistons won…I agree, but playing Devil’s Advocate here, you could say Ben Wallace was, since they haven’t won since he left for the Bulls.
K…that is all for now.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Ian says:
doc
comon
that was a conference finals team it doesnt take that much to make it a championship team
sorry about the bitch part
August 19th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Dude gets wrapped up in the politics of the league like one pst said.. Nuff said.. I got hardwood floors on the second floor and i almost got evicted when the playoffs came on..
The league is FULL of politics and if a ref doesnt “like” you, then guess what?? You and possibly your team are screwed.. I dont blame him for anything (plus i got all his jerseys LOL) but he should kick the shit and go knock a ref on his ass.. Preferably Bob Delaney.. GET IT OVER WITH SHEED!! CAKE ON OF THOSE FOOLS!!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
maeng says:
he needs to go back to beaing rasheed of his blazers days…attacking the rim…dunking on peoples heads and being agressive…since leaving the blazers…sheed just got softer and softer and ….well…you get the point.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:51 am
luke says:
haha gotta love svg
August 20th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Dave says:
Rasheed is still a good starter and a useful player. But he’s no longer capable of keeping the interior in order by himself. He’ll likely need to be the second best big on the team for his squad to win a title, or at least have someone of comparable ability next to him.
His athleticism is vanishing quickly. It was only a few years ago when he could lock up any frontcourt player in the league, centers, power forwards or quick small forwards. I remember him locking up Peja Stojakvovic when Peja was making MVP noise one season with the Kings when Webber missed most of the year. Now his quickness has declined so much that his screen and roll coverage is the worst of any big in the Pistons rotation and he regularly doesn’t show on the screens, instead standing back in the paint so he doesn’t get exposed. Still he makes up for it in other areas defensively, but it’s a picture of where how much his athleticism has declined.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Pistons Lover says:
I know I’m late commenting on this but I really think that Rasheed Wallace is not frustating. I think the whole team didn’t play like a ‘real Piston fan’ know they can because they didn’t have any faith or respect in Flip Saunders. That’s what I saw through my eyes. I think the players of the Detroit Pistons are correct when they say that people don’t understand him. He likes when whatever team he is playing for is playing as one and not selfish or one man ball. He understands that when they play like that they are a force that cannot be stopped. I watch 82+ games (playoffs) and I know that he puts his heart in every game, but why he should he put his heart in a game where no one is going to leave it all on the floor. You go back and watch Game 6 of the Celtics series and tell me who was really giving a dam*. Then e-mail me. Cause no one played right so don’t come down on Mr. Sheed. Thank You!