From what I hear around campus, professional sports only exist in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, with Columbus getting an occasional shout out during hockey season.
I might not be a geography major, but I'm pretty sure there's a lot more out there than just these four (rather dismal) urban sports hubs.
I applaud students for sticking with their hometown teams, but I ask them to take a moment to at least acknowledge the existence of some distant, better sports franchises. And no, I do not suggest finding the most convenient bandwagon.
Honestly, I am sick of hearing the clichéd debates involving close-to-home superstars. Lebron or Kobe? Crosby or Ovechkin? Big Ben or (insert a better AFC quarterback here)? I'd almost prefer to hear someone ask Team Jacob or Team Edward? at this point.
It's not like students have limited options from which to choose. I highly recommend taking a glance to the North - just an hour out of state - to the thriving metropolis of Detroit.
I'll admit I'm partial to the Motor City (I grew up in nearby Toledo), which has seen better days, but Detroit has much more to offer sports fans than a bridge to Canada and empty auto factories.
Take hockey, for example. The Red Wings wrapped up their worst season in recent history and still managed to finish fifth in the Western Conference. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom led a squad that notched at least 100 points for the 10th straight season, this time accomplishing the feat with a rookie goaltender.
And while the Wings don't have any stars as famous as They Who Shall Not Be Named
they continuously crank out playoff appearances season after season. Why not at least give a little respect to a classy, Original Six squad that has lifted the Stanley Cup four times in the past 13 seasons? All I ask is that locals do not default to cheering for the Blue Jackets without first considering the other squad that plays just off Interstate 75.
And please, oh please, do not pay homage to the Penguins. A captain should at least be able to grow a playoff beard.
On a slightly less serious note, take a peak at the Tigers. Owner Mike Ilitch recently developed a desire to win and has taken lessons from the New York Yankees in big-league spending. So far, the best thing going on at Comerica Park may be Little Caesars Pizza, but the Tigers show signs of life.
They sit six games above .500 and just a game back of the Minnesota Twins for first place in the AL Central Division. Justin Verlander is off to another fine season, and the Tigers' pitching staff has given up the least home runs in the MLB (with a little help from their large home-field dimensions).
I urge Indians fans to consider the irony of their stadium now being called Progressive Field. And as for Reds fans, at least you didn't choose to cheer for the Pirates.
On the hardwood, the lowly Pistons offer an alternative for fans that still appreciate the concept of team basketball. Sure, they finished 13th in the Eastern Conference, but why not at least turn an ear toward the whimpering basketball fans in Motown?
No Piston averaged 20 points this season, but the team will order the same number of championship rings as the Cavaliers this season, while drawing much less attention.
King James may play in Cleveland, but The Palace sits three hours to the northwest.
But let's not talk about football. Even I don't cheer for the Lions.
- Michael Stainbrook is a freshman studying journalism and a writer for The Post. Send him an e-mail at ms229908@ohiou.edu 2
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Michael Stainbrook
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Detroit Tigers
