A New Home for the Detroit Pistons

Starting as a rural team out of Fort Wayne as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, the Detroit Pistons have come a long way, and paved that very way for themselves.

During the late 1940s, and early 1950s the Pistons journeyed from Fort Wayne to Detroit, and the move proved trying during the first years; the first year in Detroit, the Pistons held a low status record of 9-16, led by first head coach Charley Eckman.

Years to follow wouldn't prove promising for the Pistons, but perseverance wasn't short for the team's momentum, as they shared gymnasiums with local Detroit colleges/universities. I stated in a previous article on how my associates and I filled public buses to attend a Detroit Pistons' game at the University of Detroit [Jesuit]; that wasn't far from my neighborhood, so I was definitely there, and it was the place to be!

Detroit Pistons soon would be housed in Auburn Hills, after a few homes stationed in metro Detroit (Cobo Arena) and surrounding areas (Pontiac Silverdome), led by owner Bill Davidson since 1974 and a new day began for the team. Under new ownership, and a few new coaches, the Detroit Pistons would soon see the title of Championship trophy winners in 1989-90 seasons.

During the run of championships, playoff winners and status record holders, the Pistons seen their demise as their season for being a winning team soon came slowly crashing. And, it was during the early 1970s that the Pistons seen the 'light of day'; after gaining ownership by Davidson, and coached by Chuck Daly in 1983 til 1992 - the longest running coach for the Detroit Pitons - it was a new day for the team.

After a statement released in August 2010, Mike Iilitch has stepped forward to buy the Detroit Pistons, after longtime owner Davidson passed away in 2009. Ilitch has concerns in keeping the Detroit Pistons with the city, and without a "foreigner" owning the franchise.

Mike Ilitch,owner of the Detroit Red Wings, has a part in the Detroit Shock and is known well for founding Detroit-based pizza franchise Little Ceaser's Pizza. A mogul in his own right, Ilitch has plans to buy the Detroit Pistons, and keep them 'lose to home'.

According to records and sources, Ilitch has had 30 days [since October 2010] to decide whether or not he will purchase the pistons, adding to his already multi-sport franchise empire. According to Forbes Magazine, the Pistons are worth nearly half a billion dollars.

At the time of this article being published, Iilitch had yet to sign anything, sealing the purchase of the Pistons. But like me, fellow Detroiters have their fingers crossed.