AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Detroit Pistons announced today the details of its season tipoff tour September 17-18, previewing the upcoming 2008-09 season. The tour will include Pistons Head Coach Michael Curry, Vice President of Basketball Operations Scott Perry, guards Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo and broadcasters George Blaha and Greg Kelser. Among the stops are Lansing, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Midland, Flint and Toledo, Ohio.

The two-day tour tips off on Wednesday, September 17 with a school assembly at Lewton Elementary School in Lansing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Home of the Pistons’ 11th Live, Learn and Play Center, the team will award a special student with a $2,500 scholarship and also award the school with an additional $2,500 grant as part of the Pistons/Detroit Newspapers season-long Read To Achieve tour. This season, the Detroit Pistons will visit all 20 library renovation sites completed since the 2001-02 season and award over $100,000 in scholarships and grants throughout the year. Curry, Perry, Stuckey and Afflalo will be available for one-on-one media interviews from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the school’s library prior to the school assembly which will start at 9:30 a.m. The school is located at 2000 Lewton Place in Lansing.

The second stop is in Grand Rapids where the Pistons will make a visit to DeVos Place for a media and sponsor luncheon. Pistons’ representatives will be available in the Ballrooms A-B from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for media interviews, lunch and a short program that will highlight the upcoming season. DeVos Place is located at 303 Monroe Avenue NW in Grand Rapids.

The Pistons caravan will head north for the third leg of the tour, stopping in Traverse City for the night. The Pistons Year-Round-Hoops Truck, featuring interactive games, will be on hand at the corner of Union St. and Front St. in Traverse City for an outside pep rally from 3-6 p.m. The Pistons’ dance team “Automotion” will perform along with appearances by team mascot “Hooper” and the “Palace Patrol.” Pistons broadcasters George Blaha and Greg Kelser will host a short program previewing the upcoming season with Curry, Stuckey and Afflalo addressing the crowd. In addition to the opportunity to win Pistons t-shirts and prizes, the traveling party will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures at the event. Pistons notables will be available for one-on-one interviews during a media access period that will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the pubic.

The Tour continues Thursday, September 18 with stops in Midland, Flint and Toledo, Ohio.

The day will begin at Midland Dow High School in Midland with a school assembly with students at 9:45 a.m focusing on the importance of education and sportsmanship. Interviews with Pistons notables can be completed following the event. Midland Dow is located at 3901 North Saginaw Road in Midland (989-923-5382). Media attending the event are asked to check in with the school’s administrative office upon arrival.

The second stop will be in Flint at the Boys and Girls Club where the Pistons make a visit to the Rock and Shock Teen Resource Center at 1:00 p.m., site of the team’s 15th Pistons’ branded Fitness and Learning Center. The team will award a special student with a $2,500 scholarship and also award the club with an additional $2,500 grant as part of the Pistons/Detroit Newspapers season-long Read-To-Achieve tour. Curry, Perry, Stuckey and Afflalo will be available for one-on-one media interviews in the teen center following a short presentation and program. The Boys and Girls Club is located at 3701 North Averill Avenue in Flint.

The final stop of the tour will be in Toledo, Ohio from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at International Park. The Pistons’ dance team “Automotion” will perform along with appearances by team mascot “Hooper” and the “Palace Patrol.” Pistons broadcaster Greg Kelser will host a short program previewing the upcoming season with Curry, Stuckey and Afflalo addressing the crowd. In addition to the opportunity to win Pistons t-shirts and prizes, the traveling party will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures at the event. Pistons notables will be available for one-on-one interviews during a media access period that will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Media planning to attend any of the upcoming stops are asked to RSVP with the Pistons media relations department at (248) 377-0135.