You be the judge. Frankly, I was too depressed to look up exact dates, so the following is a rough timeline:
Jan-Feb.: The Detroit Lions complete the Most Depressing Year in NFL History, going 0-16 to cap off the horrific Matt Millen era, the absolute worst stretch of futility ever perpetrated on an NFL franchise. Note: this is really saying something, as the Lions have not had a good coach, quarterback, or truly outstanding defensive player during my lifetime.
March: The MSU Spartans make a magical run to the NCAA Final Four, which is played in Michigan. By itself, this is not depressing, as the Spartans really come out of nowhere and no one realistically expects them to win it all. However, I’m noting it here for two reasons: 1) The way they get so thoroughly trounced by UNC — a team I loathe above all others — in the championship game; 2) This is where the theme of “____ team doing it for the downtrodden city of Detroit” begins.
June: After a courageous run through the NHL playoffs, the defending champion Detroit Red Wings lose the Stanley Cup to the Pittsburg Penguins. Again, it’s the way they lose that’s depressing: after jumping out 2-0 and 3-2 in games, they lose a game 7 on home ice to the insufferable Crosby and co., showing almost no passion in the last few games. Also again, before and during the series there’s a storyline about how Detroit “needs” this title more than Pittsburg.
October: After leading the mediocre AL Central since early May, the Detroit Tigers stage a collapse of epic proportions to blow their lead to the Minnesota Twins. A 7-game lead in early September; a 3-game lead with four games to play — gone the way of the Dodo bird. Depressing. Again, the theme of the Tigers’ connection with the fans and city is invoked, and again the team fails to deliver. A modest winning streak in August or September would have put the division away — the Tigers can’t do it.
Also: The same weekend the Tigers are coughing up their lead, the Red Wings are in Sweden to begin the NHL season. What should be a triumphant home tour for many Wings, including captain Niklas Lidstrom — not to mention a healing process after Spring’s debacle — instead becomes a nightmarish lost weekend, as the Wings lose both games while displaying the same defensive breakdowns they did in the playoffs. Added to which, they can’t score. A very depressing start to the season.
Conclusion: It’s hard for me to say if this is the Most Depressing Year in Detroit Sports History — at least three teams were in contention for titles, playing meaningful games right up till the end, and some towns can’t say that for many years in a row. However, the way these seasons have ended has been depressing indeed (I didn’t even mention the depressing fall of the Pistons, the disastrous Iverson trade, etc.). Also, I feel that the whole “winning one for Detroit” campaign has been devastating to the pysche of the players. It’s too much pressure. If Jim Leyland has any hope of resurrecting the Tigers for this last game — perhaps games, if they force a playoff — he ought to tell the team “Forget playing for Detroit, go out and win this for yourselves.”
But what am I saying? The Tigers are a Dead Team Walking.
Depressing.
