John Salley: Pistons spurned me, but I’m still loyal
Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press:
Salley hoped his Fox Sports Detroit TV appearance would lead to a more permanent relationship with the Pistons. He wrote a proposal and created a job concept similar to the Miami Heat’s Alonzo Mourning, who serves as a community liaison and mentor to Heat players.
But, Salley said, while he has the utmost respect for former teammate Joe Dumars and new owner Tom Gores, he is disappointed the Pistons declined his offer.
"I got an e-mail, not even a call, from somebody in the company saying we’re not going to be able to do this, which really broke my heart," Salley said. "But I understand business, and when one door closes, another one opens. But I’m a Piston at heart.
"I’m a Detroiter, even though I’m from Brooklyn, N.Y., everyone knows I’m a Detroiter."
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Aug 2, 2012 • 10:15 am
by RyanK
If there isn’t room, then there isn’t room. I do however think it sends the right message to the current players if they brought Sally on for work. Wave the Piston banner, be loyal, and you might find work beyond your playing career with the team. I’m sure Salley was thinking 6 figures for income…maybe even a $250k position. That’s why they said no.
Aug 2, 2012 • 12:13 pm
by rick
Well since so many people around here clamor for Gores to drop Charlie V like a bad habit why would paying Salley be a detriment? I would rather pay $250 K instead of the 7million for someone to just go away, but thats me. Pay that man as it would probably help in ushering in free agents. I mean if Salley can ingratiate himelf to the city and be from Brooklyn then maybe he could be that type of salesmen that Joe D needs on the side. Wishful thinking.
Aug 2, 2012 • 11:53 am
by Crispus
Perhaps he should start thinking about a Mayoral run.
Aug 2, 2012 • 12:08 pm
by GarageTalk
Bad move from the Pistons side IMO…I was discussing this very idea of bringing certain former Pistons back to help in the organization (Big Ben working as a trainer/workout guy behind the scenes etc…) Sally is movin back to Detroit and I think would be great to have help some of these kids out, learning about the city and the Piston tradition…I guess if he was asking for big money that’s one thing but we will never know, Gores can afford it…just seems like a bit of a slap in the face to a guy that left his heart here in Detroit…you got Dumars and Mahorn I’m the payroll, Laimbeer in the past , what gives with dissing Sally when he is a doing a job that is more or less descrete? It’s not like he was asking for a seat on the bench…just sounds fishy…
Aug 2, 2012 • 12:57 pm
by @GPMasters
His acting role in Bad Boys (pun clearly intended) still makes me smile to this day.
Aug 2, 2012 • 8:16 pm
by Mark
Watching that State of the Pistons with Salley hosting, I got the impression he rubbed Gores the wrong way. Gores was there trying to portray the Pistons and Detroit in a positive light, and Salley told some story about the Bad Boys fighting in practice and said thats what being a Piston is all about. It pretty much was the opposite of the image Gores was there trying to convey.
You could tell by his reaction he didn’t like what Salley was talking about.
Aug 2, 2012 • 9:54 pm
by Scott86Free
Yeah I think even Rick Mahorn thought that wasn’t cool. He also was Begging in public which didn’t look good.
Aug 2, 2012 • 11:46 pm
by rick
Has anybody been watching the Detroit Pistons the last 3 years. They should be begging the fans to watch them instead of one of their greats begging to work for them. I Quite frankly think they should be honored that part of their past is trying to help establish their identity for the the future. I mean before they went into the production studios they had to know what he was going to talk about. I bet he was more suprised than they were because it probably felt fake. Oh well nothing to see here, move along.
Aug 3, 2012 • 12:42 am
by Keith
Just so I’m clear, Salley essentially tried to create his own position on the team and then expected the team to put him on the payroll? I get that as a former Piston (less than half his career), he might have some clout with the community, but let’s be real: John Salley is no Alonzo Mourning. He was a starter for less than 1/3rd of his career, and started only 1/5th of his games with the Pistons. How many people in the community are really going to be swayed by John Salley to invest more in the Pistons (which is the entire point of working for the team)?
I don’t blame Salley for trying, and I appreciate that he still feels some loyalty to the team, but this is a business. Maybe if Salley was ACTUALLY from Detroit, his words would hold more sway. Maybe if he had been a star in his day, a winner anyone could get behind, the front office would be more interested in his contributions. But he’s neither of those things. He’s just a D-list pseudo-celebrity who fans under 30 (the ones the Pistons need to bring in) don’t even remember.