<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It took Lindsey Hunter to embody the lighthearted mood before Ben Wallace tipped off in his first game against his former team, the Detroit Pistons. Hunter, who was inactive Saturday, accessorized his dress suit with a red headband as he greeted Wallace minutes before the game. A laughing Wallace stripped Hunter of his headband and tossed it toward the Pistons' bench. Wallace, whose wearing of a headband against Bulls rules caused a controversy this season, was anything but an emotional wreck before the game. ''It will be a little strange playing against these guys,'' said Wallace, who signed a four-year, $60 million free-agent contract last summer to join the Bulls. ''We won a championship and became really good friends. So it's going to be a little bit awkward. Not only were they my teammates, they were my friends. After it's over and done with, after the ball stops bouncing, we're still going to be friends. It's just another story, another page in our books to sit back and talk about who beat who.'' True to his word, Wallace was even cordial with Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who had some rifts with Wallace. Wallace, who refused to re-enter a game in Orlando late last season, shook Saunders' hand as he made his way down the Pistons' bench. ''I respect Ben because, even though we had differences on how he was used offensively, it never took away from his effort,'' Saunders said. ''Outside of what happened in Orlando, which was out of the normal, he gave everything every time he stepped on the floor. He was always committed to his team and teammates.'' Wallace was often unhappy that he wasn't a bigger part of the offense. Saunders said the Bulls are using Wallace on offense as Detroit did. ''He's pretty much the same,'' Saunders said. ''We had times where we'd get him touches, and we'd play off him at times. He is what he is; he's one of the most dynamic team defensive players in the game. That's what he does, and that's how they're utilizing him.''</div> Read more...
