Motown Sports Revival

As a Detroit Tigers fan, I've always had a soft spot for Detroit and Michigan teams. The first MLB game I ever attended was a Detroit Tigers game and it was actually one of the funnest experiences in professional sports, my first NBA game was a Detroit Pistons game and it was as exciting as watching a game 7 playoff game, regardless it was the Christmas day game. Regardless I've grown up a fan of the San Antonio Spurs rather than the Detroit Pistons or a Chicago Bears fan rather than a Detroit Lions fan, I've always liked to watch any Detroit team. It is maybe for the fact that I do have family in Detroit which makes it lean that way, but I believe overall that Detroit sports are just fun to watch. 


This year, in my opinion marked a pivotal point in Michigan sports. Lately they've had a rather strange reputation in the sporting world and I feel that this year, they have all turned it around and as a fan of Detroit the city overall, I hope that the sports teams have some effect on the city and it helps rejuvenate the city in a better state. As of May 2011, the city of Detroit has a 20% unemployment rate, which is leader in the United States. It is truly sad to see one of the cities that used to be of such an opulent city of the United States being destroyed as it is. It does seem strange that one of the most prominent cities of the twentieth century, has been reduced to what it now is. The video below truly shows that a such a cultural city when Henry Ford reigned the world of economics, has been destroyed in the past few decades.

I still believe that the city of Detroit can be resurrected, I believe it will take time and good leadership of the city [which is arguably one of the hardest things to find anywhere in government today] but I believe that it starts somewhere, maybe in the sporting world, but this year has truly marked a pivotal point in the Michigan sports world so I believe that we should celebrate that.

Detroit Lions (5-1)

Who saw this coming? The Detroit Lions starting the season out 5-0 for the first time since 1956, but recently got their first lost to the San Francisco 49ers. As odd as it seems that in the 07-08 season they finished the year of 0-16 and were the bearer of all bad NFL jokes. The Detroit Lions never really had a good reputation before their 0-16 season either, which only fueled the Lions being one of the worst NFL teams. After a few changes and after gradually getting a few wins each season. The Lions completely turned it around this season and are on pace for a playoff season tied atop the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers. 

Detroit Tigers (95-67, Lost in ALCS)

I'll admit, as a Detroit Tigers fan this is a little too early to be talking about them losing in the ALCS, but I'm a proud fan and they made a great run, one of the best we've seen them since 2006. This year they were phenomenal, they had the triple crown winner with Justin Verlander and they had five players in the all-star game including: Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Valverde, Jhonny Peralta, as well as Justin Verlander. This was great year for the Tigers and nobody in the MLB expected them to make this great of a run. Making it that deep into the playoffs, having so many singular player honors, and overall just having an amazing season makes Tigers fans proud to be fans.

Michigan Wolverines Football (5-1)

I had to include this little tidbit. The Michigan Wolverines started out 5-0, playing out of Ann Arbor they are one of the most popular teams in the Michigan area and even in Detroit. Michigan has started atop the Big 10, and have had their best looking season in years. They lost to rival Michigan State, who has also started of well.

As for the Detroit Red Wings, they've started off their season well at 4-0 atop the Central division of the NHL. It's too early in the season to judge their season, but thus far they're looking good. As for the Detroit Pistons, everything is a toss-up due to the unnecessary NBA lockout, as for now the season seems as it will be cancelled.

This pivotal point seems peculiar for all their teams to have started off [in the Tigers case ended] really well. If they do somehow have a Detroit dynasty [such as the Boston dynasty that recently had all five of it's professional teams win a championship in six different years] I believe that Detroit, the city, could follow the lead. Hopefully now that attendance rates are skyrocketing [Tiger's 2010 season home attendance: 2,461,237. Tiger's 2011 season home attendance: 2,642,045] it'll allow for some more jobs to be circulated at stadiums such as Ford Field or Comerica Park. It's sad to see the city of Detroit being destroyed from such a cultural hub of the early 1900's, hopefully one day in the future that turns around just as the sports teams of Detroit are currently doing.