I have no idea what basis The Sporting News uses to decide this but clearly it’s wrong. I’m going to give a comparison of Detroit and its competitors (10 and above) and show that the Motor City is a better sports city than all the others ranked above it.
Keep in mind Detroit’s 11th (shocking and laughable).
I’m going to lump 10th (Tampa Bay/St.Petersburg) and 9th (Miami) together on this one. This is simple. The Lions beat Tampa Bay in Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season, also the Red Wings are and always have been better than anything the Tampa Bay Lighting ever were or ever will be. As the ultimate compliment The Tampa Bay Lighting hire Steve Yzerman as General Manager. Now it’s my guess that he will continue to try to build the Lighting using the same blueprint the Wings are built upon.
As far as Miami goes, they have the Heat which is all they have worth mentioning. Let’s be honest as nice as they’re weather is people there are just not interested in sports.
#8 is Los Angeles. Like Adam Hernandez said they still don’t even have an NFL team. This may have been ok during USC’s most recent dominance(from ’03-08) but not in 2011. USC and UCLA are going to be down for a few years considering USC’s cheating during the 03-08 seasons. Makes sense doesn’t it? The Los Angeles Kings are honestly the best ticket in L.A. the Dodgers didn’t make the playoffs and The Sporting News is going to stack up the only real team worth paying money to see (Lakers) up against Detroit/Ann arbor teams? Please.
#7 is Atlanta. They apparently don’t even count the Georgia colleges which makes things easier. But what about the Thrashers? Oh sorry they’re in Winnipeg now. The Hawks? The team that (co)owns the 2nd longest current NBA title drought (54 years)? The Falcons? Yes they’re a playoff team and have but that’s not good enough reason. The Braves? Well if any one didn’t know the Tigers are in the ALCS while the Braves choked away their postseason chances much like the Red Sox. But I’m not sure Braves fans even realized their team choked considering attendance is always pitiful at Turner Field.
6# is Pittsburgh. I thought they should be ranked higher than 6..The Steelers are one of the class teams in the NFL. They’re everything Al Davis (RIP) wanted in his team, except with the actual winning, can’t fault them for that. The Penguins are nice because they’re Penguins and they have the most hated player in the NHL (outside of Pittsburgh) in Sidney(can’t grow a playoff mustache) Crosby and Evgeni (cheap shot artist) Malkin. Not to mention with the help of owner and full-time hockey god Mario Lemiuex the Pens finally were able to get a new arena (without much help from the Pittsburgh taxpayers *cough* I meant loyal Penguin fans). And The Pirates? Well they’re still the Pirates.
#5 is New York which is tough to argue with until you realize they basically have 2 teams in each sport. To me that’s cheating, your doubling your chances to win in the NFL, MLB, NHL and almost NBA once the Nets move to B(C)rooklyn. They have amazing and passionate fans but compared to Michigan the don’t compare when it comes to College teams. Advantage Michigan/Detroit.
#4 is Chicago. Chicago has a really nice subway and train system which Detroit doesn’t doesn’t have. The Bulls have passionate fans I’ll give them that but I have a feeling the Lions will outdo the Bears this year. The Blackhawks? They made (in my opinion) a franchise crippling move in signing Marian (and others) to long-term deals. Yes they got they’re cup in 2010 but I hope they enjoy being the #5-#8 seed every year for the next decade. The White Sox and Cubs franchises are in trouble talent wise, but don’t worry South-siders you’ll always be loveable losers in my heart.
#3 is Philadelphia. Let’s start off with the Eagles, in what looks like to be a competitive NFC East. Now the self proclaimed “dream team” isn’t looking to dreamy at moment sitting 1-3 and Michael Vick getting knocked on his ass week in and week out. The Flyers? Good team which we’ll see in the spring, except you wont be there to enjoy the Stanley Cup Finals again. The 76er? There will be games missed already of the 2011 NBA season but it’s not like it mattered to Elton”softy” Brand and Andre”I’m athletic but overpaid and can’t hit a 20ft jumper to save my life”. The Phillies just got knocked out of the playoffs so there goes that huh? At least the fans that booed Santa Clause get to enjoy Philly Cheese steaks another year.
#2 is Boston. Boston is a tough no non-sense town unfortunately the 2011 Red Sox live half the season on the road and forgot what they come home to. The Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup (finally a winner in the bunch), but it’s tough to repeat. Just ask the 2009 Red Wings. The Celtics have been the class of the NBA’s Eastern Conference for what seems like the last decade(even though its only been since the 2007-08 season after the Kevin Garnett/Ray Allen trades). But they’re time at the top of the Eastern Conference will end in time (as soon as the NBA lockout is over).
This debate will probably be settled in the 2011 MLB PLayoffs but I wont wait that long. The Dallas Mavericks? Well there’s nothing to complain about until a billionaire with a dream and a mouth (Mark Cuban) bought the team and made them the 2011 NBA Champions. The Stars? I honestly thought they were still in Minnesota but they have another great season ahead of them. Just Kidding. As for the Rangers, most “sports fans” still don’t know/remember the Texas Rangers made the World Series last year. As for this year lets just watch and find out.
The Tigers/Rangers series might decide more than who gets to represent the American League in the World Series.
