May 2006 Detroit Pistons Wiretap

Pistons' Davis Set To Face Judge

Sep 16, 2006 2:27 AM

Pistons center Dale Davis is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday in Miami, Sports Illustrated is reporting.

Davis faces five misdemeanor charges -- including assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence -- stemming from an incident last month at a South Beach hotel that ended with Miami police shooting him with a stun gun.

According to Scott Kotler, Davis' attorney, a dispute began at the front desk of the South Beach Marriott after midnight on Aug. 1, when Davis asked a desk clerk for a key to one of three rooms registered to Davis' family. Kotler says there may have been some confusion over whom the rooms were registered to.

According to the police report, the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Davis became upset and belligerent when he was denied access to the room, then threatened to fight hotel security. Miami Beach police were summoned, and two officers responded. Officer Sam Velez told Davis to gather his belongings and leave the hotel. "I'm not going anywhere," Davis replied, according to the report, and continued to rant.

After the officers persuaded Davis to hand over his ID and wait outside the hotel, Davis paced in small circles in the driveway, yelling and screaming. When told by the police to calm down, the report says, Davis said, "Try me, redneck. What the f--- are you going to do, b----?"

According to the report, Davis started toward Velez, balling his fists and refusing to stop as ordered. Velez fired his Taser gun, dropping Davis to the driveway, and arrested him.

Davis and his agent, Chubby Wells, have threatened legal action against the police.

Sports Illustrated

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Another Pistons Fan Sues Pacers Over 2004 Brawl

Sep 14, 2006 2:07 AM

Another Detroit Pistons fan is suing the Indiana Pacers, claiming he was beaten during the infamous 2004 brawl between players and fans in the stands of The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Michael Ryan, of Clarkston, Mich., filed a lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Detroit against the Pacers and players Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson. Ryan alleges the two players assaulted him and the Pacers were negligent in signing Artest and allowing him to play given his "history of violence, repetitive conduct, and unfitness as a professional basketball player," The Detroit News reported Wednesday.

Ryan claims that when a fan threw a plastic cup of beer at Artest late in the Nov. 19, 2004, game, Artest mistakenly believed Ryan threw it. He alleges that the former Pacers forward charged into the stands and attacked him, soon joined by Jackson.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of civil suits stemming from the brawl.

USA Today

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, NBA

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Cowens Likely To Join Pistons Staff

Sep 12, 2006 4:29 AM

Dave Cowens, a Hall of Fame player for the Celtics and former coach of the Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors, is expected to join Flip Saunders' coaching staff in Detroit.

"Nothing is done until it's done," Saunders said. "But we came to the decision that we were going to make our staff as good as we could make it. We weren't going to set any limits. I am real excited about bringing Dave in."

Detroit News

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Barkley, Wilkins, Dumars Enter Hall Of Fame

Sep 9, 2006 1:26 AM

Charles Barkley played the comedian Friday during his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

But, behind the scenes, he also sounded a lot like a role model.

He drew laughs by thanking his financial adviser for protecting his money but threw in a little advice for today's players.

"I tell all these young kids, the money you make, save it, put it in the bank. That money has to last you the rest of your lifetime, don't waste it," he said.

Associated Press

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Former Stars To Enter Basketball Hall Of Fame; How Do They Rank?

Sep 7, 2006 3:22 PM

Of the three former players going into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, two were college stars, lottery picks, in today's parlance.

Dominique Wilkins of Georgia was the third pick of the 1982 draft (selected by Utah, believe it or not).

Two years later, the Sixers took Auburn's "Round Mound of Rebound," Charles Barkley, with the fifth pick.

Joe Dumars, on the other hand, played in obscurity at McNeese State and was taken as the 18th pick in 1985, by the Pistons.

But knowing what we know now, if we could draft these three guys, how would we rank them? They'll have equal billing in the sphere at Springfield, but which one is closest to the mythical "inner circle" of the Hall of Fame?

ESPN

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Pistons' Davis Likely Will Plead Not Guilty

Sep 1, 2006 5:12 AM

Pistons forward Dale Davis said his lawyer likely will enter four not-guilty pleas on his behalf at an arraignment this morning in Miami Beach, Fla.

Davis was charged with resisting arrest without violence, disorderly conduct, assault and assault against a police officer in the early hours of Aug. 1 after an incident at the South Beach Marriott.

Davis said he could not comment on the particulars of the incident, in which police used a Taser to subdue him. Police say he advanced toward them with balled-up fists.

"I know I didn't commit any crimes," Davis said. "That's the main concern right now."

Davis said he and his agent, Chubby Wells, were considering a lawsuit against the police, but they would decide after today's arraignment, in which the judge will set a date for trial or delay the proceedings.

"At this point," Davis said, "I'm just waiting to see what happens."

Detroit Free Press

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA

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