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You can add John Salley to the list of those speaking publicly in support of NBA center Jason Collins. Collins became the first American athlete from a team sport to acknowledge his homosexuality when he announced it via an exclusive first-person account that appeared at SI.com. There was a chorus of public support and Salley said late last week: “I’m proud of Jason. Whatever makes him happy, I’m all for it. Why is this a question? Why is the sexuality of anyone an issue? Detroit Free Press

Jason Collins, John Salley 

When Salley chimed in on who he thinks would be the perfect candidate to be the Pistons next coach he mentioned that Pistons owner Tom Gores and team president and general manager Joe Dumars would get a guy who could make the team playoff-bound right away. "“I’m going to say one thing: Brian Shaw should be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons; Brian Shaw should be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons; Brian Shaw should be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons,” Salley said. “If they do (hire Shaw) guaranteed 50 wins.” Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Joe Dumars, John Salley, Tom Gores 

He wishes more former pro athlete would follow a stricter dietary regimen. “This is nothing against my (former Pistons) teammate; I love him to death,” Salley said. “But Rick Mahorn has gained close to 150 pounds since 1989 when we won the championship. "I am the same weight I was back in 1989 - strictly diet; I don’t run; I work out 10 minutes a day, maybe 15 minutes a day.” Booth Newspapers

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

The Olympics started the debate again: Who's the best NBA player ever, Michael Jordan, or could it be LeBron James? Well, it isn't Jordan, said John Salley, at least not the one the Pistons used to play in the Bad Boys era. "I love Michael," Salley said on ESPN Radio. "I'm a Michael Jordan fan, like everyone else. I just don't think he's the greatest player ever. ... "I think the greatest player I ever played against was Magic Johnson. Next was Larry Bird. Then Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "The hardest guy I ever had to guard? Akeem Olajuwon. ... And then Kevin McHale." Detroit Free Press

Michael Jordan, John Salley 

Could former Bad Boy John Salley be returning to Detroit as a resident? If the four-time NBA champion has his way, that is what will happen. Salley told a WWJ-AM (950) reporter last week a move back to the city is 99% certain. Salley, who was drafted by the Pistons in 1986 out of Georgia Tech, played six seasons with the Pistons. "You can report it: John Salley is moving back to Detroit, Michigan," Salley told the radio station. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

Since retiring, Salley has made a name for himself in show business, appearing in "Bad Boys," "Bad Boys 2" and "Eddie." He also was one of the hosts of a sports talk show on the Fox Sports Network. Salley told WWJ-AM he still holds Detroit in high regard. "I miss everything about this wonderful city," he said. "This city is going through its situations, but it's definitely a wonderful place." Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

Former Pistons forward/center John Salley is living life in the fast lane. Since his basketball days Salley has found a niche playing bit roles in movies such as "Bad Boys" and being a host on "Best Damn Sports Show Period," which is now off the air. Now Salley is a host on "The Car Show," a weekly program on Speed television that premiered at 10 p.m. July 13. The show is about everything automotive, according to a Fox Sports release. Other hosts are comedian Adam Carolla, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dan Neil of the Wall Street Journal, Matt Farah of The SmokingTire.com. Detroit Free Press

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

NBA powerhouse John Salley has teamed up with PCRM to deliver a vitally important message: A healthy vegan diet helps you prevent diabetes. John’s new ad is in the latest issue of NBA’s Hoop magazine. PCRM

John Salley 

Movie-loving celebrity miscreants -- like, say, Chris Brown -- have nothing to fear when sitting down to talk Reelz with John Salley, host of "Game On." The loquacious former NBA player is absolutely giddy about the debut of his new weekly interview show on ReelzChannel, which is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. He's got the time slot following Part 8, on Sunday, of "The Kennedys," the controversial, well-hyped miniseries. "Because it's on the ReelzChannel, it's going to be about movies," Salley said. "I've got Rachael Ray and Larry the Cable Guy on my first show." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

John Salley 

Chris Iott: John Salley: "I'm looking for a job with the Pistons. They just won't hire me." Twitter

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

Chris Iott: John Salley: "I can't wait to see Dennis cry. He's always crying when he's happy." Twitter

Detroit Pistons, John Salley 

Salley said Rodman was the heart of the Pistons back-to-back NBA championship teams in 1989 and 1990 and deserves the recognition. “They’re going to be playing a game to sell tickets, we’re just the sideshow,” Salley said in an interview before the Pistons game Saturday. “They have cheerleaders, they got halftime shows, they got all kinds of things to keep the fans entertained. What they’re really doing is paying homage to guy, who what he did on this squad, diving into (the stands), everyone thought he was doing it for show. Dennis would have ran into a locomotive if Chuck (Daly) said that’s the way we got to win. If he said knock down the wall, Dennis would have not waited to found out if he had utensils. “This guy literally believed this was a family. He couldn’t understand why guys were going to get traded and why Chuck was released. He was oblivious to reality at that time. He was stuck in this Piston world with just one family. Then he was awakened that it was a family business. That’s when he started to realize it was all business. When he was here ... it was do or die. Red, white and blue.” Oakland Press

Detroit Pistons, John Salley, Dennis Rodman 

Retired NBA forward and television host John Salley stepped in the no-NBA player zone of Basketball Wives for some odd reason. He will host of the highly anticipated VH1 Basketball Wives Season 2 reunion show, including former Orlando Magic dancer Royce Reed, mother to Dwight Howard’s young son, Shaunie O’Neal, ex-wife to Shaquille O’Neal, Evelyn Lozada, fiance to Chad Ochocinco, Jennifer Williams, estranged wife to Eric Williams and Tami Roman, ex-wife of Kenny Anderson. (It never ceases to amaze me that this show is called Basketball WIVES, not Basketball exes). Orlando Sentinel

Media, John Salley 

Since the start of the New Year, "Spider" Salley has dedicated himself to becoming a wellness expert -- specifically going from becoming a vegetarian to a vegan and spreading the message about how such a diet change will improve the longevity and "wellness" of your life. Salley now campaigns for vegan values like PETA and has been invited to speak to Congress in support of the Child Nutrition Act. It's even more personal for Salley - when his father, Quillie Salley, fell ill to cancer in his fifties before passing away at 73, John was there to help his dad improve his nutrition and to battle the disease. "I noticed a change in him when I helped with his diet. But my aunts and uncles have all died from cancer. I thought, this can't be right. Something has to change." Beyond The Beat

John Salley 

Salley feels that change can extend to the NBA and guys around the league like Dwayne Wade, and yes, even Greg Oden. "The reason he's (Wade) having the problems with his legs is he's dehydrated and not getting anything to satisfy what his muscles do, and no one is telling him," Salley explained, who along with the Miami Heat's James Jones shared their thoughts on how their diets as vegetarians have helped their respective basketball careers. "I became a vegetarian when I was 27 years old. I'd just started playing for the Heat. It took me 15 years to become a vegan, because I didn't know it was an option. I was investigating becoming a vegan when I was a vegetarian." Beyond The Beat

Portland Trail Blazers, Injuries, John Salley, Greg Oden 

Wade isn't the only player on Salley's list. "I wish I was able to get to Nate (McMillan). If I talk to Nate, I think I could help Greg (Oden) but it's hard to get past team doctors and trainers that think they know certain things, and I'm sure they don't know all there is to know." Beyond The Beat

Portland Trail Blazers, Injuries, John Salley, Greg Oden 

Instead, Salley makes the kitchen the focus by eliminating animal products in foods, while still serving up - yes, John moonlights as vegan chef - a tasty meal. "If I was able to get Greg Oden down here and put him through some tests at the wellness center I work with, you could tell what was really going on with him," added Salley who belongs to a wellness center at Oasis Spa in Los Angeles. "For example, I have stress fractures and I remember thinking, 'why is this happening?'. So that's when I did a search on my body, just to find out what the hell was going wrong. And it worked." Beyond The Beat

Portland Trail Blazers, Injuries, John Salley, Greg Oden 

John Salley: Seikaly was one of my guys. He knew I wasn't there to take his job; I was there to play power forward. One day, he says to me, "Hey, man, how do you play all the way into June?" Remember, I'd been with the Pistons for six seasons and made the playoffs every year. I say, "What'd you say?" He goes, "The playoffs, third round, you guys play all the way to, like, June 28." "Uh, that's what you do when you win a championship," I say. "But you only get paid from November to April. That's taking too much of the summer, man. This is ridiculous." I say: "Well, playing for a championship is about pride. It's not about money." He says: "It has to be, because this is some bullshit. You guys play an extra two months." And I was like, holy shit. I didn't even realize it. I was playing an extra two-and-a-half months, for free. Deadspin.com

Detroit Pistons, Rony Seikaly, John Salley