The basketball team is a joke, but…: The city of losers has hope again

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Detroit isn’t making it easy for its sports fans. Last example? The Pistons, who just tied a negative record in the NBA. The basketball players from the run-down car metropolis lost to the Boston Celtics for the 28th time in a row. Only the Philadelphia 76ers, who had the same number of bankruptcies across all seasons in 2015, were this bad. In major American professional sports, only one team has lost 29 in a row: the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL (1942-45).

At first it seemed that Monty Williams’ team could break the black streak. At times she was 21 points ahead of the NBA’s number 1 in Boston, but lost in overtime 122:128. “I’m incredibly proud of the team, they gave everything,” said Williams. “They hear what is said about them, but they don’t give up.” Even in the previous defeat, the angry fans had shouted loudly: “Sell the team!” (sell the team!) roared.

The Pistons do not have to count on sympathy from the competition. After all, during their most successful times with the titles in 1989 and 1990, they terrorized the league with destructive bad-boy basketball and stars like Isiah Thomas, Denis Rodman and Joe Dumars. In 2004, another title was added. Then it went downhill. Since 2010, the team has qualified for the play-offs only twice.

Yzerman lives off his good will

The Pistons’ neighbors in the modern Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings, are also in a negative spiral. The ice hockey team, which previously set a record of 25 consecutive playoff appearances, has been in rebuilding mode since 2016, riddled with defeats. This season, despite a good start, it does not look like the team will make it to the play-offs. But there is no shout yet: “Sell the team!”. Steve Yzerman (58), who took over as general manager in 2019, benefits from having led the club to four Stanley Cup victories as captain and enjoys almost limitless goodwill.

Success has long been a major problem for the Detroit Tigers baseball team. Since 2014, they have always missed the playoffs. They last won the World Series in 1984. At that time, the club also became known in Europe because Tom Selleck as TV detective Magnum always wore a baseball cap with the Tigers’ D letters.

But the epitome of the losing team has always been the Detroit Lions. They last won the title in 1954 – twelve years before the first Super Bowl. Since then, they have repeatedly found a way to dramatically destroy the hopes of their followers. It is therefore not surprising that the loyal fans can hardly believe their luck and are still afraid that everything could collapse like a house of cards. The Footballers have already secured the playoffs and secured first place in the NFC North for the first time in 30 years.

Coach Dan Campbell (47) has created a new spirit. He loves risks like no other. While others go for a punt or field goal, he usually has his team playing on fourth down. New hope is emerging in the city, which has become accustomed to sporting defeats and is only slowly recovering from the collapse of the auto industry and bankruptcy.

Source : Blick