An article by 
Jun
14
2004
14
2004
The Pistons
So, what’s the score now? 3 to 1? (though some would argue without a last minute 3-point shot, the series would be over). I like the Pistons, I always have. Why? No reason, I guess it’s because I’m from Michigan and when in doubt, you always stick with the home team. In my life time, I’ve only ever been to one game, I own no Pistons merchandise, I have no Pistons backgrounds for my computer, and I only really only know a few of their names, I haven’t even watched an entire game of the play-offs, but none the less I am a fan. They seem like a fun bunch of scrappy guys.
So since I know so little about them, other than I hope that they win the finals, what am I doing wasting my time writing about them. Well, I figure since so many others speak from ignorance, why can’t I?
Just kidding. When I think of all things Detroit, I think of my buddy Tom. I’ve been friends with Tom ever since my freshmen year in college [which at this point is almost 12 years removed). Ironically, (or maybe not so), Tom started out hating me. Well hating me might be a strong word, but let me put it this way, he (along with another friend of mine) were the original founders of the Bob Soulliere fan club. But I digress…
Tom is a true fan. Tom watches every game, knows all the players, owns Pistons related items, I’m pretty sure he has some Pistons related backgrounds for his computer. He knows the stats, the reads the sports page. Tom is fan. But not just of the Pistons, of the Lions (hey, go Lions) Tigers, Red Wings, and probably a hundred other teams. I knows all the stats, the history, everything, I mean for goodness stakes, the man is “The Commish”.
Every since we became friends, Tom has been there, weather I wanted him there or not. Tom has always been there for all of this friends, it’s just the kind of guy he his. Always rooting for the home team. I haven’t seen Tom in person in years (goodness, I have no idea when the last time was). I hardly ever call the guy, and certainly I don’t email, but none the less Tom is there. I haven’t been a very good friend to Tom. Granted I’ve provided him with free web stuff for years, email service, whatever he’s needed, heck, I even employed him for a while when I was running my own company (ah, the good old days eh Tom?), but other than that I’ve kept him at arms length, out of my life as far as possible.
I keep most people at arms length, there are very few (if any) that I let in my own little private world to see the real me. Most people don’t mind because they don’t really care. They are the kind of people who pass you and say, “Hey, how’s it going?” and never notice that you didn’t answer. But not Tom. I’m sure if I let him, he’d be involved in my life in a much more personal way, it’s just the kind of guy he is. So if Tom’s such a great guy, then why do I shut him out?
Well, I’m an equally opportunity ignorer. I push all people aside equally, but that’s the kind of guy that I am. I genuinely think that most people don’t really care. They have enough issues of their own, that they really don’t have time for yours. On top of that (as arrogant as this may sound), I’m of the impression that I really don’t need people (though sometimes I carry that on into God, but that’s another discussion for another day). Folks are judgmental, needy, narrow minded, they’d just as soon stab you in the back as pat you on the back. If they’re calling you, it’s because they need something and not because they want to give something back. I don’t need them, I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone. I can carry this team by myself.
Which brings me back to the Pistons and the Lakers.
Of an entire team of basketball players, The Lakers have two guys who are kinda scoring. Who don’t need their other players for anything other than to give them the ball so they can win, which is exactly what they aren’t doing. The Lakers aren’t a team, they are a collection of over paid stars who think the whole game is about them, and that their other players are more in the way of them shining as they know they truly can. Now contrast that with the Pistons. Hell, they don’t care who scores the points as long as someone does. Ben is open, dish the ball to him. Randy is open, hey man, the brick is coming your way. There are no super stars on the Pistons, they are team that works together and depends on one another to get the job done.
Which brings me back to Tom.
Tom is a true team player. He’s a lot more like the Pistons and I’m a lot more like a player on the Lakers. And this gives me pause.
How arrogant have I become to be under the impression that I don’t need anyone to make it through this life. I know that some would argue, that you don’t need anyone on outside of God, but I would disagree with that. When then do we have the church? Why then are there so many verse telling us to fellowship? As much as I hate it, we need others in our lives if we are to be successful as people.
We keep folks out of our lives for many reasons, the first and foremost I believe it’s fear. We are afraid of being judged, afraid of being seen for who we really are (we are all ugly underneath the masks we wear), afraid of being hurt, betrayed, and a hundred other things. And all those fears are genuine and we’re all guilty of doing these things to others. So shame on us (but again, that’s a rant for another time).
So, there you have it. Another lesson learned from Tom, the true fan, the team player, and the one who taught me the true wonders of hospitality. So Tom, this one’s for you man. I hope the Pistons win, because I think you deserve it. But don’t think this means I’m going to be calling you more often or driving to Lansing to hang out 
.
One last thought before I go… So how is God like the Pistons?
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About the Author: Bob Soulliere
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Jun
14
2004
14
2004
Private: The Pistons
So, what’s the score now? 3 to 1? (though some would argue without a last minute 3-point shot, the series would be over). I like the Pistons, I always have. Why? No reason, I guess it’s because I’m from Michigan and when in doubt, you always stick with the home team. In my life time, I’ve only ever been to one game, I own no Pistons merchandise, I have no Pistons backgrounds for my computer, and I only really only know a few of their names, I haven’t even watched an entire game of the play-offs, but none the less I am a fan. They seem like a fun bunch of scrappy guys.
So since I know so little about them, other than I hope that they win the finals, what am I doing wasting my time writing about them. Well, I figure since so many others speak from ignorance, why can’t I?
Just kidding. When I think of all things Detroit, I think of my buddy Tom. I’ve been friends with Tom ever since my freshmen year in college [which at this point is almost 12 years removed). Ironically, (or maybe not so), Tom started out hating me. Well hating me might be a strong word, but let me put it this way, he (along with another friend of mine) were the original founders of the Bob Soulliere fan club. But I digress…
Tom is a true fan. Tom watches every game, knows all the players, owns Pistons related items, I’m pretty sure he has some Pistons related backgrounds for his computer. He knows the stats, the reads the sports page. Tom is fan. But not just of the Pistons, of the Lions (hey, go Lions) Tigers, Red Wings, and probably a hundred other teams. I knows all the stats, the history, everything, I mean for goodness stakes, the man is “The Commish”.
Every since we became friends, Tom has been there, weather I wanted him there or not. Tom has always been there for all of this friends, it’s just the kind of guy he his. Always rooting for the home team. I haven’t seen Tom in person in years (goodness, I have no idea when the last time was). I hardly ever call the guy, and certainly I don’t email, but none the less Tom is there. I haven’t been a very good friend to Tom. Granted I’ve provided him with free web stuff for years, email service, whatever he’s needed, heck, I even employed him for a while when I was running my own company (ah, the good old days eh Tom?), but other than that I’ve kept him at arms length, out of my life as far as possible.
I keep most people at arms length, there are very few (if any) that I let in my own little private world to see the real me. Most people don’t mind because they don’t really care. They are the kind of people who pass you and say, “Hey, how’s it going?” and never notice that you didn’t answer. But not Tom. I’m sure if I let him, he’d be involved in my life in a much more personal way, it’s just the kind of guy he is. So if Tom’s such a great guy, then why do I shut him out?
Well, I’m an equally opportunity ignorer. I push all people aside equally, but that’s the kind of guy that I am. I genuinely think that most people don’t really care. They have enough issues of their own, that they really don’t have time for yours. On top of that (as arrogant as this may sound), I’m of the impression that I really don’t need people (though sometimes I carry that on into God, but that’s another discussion for another day). Folks are judgmental, needy, narrow minded, they’d just as soon stab you in the back as pat you on the back. If they’re calling you, it’s because they need something and not because they want to give something back. I don’t need them, I don’t need you, I don’t need anyone. I can carry this team by myself.
Which brings me back to the Pistons and the Lakers.
Of an entire team of basketball players, The Lakers have two guys who are kinda scoring. Who don’t need their other players for anything other than to give them the ball so they can win, which is exactly what they aren’t doing. The Lakers aren’t a team, they are a collection of over paid stars who think the whole game is about them, and that their other players are more in the way of them shining as they know they truly can. Now contrast that with the Pistons. Hell, they don’t care who scores the points as long as someone does. Ben is open, dish the ball to him. Randy is open, hey man, the brick is coming your way. There are no super stars on the Pistons, they are team that works together and depends on one another to get the job done.
Which brings me back to Tom.
Tom is a true team player. He’s a lot more like the Pistons and I’m a lot more like a player on the Lakers. And this gives me pause.
How arrogant have I become to be under the impression that I don’t need anyone to make it through this life. I know that some would argue, that you don’t need anyone on outside of God, but I would disagree with that. When then do we have the church? Why then are there so many verse telling us to fellowship? As much as I hate it, we need others in our lives if we are to be successful as people.
We keep folks out of our lives for many reasons, the first and foremost I believe it’s fear. We are afraid of being judged, afraid of being seen for who we really are (we are all ugly underneath the masks we wear), afraid of being hurt, betrayed, and a hundred other things. And all those fears are genuine and we’re all guilty of doing these things to others. So shame on us (but again, that’s a rant for another time).
So, there you have it. Another lesson learned from Tom, the true fan, the team player, and the one who taught me the true wonders of hospitality. So Tom, this one’s for you man. I hope the Pistons win, because I think you deserve it. But don’t think this means I’m going to be calling you more often or driving to Lansing to hang out .
One last thought before I go… So how is God like the Pistons?
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About the Author: Bob Soulliere
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Bob, WOW, has it really been that long. I am not sure if you would have found time in you busy life, to remember a rebribate like myself, Russell Brown. But I was reading what you have to say, and I have to be bloody honest, as you do when you write. First off, thanks for sharing and not holding back. It is great to hear that sort of perspective on life, and what happens to lives when they grow…12 yrs WOW. Sorry digressing…Bob I know you probably don’t have to much faith, confidence, respect for what I have to say, but I am confident in who I am and who I belong to, so I am will not be taken back by your response, and maybe slit my wrist becuase someone does not care to what I have said, digressing again…lol…Yet here it goes anyway…No matter what you think, or how you feel, GOD LOVES. That means He loves ALL people. You know the word better, and probably can quote scripture and verse at any moment and time. But here is my two cents. People are in search of an identity, weather it is with a sports team, information, money, fame, and whatever else you think of, but all those identities are all useless…Ecclesiastes…I can only imagine what King Solomon thought of life, and people, shoot sorry, I can, I know how to read. He thought the same as you, and much more. But yet he still came back to this thought. It does not matter about all the “stuff” in this world, it is not the “stuff” that makes the person, it is the creator that made the person. Our identity lies within the creator. And to come to a complete respect to one who created you, you then will come to the perfection of life. Which is simple when you do it. LOVE. For God is Love and Love is God. And to come to understand our identity in that love, you then become that love. And so when it comes to people you can not help but want to be with them, to love them, to share with them and they share with you. But that is a story in its self, and I have written to much as it is. Bob when I saw your name on Flammers Blog, I could not wait to get to your site, and when I read it, I digressed back to the day, and I long to have moments back. I valued your insite and friendship. I hear you and would love to share more, but we will see what happens…For it only took 12 years to get to this point…Love ya brother, Russell
Russell Brown as I live and breathe. Thanks for your kind words Russell, man it’s been years. Hey whatever became of JC’s place?
Man that brings back memories. God’s love is a wondeful thing… most wonderful of all, that he can love a sinner like me. Drop me an email sometime, or even an instant message.