One Year Of Love
I've been saying this for years. It always pisses me off when Detroit wins a championship and some smart ass has to say something about us rioting. It was over 20 years ago, people. When are you going to give us a break? Our beloved sports teams have won a number of championships since then and there hasn't been a single bit of trouble. For the first Red Wings (and second and third) Stanley Cups in close to 50 years, we had a million plus people downtown for the parade. There was no rioting, there were no fights, just a bunch of very happy Detroiters celebrating. I'll bet we had a ton of out of town media here for it, but since there were no problems, they left disappointed and gave probably 10 seconds on their news coverage – if that.
Did you even know that a woman DIED during the Boston Red Sox's celebration of their World Series? Probably not, but I'd bet BIG bucks that if it had happened in Detroit, the ENTIRE FREAKING WORLD would have heard about it. Many other cities in this country have rioted and generally acted stupidly after championship wins, but it's not a story unless it happens in Detroit.
One of these days someone is going to say something nice about Detroit in a national forum and Detroiters will all faint from the pure shock. I'm looking forward to that day, as I love my city.
A friend just forwarded (okay, it was yesterday) this column to me and I had to share it - because as I said, I love this city and even if I can convince just one person to look at Detroit and not immediately think "hellhole," I'll be happy...or at least, happier.
posted by Kathleen @ 6:30 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Well, I've been to Detroit. Had a job interview up there. I had a client in an old job there. Been to a game at old Tiger Stadium. Not my favorite town, really. Plus, I hate the airport. I was stuck there on layovers a couple of times. But the last time I was in Detroit was 1999, so it may have changed.
Though the most depressing town I was in has to be Flint. Toledo is right up there, too, and I didn't care of South Bend much, either.
(Mind you, I do like Traverse City - and I had nice memories of Holland and Albion, so I do like some of Michigan, lest you think I'm prejudiced. I save that for Kentucky !)
But of course, you love your town, because it's your town. Just like I love this little BFE land.
Smed - I admit Detroit has flaws, but it just seems that people aren't willing to look beyond them, as they are other cities. DC has had a higher murder/crime rate than us for decades, but people don't immediately call it Murder City. Detroit had the highest murder rate back in 1976 and people still call it that.
And I understand the airport issues, but there is a new state-of-the-art terminal now. Of course, I'm one of the few who love the old LC Smith Terminal as to me it signifies when I'm home.
I just call DC a city that my best friend fled when his water turned brown! Ick! When I go to DC for my conference I'm in a pretty decent neighborhood, but there are a lot of places there I'd never go!
well put, and I agree. I love Detroit, and it really upsets me when people say negative things who have never even been to the city!
"Did you even know that a woman DIED during the Boston Red Sox's celebration of their World Series?"
Actually it was when the Red Sox beat the hated Yankees in the playoffs, but, boy oh boy, yes, around here, we sure know. The police took the blame for that, but it was really the idiots that give our sports fans such a bad name who are the guilty ones.
Well, Kathleen, I have to admit, when I think of Detroit, I think of the Pistons; and when I think of the Pistons, I think of Bill Laimbeer, the dirtiest player ever in the NBA. We also hear stuff about your murder rate, etc. But thank you for starting to open my eyes. I'd hate to judge a city unfairly, as I would hate to think my beloved Beantown was getting a bad rap.
I've never been to Detroit, so I can't judge, but I know some very nice people there - gotta be something good there! Feel free to bash Hickville, though. It really is as lame as I claim.
d181 - It's always nice to find someone else who love our city!
Mr. Schprock - I was reading the Boston paper, that's how I knew about it. But that's my point, yes, it was all over the Boston news, but it wasn't even a blip on the national level, but trust me, if it had happened in Detroit? Oh, boy!
Poor Bill Laimbeer. ;-) We loved him here.
And that's why I wrote - because when it comes to Detroit and the national media there is no fair and balanced coverage.
And don't get me wrong, I know people here who hate the City and never go downtown and would argue with me that it's not all bad.
trina - Detroit is so not on anybody's vacation list, but there is a lot to see and do here - mostly museums, but we're not cultural slouches. ;-)
Kathleen: "Detroit is so not on anybody's vacation list, but there is a lot to see and do here - mostly museums, but we're not cultural slouches. ;-)"
Welfl: Wow, you have to defend the culture of your home, too, eh? Who would'a thunk? ;-)
People can't let go of things like that. I'm sorry that Detroit always gets picked on. We had some rioting in Denver when we won our first Super Bowl and you never hear about that.
I just got back from my business trip to New York. I was happy to discover that most of the people that I spoke to were excited to hear that I was from Detroit. Many of them have been to Detroit/Michigan and had nothing but positive things to say. Many seemed to be up to date on current Detroit affairs (ie. Kwame, schools, etc.). They had nothing but good vibes to send our way. Happy to report also that New Yorkers are just about the friendliest people around...right after Detroit of course. I love the old JC Smith terminal too, but I hope that most of the visitors fly in to the new Northwest mega terminal as it is a lot less depressing and a lot more impressive.
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