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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Interviews Ben
Wallace: "Once you win, everybody gets recognized"
You've had a real breakout season. Why do you think people really hadn't taken you more seriously before? Ben Wallace: Well, I think I had the same type of impact last year, but our team wasn't winning. Once you start winning, then everybody on the team gets recognized for what they do. What'd you think about the trade that brought you over to the Pistons? I mean, back then people in Detroit were like, 'Who's Ben Wallace? We gave up Grant Hill for Ben Wallace?' Now it looks like a great trade. What gives? BW: I wasn't trying to come in and replace Grant Hill. I just knew that once I got out there and started to play, the fans would start to appreciate what I do on the floor. I'm not going to get you 30 points every night, but I am going to work hard, do the dirty work and all the other little things it takes to win. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask about the hair. Do people give you a little grief back in Detroit about the big 'fro? Or do they like it? BW: Do they like it in Detroit? They love it. In fact, they get disappointed and upset when I wear it in corn rows, like tonight. They're like, "Hey Ben, when you gonna let the 'fro out? I thought you were going to wear the 'fro. They get upset when I don't wear the 'fro. Have you always played with that kind of hair style? BW: Nah. I started it after my rookie year in Washington. I always had the bald head. But after my rookie year, I just decided to let it grow, so I could put it in corn rows. Then after that, I wore a 'fro and everybody just loved it. You always been this good of a rebounder? BW: I think that started from playing pickup ball with my brothers. They were much bigger than me and they weren't about to pass me the ball. Bigger than you? BW: Yeah, man. I'm the smallest one. In order to be out there and play with 'em I had to rebound, hunt down the loose balls and all the other grunt work on the court. I've just been doing it ever since. Do you get a lot of comparisons to Dennis Rodman, being a rebound machine from Detroit? BW: Yeah ...
Some people compare me to Dennis Rodman, and as long as the comparisons
stay on the court, that's fine with me. I can live with it. Once they
start comparing me to Dennis Rodman off the court, then that's They're not actually doing that, are they? BW: No way, man. I mean, you've got enough tattoos ... BW: (Laughs) Yeah, but he's got a lot more. One last thing. How much do you hear about the Bad Boys now that you guys are good? BW: A lot! But as long as we're winning, that's cool. Brian C. Hedger covers the Bulls for the Times of Northwest Indiana and is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com Tell us what you think about this interview. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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