2008 Woodie Awards
Game On
Pistons and Wings share a winning tradition
Joshua Charles
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Here we go again.
The Pistons and Red Wings have renewed what has become a spring custom, a push towards their respective championship trophies.
The Wings haven't raised the Stanley Cup since 2002 and the Pistons haven't sat atop the NBA since 2004.
Both were not that long ago, but the two teams look just as hungry as ever.
Both franchises face lofty expectations from both fans and critics and this year is no different.
While the two compete in the coming months for their league's ultimate prize, fans of Detroit sports should boast about being some of the most spoiled in sports.
There are few states and even fewer cities that have professional sports teams, and the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan have two of the best.
The Pistons' recent run of dominance began in 2001 when the club hired Joe Dumars as general manager. The team has been consistently overlooked in their decade of dominance, but always gives fans reason to believe in the end.
Since the new millennium rang in, the Pistons have played in two NBA Finals, winning one in 2004. They have also claimed five division titles, including three straight starting from 2005 to 2007.
With all due respect to the Pistons, the Red Wings are on an entirely different level.
I mean Detroit is of course "Hockeytown."
The Wings have a streak of 17 straight playoff appearances, which is the longest active streak in any professional sport.
Over that time, the team has hoisted the Stanley Cup three times, claimed the league's best record five times, and accumulated a numerous amount of individual awards.
The only thing that was different with this year's team than of teams in the past was that Steve Yzerman was sitting in his suite at Joe Louis Arena and Nicklas Lidstrom was sporting the captain "C" on his sweater.
Despite having the face of the franchise leave, the Wings didn't miss a beat as they finished first in the Western Conference and looked primed for a run at the Cup.
With both teams gearing up for another deep playoff run, fans will stress when the Wings trail by a goal early in the first period or when the Pistons lose the opening tip.
That is fine, every fan does it. Just remember that it isn't the end of the world.
When the Pistons won the title in 2004, they trailed New Jersey three games to two, with game six in New Jersey. The rest, as they say, is history.
Don't fret if neither team brings home the hardware this year. The new millennium has been good to Detroit for sports.
These are years Michiganders will be able to look back on and reminisce on their state's athletic success.
So if you haven't already, get out your Red Wing sweater, pull up your Pistons shorts, and throw on a Tigers old English "D" hat for a kicker and enjoy the Detroit playoff push.
The Pistons and Red Wings have renewed what has become a spring custom, a push towards their respective championship trophies.
The Wings haven't raised the Stanley Cup since 2002 and the Pistons haven't sat atop the NBA since 2004.
Both were not that long ago, but the two teams look just as hungry as ever.
Both franchises face lofty expectations from both fans and critics and this year is no different.
While the two compete in the coming months for their league's ultimate prize, fans of Detroit sports should boast about being some of the most spoiled in sports.
There are few states and even fewer cities that have professional sports teams, and the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan have two of the best.
The Pistons' recent run of dominance began in 2001 when the club hired Joe Dumars as general manager. The team has been consistently overlooked in their decade of dominance, but always gives fans reason to believe in the end.
Since the new millennium rang in, the Pistons have played in two NBA Finals, winning one in 2004. They have also claimed five division titles, including three straight starting from 2005 to 2007.
With all due respect to the Pistons, the Red Wings are on an entirely different level.
I mean Detroit is of course "Hockeytown."
The Wings have a streak of 17 straight playoff appearances, which is the longest active streak in any professional sport.
Over that time, the team has hoisted the Stanley Cup three times, claimed the league's best record five times, and accumulated a numerous amount of individual awards.
The only thing that was different with this year's team than of teams in the past was that Steve Yzerman was sitting in his suite at Joe Louis Arena and Nicklas Lidstrom was sporting the captain "C" on his sweater.
Despite having the face of the franchise leave, the Wings didn't miss a beat as they finished first in the Western Conference and looked primed for a run at the Cup.
With both teams gearing up for another deep playoff run, fans will stress when the Wings trail by a goal early in the first period or when the Pistons lose the opening tip.
That is fine, every fan does it. Just remember that it isn't the end of the world.
When the Pistons won the title in 2004, they trailed New Jersey three games to two, with game six in New Jersey. The rest, as they say, is history.
Don't fret if neither team brings home the hardware this year. The new millennium has been good to Detroit for sports.
These are years Michiganders will be able to look back on and reminisce on their state's athletic success.
So if you haven't already, get out your Red Wing sweater, pull up your Pistons shorts, and throw on a Tigers old English "D" hat for a kicker and enjoy the Detroit playoff push.
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