This is from ESPN.com. If you're getting paid $60 million of 4 years, do what your coach says. Or get the F out.

Updated: Nov. 26, 2006, 2:50 AM ET
Big Ben, Skiles play head(band) gamesESPN.com news services


Ben Wallace was the premier free-agent acquisition this offseason, but the Bulls and their $60 million man are off to a rocky start.



Wallace
Bulls coach Scott Skiles pulled Wallace only 2:02 after tip-off on Saturday because the center broke a team rule prohibiting the wearing of headbands.

A number of assistant coaches spoke with the player on the bench, but he waited until only 2:41 remained in the first quarter before removing the headband. Skiles put him back in the game, but Wallace put the headband back on before the beginning of the second half and was not allowed to start. He relented again midway through the quarter and was inserted in the game.

This latest drama comes on the heels of Wallace going scoreless with no rebounds in only 19 minutes in a loss to the Sixers on Friday night. Skiles was asked if Wallace's attitude worried him.

"No," he told the paper after the game. "I don't know why. I'm just not."

Wallace didn't have much to say either.

"Ask [Skiles]," he said. "Coach makes the decisions. I just play."

Everyone isn't taking these actions in stride, however, especially considering that the Bulls' win over the Knicks on Saturday was their first and only victory on a seven-game road trip. The Bulls held a team meeting after the contest.

"We want to make sure everybody is on the same page," Kirk Hinrich told the Tribune. "Hopefully we will be. Ben wants to win just as much as anybody on the team. He has a track record. He has won a lot of games in this league. He has a championship. We're glad to have him. It's just something we need to work out."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

We will see how this works out. I like a coach who is not afraid of his players and Skiles fits the bill. I am sure Paxson will back up Skiles all the way, otherwise the season may be over by new years. I hope Ben does not become a malcontent. This young team does not need that.
I still have faith in Pax and Skiles' vision for this team. That being said, I am not nearly as optimistic as I was before the season started.

Nas, you may be right about the Wallace signing. Joe Dumars may have known Wallace was on the decline. Dumars is as sharp as they come and he did not even try to resign Wallace.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

He did, but only offered 4 yrs/$48M. He went to the Bulls for the dough.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

why the fuck does Skiles care if a player wears a headband

I still think they'll be allright.
The problem, as I see it, is that the team STILL has no outstanding individual defenders (I thought Wallace was, but he's not) and relies on team defense to win games. That's why at least one opposing scorer always go off big on them. The team defense will come around as all the new faces figure out the system.
By the end of December the opponents FG % wil be down where it should be, and the Bulls will put together a run.

My big concern is Gordon. He doesn't look like he's improved much from his rookie season, and I'm getting tired waiting for him to become the go to guy. He's becoming the Bulls version of the Microwave, and looks more comfortable off the bench.
He also seems to have no leadership skills whatsoever.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

i don't get it? he can wear wrist bands but not a headband? dumb rule. wallace needs to follow the rules but skiles also needs to be a leader and communicate that all this is stupid. a good resolution would be to let him wear the headband only on games where in the preceding game he had 12+ rebounds.