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Our apologies to the basketball purists, but there’s more
entertainment to a Pistons’ game than watching Chauncey Billups hit a three or
Rasheed Wallace throw down a tomahawk dunk.
“No matter what happens in a game, I feel it’s essential to
ensure fans leave having enjoyed their overall experience,” says Hooper, the
aerobatic, comedic and extremely popular team mascot who began his winning run
for the Detroit Pistons and the Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 1, 1996.
Hooper is just one of the many acts and performers that use
their talents to keep the crowds rocking before, during and after the Piston games.
The Palace Drum Line, the hysterical Spare Tires, the sexy
dance squad Automotion, and the Palace Patrol are some of the groups used to
blend in a mixture of entertainment options to accommodate both fans -- those who
come to see the best basketball players in the world and those who just want to
have a good time hanging out with friends.
While the antics in the Palace won’t go to the extremes of
Jackie Moon, the owner of the fictitious professional basketball team in the Will
Ferrell movie “Semi-Pro,” Hooper says the idea is to give people their
money’s worth whether being die-hard sport fans or novice spectators.
“Even if you are not a huge basketball fan, you can enjoy
watching the great dance team performances, our acrobatic dunk team or just
chow down on delicious food,” says the black stallion character Hooper, whose
many talents include rappelling off the Palace roof to breaking bricks with his
own hoof.
Buddy The Afroman, one of the members of the Palace Patrol,
a group of performers who among other duties, leads the crowd in chants and
“shoots” T-shirts to the fans, says the wild antics and the crew’s interaction
with the crowd allows the average fan to feel closer to the action.
“The regular fan may never be able to have personal contact
with one of the Piston ball players, however they can come in contact with
myself or one of my teammates,” says Buddy The Afroman. “They touched the
Pistons by proxy.”
As a longtime Piston and Shock fan, Jason, one of the big-belly
dancers of the Spare Tires, says his appreciation for the athletes and
entertainers have grown since joining the dance troupe. In addition, Jason says
the entertainment, “helps relieves some tension” for the fans -- something
especially important during the NBA playoffs and in a first-round series that
is locked at two games apiece.
“I’ve always found myself nervous during games and it gives
a break in the tension when I see some funny entertainment or dancing,” Jason
says.
