When you pass the torch, you don't stay around and keep trying to do it yourself. You step back and you say, 'It is yours now. It was sad to watch Dumars embrace Hawks players and coaches, and Pistons Coach Alvin Gentry after Sunday's game. I've been on the outside looking in on Dumars' ups and downs for more than a decade, and it was tough to see him go. He has meant so much to the sport and, more important, to our community.
People throw daggers at Detroit all the time because of urban decay and crime.
But when the name Joe Dumars comes up, no one can say a bad word about us. NBA Commissioner David Stern hinted that the league might name the citizenship award after Dumars, who was the first winner in 1994. We are going to find a way to keep him in the game. Just before Dumars exited, Laettner sat in the corner of the dressing room with his head stuck in his hands. I get the feeling we will be hearing more of Laettner.