Hometown Sports: Something is Going On in Detroit

I grew up constantly disappointed by Detroit sports — having been born and raised 30 minutes outside the city. The Lions failed to meet expectations every year, I saw the Tigers’ failed World Series runs and witnessed the rise and fall of the Red Wings. The less said about the Pistons, the better.

Since I’ve become the sports editor of The Phoenix, I’ve wanted to give readers a look into sports across the country and world, not just in Chicago and at Loyola. This will be a new column — alternating between myself and Deputy Sports Editor Alexander Sciarra — where we highlight the sports from where we grew up. 

This week, I can’t help but brag about my beloved Detroit sports. 

Detroit Tigers

Baseball is one of the many ways I bond with my dad. For his birthday two years ago, I splurged and bought him tickets to a Tigers game in Arizona just behind home plate. 

The Tigers and their minor league team, the Toledo MudHens, were major part of my childhood. We’ve celebrated several of my dad’s birthdays at one of their stadiums. 

Since I grew up in the iconic Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander and Jim Leyland era of the Tigers, I’ve seen both how good and how terrible they can be. 

The Tigers started their season on a five-game win-streak and then fell into the middle of the pack of the American League Central division. 

Since Aug. 11, the Tigers have been on a run which many young fans have never seen. Their 0.2% odds of making the playoffs in August have skyrocketed  to 61.9% — things are looking up for the organization. 

Over their last 38 games the Tigers have won 27, going on a .711 run. The run has included series sweeps of the Seattle Mariners, the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

The Tigers now have a .526 win-loss percentage — the first time it’s been over .500 since 2016. 

The team is currently tied with the Royals for second in the AL Central. They need to play well in their last two series — against the Tampa Bay Rays and the White Sox — to snatch a wild card spot. 

Even if the Tigers miss the playoffs, which is looking less and less likely, this season will go down as the beginning of the rise of the Tigers.

Detroit Lions

Every Thanksgiving, my entire family sits down for dinner disappointed after a Lions loss. 

“Classic Lions,” my cousin Scotty — now a season ticket holder — said. 

This year, I believe spirits will be higher at the table. 

Last season, the Lions started off strong winning five of their first six games. The team finished first in the NFC North division and made it past the Wild Card round for the first time since 1993 — the same year my dad graduated high school. 

The 2023 season brought a lot of confidence and joy back to the city. “All Grit” is a term used by the Lions organization, specifically head coach Dan Campbell, to describe what the team means. The random “Jared Goff” chants at events in Detroit, as opposed to the previous “sell the team” chants, show how much growth and love there is for the team now.

The Lions started the 2024 season 2-1, but still have momentum from fans across the country. In their last game against the Arizona Cardinals, photos show the majority of the fans were repping the iconic Lions Honolulu blue, instead of bright Cardinals red. 

This past Sunday, Sept. 22, both the Lions and Tigers won, sending the city into a frenzy. The official Lions X account posted a graphic with both final scores, saying “Sunday Funday,” which was later reposted by the Tigers, who added the caption, “Bad day to be a bird, good day to be a cat.” 

It’s looking to be another positive season for the Lions and I hope it is, for my family’s sake. 

Detroit Red Wings

Hockey was the sport which gave me my sporty background. I grew up rooting for the Montreal Canadiens, but I never missed the chance to attend a game at the Joe Louis Arena, and now at Little Caesars Arena. 

Hockey was integral in my youth, and I don’t know if I would be in this editor position without it.

With the preseason getting underway, the Red Wings are finalizing their roster and preparing for what hopes to be a successful season. 

The last time the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, I was four-years-old. They have been rebuilding the team during the past few seasons with what fans call the “Yzer-plan” — a reference to the team’s general manager and former Red Wing Steve Yzerman. 

This “plan” has taken a little too long, especially for fans eager to see the Cup return to the Motor City. However, there are a few breakout stars who could help make this a reality.

The Red Wings extended 2019 sixth-overall draft pick and defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year deal, with an annual average value of $8.5 million, according to ESPN. The Zell, Germany native has yet to miss a game in the three seasons he’s played in Detroit, racking up 21 goals and 113 assists. 

Seider’s right-hand man, as some fans like to say, is Lucas Raymond, whose contract was extended by the Red Wings two days before Seider’s. 

Raymond’s contract gives him eight more years with the Red Wings, earning just above $8 million per year, according to NHL.com. At the young age of 22, Raymond led the Red Wings with 72 points last season, holding 174 throughout his three seasons in the league. 

The young dynamic duo, along with the veteran leadership and playing skills of captain Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane have fans hoping to see a parade down Woodward Avenue in the near future. 

This can be said for every sport. The last Detroit team to win a championship was the Red Wings in 2008, leaving a 16-year drought of celebration for fans. 

I’m not one to predict the future, but I truly hope my beloved Detroit sports can pull through and make this their year.