OT - What performance would mean the most to the State
Whenever you watch a sporting event with a Detroit area team this year, there is always a lot of commentary on what a big season from that team would mean to Michigan, being such a depressed state. That said, I present to you reasonable performance scenarios for this coming season and tell me what you think would mean the most for the state of Michigan.
Detroit Tigers make it to at least ALCS.
Detroit Lions take the wildcard for a playoff appearance.
Detroit Red Wings return to, and win the Cup.
Detroit Pistons get back to the conference championship game.
Michigan Football makes a New Years Day bowl.
Michigan Basketball makes the Sweet 16.
Michigan State Football makes a New Years Day bowl.
Michigan State basketball wins the NC.
Others as you think of them. And remember, this is for the whole state, hence the inclusion of the green and white.
Ohio State comes into the Michigan game undefeated.
Then gets their ass handed to them.
Could we throw in The Otter manhandling the traitor also.
Lions playoff season, no question. The city doesn't get as excited over the Wings and they can't as easily go see the Pistons. Loyalties between U-M and MSU are divided - there wouldn't be as much warm fuzzy feeling stuff, especially if Michigan wins something because that actually causes a drop in morale for MSU fans. That leaves the Tigers, which would be sweet as hell, but the Lions are probably the best uniter of suburbs and city and there really is a vast reservoir of Lions excitement that's never been tapped because they suck. The state, city and burbs included, would go apeshit if the Lions suddenly had a good team.
Sir, I believe you are mistaken. Maybe you have been in Virginia to long but, this is still a Maize and Blue state and will always be. Especially with a resurgent Bball team.
You're joking, right?
north of I-96 or west of I-69.
Since I'm sure I'm not the only one who was nauseous over the incessant hype during MSU's tourney run of "THIS TEAM IS REPRESENTS THE HEART OF DETROIT AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN," I would be a hypocrite if I thought that a UM bowl game on New Year's Day would mean anything substantial to the state as a whole.
Definitely the Lions making the playoffs.
I was reading it as "What performance would mean the most to Michigan State?" That gave me the simple answer of Michigan losing every football game this year.
Especially if a loss guarantees MSU can't make the Rose Bowl. Remember kids, UM losing is more important to State than a chance to play for a Rose Bowl bid.
Who are we kidding? Lion's take the wildcard? How about Lions win 1 game! But more seriously, I think 8 wins would mean a lot this upcoming season, especially given the propensity for Lion's fans to bask in the possibilities of "next year." Can you imagine what 6-8 wins with a rookie QB would do to the fanbase?
I think the Tigers unite everyone a little more than the Lions do. Plus economically the city would be much better off having 5-7 extra home games during a playoff run. Revenues from parking, merchandise, entertainment, restaurants, etc. would help a great deal. Plus it is WAYYY more likely in my opinion.
No question it's Lions in the playoffs
This reminds me of the 2006 MSU - UM game, which was held at the same time as a Tigers playoff game. Sitting in Michigan Stadium, the football game seemed secondary as fans of both times were more concerned about the Tigers.
That was a weird game with Wolverines and Sparties actually getting along.
I think it's gotta be the Tigers, for the following reasons:
1. If you really want to "unite a city" or "uplift a city" or whatever, you need to be making a title run. Making the playoffs and losing in the first round is not that exciting, even if it's the Lions.
2. It has to be a Detroit sports team - you need ]V[ fans and Sparty fans alike to get into it.
3. If all teams were equally competitive in their respective leagues, I would contend that the 'Stones would be the least exciting team, so get rid of them.
4. The Wings are the Wings are the Wings. We are spoiled by them and we barely sold out the Joe during this run. That should say enough.
5. The Lions would be HUGE. However, it's just not likely. Not only do they need to make the playoffs, they need to somehow win a few games. Not going to happen anytime soon.
6. The Tigers are much more likely to contend - any series they are get into in the playoffs they have a chance thanks to Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello.
7. I think there are more hardcore baseball fans than football fans in this city. Nationwide and in AA, football is king. But in Detroit, where the Tigers' history is endless, where the team has played for decades, I think the Tigers are a slightly bigger deal.
detroit teams id say the tigers because of how disapointing last year was.
We have seen more recent successes from all of the other teams listed. Plus out of the teams listed, the Lions are the only ones that are the laughing stock of the league.
The busiest UM stories seldom get a hundred posts. Detroit Lions stories were getting up to 600 when Millen got fired, and usually seem to get between 200-300 posts, even for stories about second-round draft choices.
Partially because it has been since 1958, and partially because of the loyal, long-suffering fanbase, the Lions winning the Super Bowl would be the biggest sports story in the state with virtually no competition, no matter what anyone else accomplished.
And, back to the original premise, it would definitely mean the most to the state.
A story that would mean almost as much to the state, but would be extremely underrated by most of the sports world, would be if the PGA found somebody, anybody, in Michigan who was solvent enough to sponsor the Buick Open when GM pulls out after this year.
Keep in mind the premise was something that wasn't completely unreasonable. Not winning the SB, just making a playoff appearance. In this case, as the wild card.
The point stands, though. The consensus is that the onus of reviving the state falls squarely on the shoulders of the Lions.
As such, we're doomed.