May 22nd 1996, The Windsor Star

 In a display of technical wizardry, fireworks and a fashion show at the Palace, the Pistons unveiled a new logo featuring a black stallion and the team name as its centrepiece.

The old logo colors of blue, white and red have been replaced by teal, black, red, gold, green and metallic silver.

``We've been trying to come up with a new design since the day after the old one was released in 1978,'' joked Piston team president Tom Wilson. ``The old logo was plain and dull.''

Fresh ideas

Wilson admitted the NBA has been after the Pistons for several years to change their logo.

The league had forwarded between 200 and 300 design suggestions of their own and the club had also received hundreds of submissions from graphic designers and artists.

It wasn't until Bill Berris and Robin Brant took a crack at the project two years ago that the new logo began to emerge.

After some input from the NBA, which owns the logo, the Pistons were well on their way to reaching Tuesday's cerem-ony.

``We weren't quite sure what we want-ed, but we were sure once we saw it,'' Wilson said. ``We have a young team that is full of energy and on the rise in the NBA. We needed a more powerful, dynamic logo to help underscore our changing image to that of a new breed.''

Most of the new breed also served as models Tuesday. All the players seem-ed to approve of the changes.

``I think it is very exciting,'' said Piston guard Allan Houston. ``We've got a new team and a new direction. The key is to create excitement around the team and attract fans.''

The new uniforms will feature white backgrounds for the home uniforms and the ubiquitous teal for the road jerseys.

``I think it is the new color of the NBA,'' Houston said of the teal. ``Teal suits us.

``The timing of new logo is great. We're a team on the rise and these uniforms have a sense of hopefulness.''

Wilson was particularly pleas- ed with the response from the players.

``The players have been very positive,'' Wilson said. ``We included them in the design. In Houston, they had a player revolt because they didn't like their new uniforms this season. That's the last thing we wanted.''