Sunday, December 29, 2013

Detroit area sports. 2013

Yours truly isn't much into following high school sports anymore, but one way or the other a lot of notable things happened in 2013 in the college and pro ranks. Let's look back.

The Detroit Red Wings. They made it into the playoffs yet again, but eventually went down well shy of the Stanley Cup. The Wings last won the Cup when Bush Jr. was winding down his Presidency. Not all that long ago.

The Detroit Pistons. No playoffs because they were terrible. The Pistons last won an NBA crown in 2004, when the same W was running for re-election. Alas, little did we know then that, like the US economy, the Pistons were headed for a Humpty Dumptyish fall. All the king's horses/men etc, have yet to figure out how to put either one of them back together yet. Still, that was only 10 years ago.

The Detroit Tigers. Pitcher Max Scherzer won the AL Cy Young award and slugger Miguel Cabrera took home yet another MVP. On top of that, the Tigers supposedly had the best starting rotation in baseball and a regular murderer's row with their bats. They would get bounced in the playoffs. The Tigers last won the World Series in 1984 (Orwell, anybody?) when Ronald Reagan was winding down HIS first term. That's a while back. Also this last year, manager Jim Leyland decided he'd smoked his last Marlboro in the clubhouse, and retired. Leyland last smiled back when one of the Adams was President. And no, I'm not talking about Gomez or Morticia. But he did seem to Lurch a bit towards the end. Ahem.

Univ. of Mich. hoops. The Wolverines made a surprising run in the NCAA playoffs to get all the way to the championship game. They would be dispatched by Louisville. Close but no cigar. They last won a championship when Bush Sr. (read my lips -- no new taxes) occupied the Oval Office.

The Detroit Lions. Pretty much the same old. Being a long time fan of the Lions is like watching the movie Love Story every fall. It always starts out cheery, but despite all the wishes, prayers, and $6 hot dogs, I can pretty much guarantee you that both Jenny and the Lions are going to die before the show is over, and people will still cry. The Lions last won the Super Bowl -- well -- actually they've never even been to a Super Bowl. And Super Bowls started way back when Lyndon Johnson was President. At any rate, it was just another bumbling year for the Lions. Put it on top of the pile of all the other years. No big deal. Like the Wizard of Oz, they'll show it again in 2014. The difference?

Unlike die-hard Lions' fans, with certain equally gullible scribes egging them on every year about possible glory somewhere over the rainbow, Dorothy eventually woke up and realized it was all only a dream.

The bottom line? In 2013, Detroit went officially bankrupt, and no college or pro team in Michigan won anything of note.

But it will shortly be the dawn of a new year and hope springs eternal, right?

Right. If you say so......












No comments:

Post a Comment