How the Pistons have been staying active in the community and at home

Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, here’s how some members of the Detroit Pistons have been keeping busy within the community and at home.

These times are tough for everyone and the Detroit Pistons organization has been there for the Detroit community providing support throughout the motor city that includes a $250,000 donation, providing PPE and volunteering with community service by head coach Dwane Casey and former Piston Dave Bing.

Additionally, the Pistons have been active on social media providing emotional support including a video of the Detroit Youth Choir along with past and present Pistons singing “Stand by Me” in support of healthcare workers.

Appearances in the video included Chauncey Billups, Joe Dumars, Rip Hamilton, Dave Bing and fellow Chicagoans-turned-Pistons Derrick Rose and Isiah Thomas.

Former and current players have also been keeping themselves as active as possible including Billups, who Pistons fans saw compete in the ESPN HORSE Challenge.  For those who didn’t see, “Mr. Big Shot” came back to beat Trae Young in the first round, followed by falling to Mike Conley Jr. in the semifinals.

Players have also had to find ways to avoid the boredom such as Rose, who took part in a gross food challenge on his wife Alaina Anderson’s YouTube channel.  If it wasn’t bizarre enough that Anderson had to eat tomatoes and Rose had four hot dogs to eat, the secret ingredients took it to another level.

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Anderson chose seaweed for Rose to eat the hot dogs with, and Rose chose peanut butter for Anderson to dip the tomatoes in.

The fastest to eat their food determined the winner with Rose going first.  Rose only could down two of the four hot dogs with a time of 5:50, which left Anderson with confidence to win the challenge.

However, she couldn’t down one bite of the peanut butter tomato leaving Rose ecstatic from winning as he threw both hands in the air ALA Rocky Balboa.  Rose was more animated than when he hit the game winner against the New Orleans Pelicans this season.

Rose’s competitive nature shined through as he said, “Talking all that.  I knew I was going to be a champion.  I woke up feeling that way.”

Rose provided fans with a hilarious video to allow people to get their minds off of these tough times.  The Pistons are in this together with everyone else with Coach Casey providing a powerful sentiment to thank healthcare workers on the front lines.

“Your hard work will get us through these tough times,” Casey remarked.  “For that we’re all truly grateful.  We appreciate your dedicated service.  You are true champions.”