Let’s start with some talk on the new rules regarding “zero tolerance” by officials in the NBA. Actually, let’s just shut up about it. There has been way too much complaining, first by players and now by our fans. Personally, I’m tired of all the whining. It seems beneath us to give merit to these types of things. Here’s my bottom line: shut up, mouth, body and spirit, and play the game.

The rant has begun. The green tea is delicious.

Defense. Yes, everyone is talking about it, particularly our lack of defense thus far this season. Here’s my take on it. Last season, our guys got lazy. They didn’t work hard to keep their man in front of them because they always had a fall back with Ben behind them. He would step up and take the man. In a way, it’s unfortunate to have such a talented defender behind you because you can get lazy…let him go by, Ben will be there. Well, now Ben’s not there and our guys have to make a new commitment to play defense. Go back to the fundamentals…move your feet, watch your man’s hips and call out picks.

Based on that last paragraph, I suspect we will see Flip’s hydroponics, flex-force, paradoxical, may the Force be with you zone defense (or whatever they call it) many times this season. Certainly shut down Kobe and the Lakers on Friday, didn’t it?

Was reading Keith Langlois’ Mail Bag this weekend on the Web site and came across someone complaining about the opening pages that come up before the actual site. “Annoying” was the word he used. C’mon! Keith handled it very well, explaining that it took exactly .75 seconds to get to the home page. I’m not going to be so nice. Get over yourself! Currently, these landing pages are used to make special ticket offers or inform fans about upcoming events. Coming up, we will use these pages to entertain. So get used to it…you’ll make up the .75 seconds you lost in your life, somewhere.

Time out from the ranting for a couple raves.

Went to the DIA this weekend and perused the Annie Leibowitz exhibit. Got away from the television and experienced a little bit of culture. I HIGHLY recommend it. Great photos and very well done with an audio tour narrated by Leibowitz. And great to get down to Detroit. Went straight down Woodward, starting at 14 Mile. There is some amazing architecture along the avenue as well as in the neighborhoods. There is some great potential down there.

More ravings. The new Automotion calendar is amazing. Great photos of the dancers, in beautiful formal wear. Should be a great giveaway on Wednesday against New Orleans. Will have some sneak preview pictures up on the site this week.

And I’m looking forward to Friday when we give away our first bobblehead of the new season. Chauncey Billups in red jerseys… well, at least 9,990 will be wearing red jerseys. The remaining 10 are done in pewter. It’s a golden ticket concept, stolen from Mr. Willie Wonka, and those lucky 10 with pewter bobbleheads will win a meet and greet with Chauncey Billups after the game. It’s gonna be cool…

The honey has worn off. Back to ranting...

There is a disturbance in the Force…the Pistons are 3-4. But before to the Dark Side you go, some perspective you must gain. The last time the Pistons had a losing record in the regular season was December 3, 2004. The dip under .500 (7-8) came after a loss in San Antonio, who we would meet later in the NBA Finals. Our record that season: 54-28, meaning we finished 47-20. Faith, you must have.

We can’t win every game and we won’t play great basketball every time. Our goal, and Joe Dumars has said this from the time he came in as president, is to consistently be one of the top five teams in the league. I honestly believe that this team will gel and come February, we will be rounding into form. Seven games, does not a season make.

Sorry for the Star Wars references, but the marathon has been on all weekend and I keep catching bits and pieces. Ewoks, Darth Mol, Chewbacca, Princess Amadala in one heck of a sexy black strapless number, Jabba the Hut, Han Solo encased in carbon-blahblahblah, Princess Leia in the famous golden bikini later made more famous on ‘Friends’, R2-D2, C-3PO, Jar Jar Binks, Obi Wan Kenobi young and old, the “making of Darth Vader”, Stormtroopers, Yoda as a puppet with minimal capabilities and later computer-generated fighting the Emperor…

Harrison Ford, Ewan McGregor, Sir Alec Guinness, Christopher Lee, Billy Dee Williams, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher…quite a cast. The music…Darth Vader’s theme song has become the standard for menacing evil and impending doom and the Star Wars theme is famous now as an uplifting motivator. I can hear you humming the Vader theme right now.

You see that? I pulled a Jedi mind trick on you and took your mind right off the season and the poor road trip. Now, you want to buy tickets to the games against New Orleans, Washington and Houston. You want to buy tickets to the games.