Mattie T’s Tribute to Bill Davidson (1922-2009)
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on March 15, 2009
The sports world lost a legendary figure on Saturday, as longtime Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson passed away at the age of 86.
Davidson also owned the WNBA’s Detroit Shock, along with the IHL’s Detroit Vipers & previously owned the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2004, Davidson became the only owner in professional sports history to have two of his teams win championships in the same year thanks to the Pistons’ NBA Finals triumph over the Lakers & the Lightning’s Stanley Cup win over the Flames.
In addition to this, Davidson’s Vipers also won the 1997 Turner Cup in just the 3rd year after the team’s relocation from Salt Lake (old team name was the “Golden Eagles”).
Davidson was a native of Detroit & played football in the Navy during World War II alongside participating in track & field at the University of Michigan.
Davidson purchased the Pistons in 1974 & moved them to the Pontiac Silverdome & to the Palace of Auburn Hills, which has been the NBA franchise’s home since 1988.
Since Davidson’s ownership in 1974, the Pistons have made 23 playoff appearances & 5 NBA Finals appearances while winning 3 of them against the Los Angeles Lakers (1989 & 2004) & the Portland Trail Blazers (1990).
Davidson was owner of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning from 1999 to 2007 & saw the team make 4 postseason appearences which included the team’s 2004 Stanley Cup win.
Davidson owned the WNBA’s Detroit Shock since the team’s inaugaration in 1998 & saw the team make 7 postseason appearences.
The Shock also won three different WNBA Finals in 2003, 2006 & 2008.
Davidson was honored by the Pistons in 2006 & now has a banner hanging from the rafters of the Palace of Auburn Hills. In addition to this, Davidson was also inducted into Basketball’s Hall of Fame in 2008.
Bill Davidson is succeded by his wife Karen, his two children Ethan & Marla along with 3 stepdaughters.
Davidson’s wife Karen will now take over as owner of both the Pistons & Shock.
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