Bill Laimbeer Honored for Flashback Friday
January 3, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Detroit Shock News Release
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. --- The Detroit Pistons will honor Bill Laimbeer, arguably the most hated Bad Boy in the history of the NBA, on Friday, January 6 when they host the Seattle Supersonics at 8:00 p.m.
The Pistons will honor Laimbeer, who spent 13 seasons with the Pistons and now serves as a television color analyst, is the head coach of the WNBA Detroit Shock, won two championships and was one of the original "Bad Boys." Laimbeer is the all-time leading rebounder in Pistons history (9,430 career) and still ranks in the Top Ten in 11 Pistons all-time career categories.
As part of "Flashback Fridays" during the 2005-06 regular season, the Pistons are honoring Laimbeer and will unveil his name and number 40 permanently secured on the sidelines of the Pistons court. Before the game, 10,000 commemorative Laimbeer figurines, courtesy of Marathon and The Detroit Free Press, will be distributed.
"Putting the names of our legends courtside has been a very special honor for our organization," said Tom Wilson, president and CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment. "The ceremonies have been wonderful and have given us all a chance to 'remember when'. I'm sure the ceremony for Bill will be pretty special because we can run the gamut of memories with him: from 1986 with Larry Bird to 1990 with Kevin Duckworth to 2003 with Swin Cash."
The Pistons have planned a halftime ceremony where they will play a video detailing Laimbeer's life and career. George Blaha, the voice of the Pistons, will introduce Laimbeer to the crowd and the organization will unveil the permanent "signage" on the court. Laimbeer will briefly address the crowd.
The Pistons/Palace Foundation will present Laimbeer with two checks, in the amount of $2,500 each, for donations to be made on his behalf to the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and Children's Hospital of Michigan Reading and Learning Center Renovation.
On Flashback Fridays, the first 10,000 fans through the gates receive an action figurine, corresponding with the night's honored Pistons legend. The figurines are individually numbered and packaged in commemorative and collectible boxes. Before the game, Pistons staff will hand out commemorative cards outlining the legends past and present. The team has already honored former Pistons legends Dave Bing, Isiah Thomas, Bill Davidson and Joe Dumars.
The week before the Flashback Friday celebration, www.pistons.com
Other Flashback Friday nights scheduled are:
Vinnie Johnson January 27, vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Chuck Daly March 12, vs. Charlotte Bobcats (Sunday)
Bob Lanier March 31, vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Rock Financial, Michigan's largest mortgage company, is the presenting sponsor for the 2005-06 Detroit Pistons. For more information about Rock Financial, please visit www.rockfinancial.com
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from January 3, 2006
- Bill Laimbeer Honored for Flashback Friday - Detroit Shock
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