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Monday night was the Detroit Pistons' final home game at Little Caesars Arena, and it pretty much summed up the underwhelming season.
The game was lame and so was Fan Appreciation Night.
The Pistons were ahead by quite a bit for a while, but the Toronto Raptors weren't playing all their best guys. When they did put in their better players, they walked away with the game, winning 108-98.
Fan Appreciation Night was also pretty unexciting. I didn't feel that appreciated.
The team promoted it as "lots happening tonight with lots of giveaways. And kids 14 and under can take a free post-game shot courtesy of Sprite."
Zzzzz.
Additionally, the scoreboard kept flashing that as part of the appreciation, the team was offering Pistons' merchandise at 50 percent off.
Now, think about that. First off, most stadium merchandise is ridiculously overpriced. Secondly, you can go to any sporting goods store or Meijer after the season and get merchandise for 50 percent off more reasonably priced items. So, yes, it's just smart marketing on the part of the Pistons, but it didn't convey a feeling of love.
Then there's the food. I had a burrito and an $8 slice of gourmet pizza. The burrito was mediocre at best; watery, very average, not even as good as Taco Bell. The pizza was just OK and not worth the $8. All pretty symbolic of the quality of the team.
Pistons owner Tom Gores knows he can't run a profitable team with a losing squad. “We got to make some changes," he said at the game. "I’m just not sure what they are."
Yes, Gores has a lot of fixing to do.
And while he's at it, maybe he can brainstorm with the Ilitch organization and figure out a way to improve the burritos and mediocre guacamole and pizza.
Mediocre food. Mediocre team.
We deserve better.
(One game is left: Wednesday against the Bulls at the United Center in Chicago.)
