Less than a month after the death of Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller, another longtime NBA owner has shuffled off this mortal coil, as the Pistons’ William Davidson passed away Friday night.  The automotive glass magnate presided over Detroit winning NBA titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004, along with owning the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Stanley Cup championship season of 2003-04.   Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press remembers Davidson’s management style :

When a coach drew Davidson™s ire, he was out the door. When he grew tired of Rick Carlisle™s stubbornness as far as playing Tayshaun Prince and Mehmet Okur, Carlisle was out the door. When he believed Larry Brown betrayed him by talking to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2005 playoffs, he was out the door, despite leading the team to the 2004 NBA championship.

Those moves were made by Mr. D. He demanded loyalty and accountability. Just ask Isiah Thomas, who never really got both feet back in the door after Davidson believed his Hall of Fame point guard betrayed him.