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Kings make fun of Motor City?

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

As the Pistons were being introduced, the Kings ran a series of extremely negative images of Detroit on the giant overhead scoreboard screen. One image after another, abandoned and dilapidated buildings, burned out cars, desolate and garbage-strewn streets, on and on until the introductions were complete, according to the DETROIT NEWS.

Most of the Pistons were unaware of the montage, but coach Flip Saunders saw it. "I don't know if it fired them up, but it fired me up," he said. "I have only been here three months and I took offense to it. I just don't think that's right."
Saunders said he would be shocked if Kings owners Joe or Gavin Maloof had anything to do with the display.

"I know them pretty well, and they've been nothing but class," Saunders said. "I am sure they had no idea that something like that was going on. It's (crap). Especially in our league right now. Commissioner David Stern has made a statement that he wants this league to be classy. To do something like that was uncalled for."

Saunders was right. The Maloofs didn't know. The montage was apparently the work of Kings game-night operations director Leland Patton, who would not comment.