I never thought I would travel 2,000 miles away from the Midwest,go to a football game in Southern California, and find some love for Detroit there; but I did. And, Detroit wasn't even the opposing team.
Detroit is known as the Motor City of America, but in recent years it has been known as the underdog of America. In the last 3 years this city has faced:
Economic despair and massive lay-offs at all 3 major auto plants
Unemployment reached its highest at 14 percent just a year ago(now its 11 percent)
A population dwindling so much that neighborhoods of deserted homes have been bulldozed and trees have been planted in their place.
And, a Detroit Lions football team that has been bad for so long they forgot what cheering fans sounded like. Just 3 years ago they had a winless season, that's right, they lost all 16 of their games. Zero. Nada. Not one win.
Today is a different story for Detroit. The Detroit Lions are 5-0,and have won 9 straight since last season. They carry with them a chip-on-their-shoulder and a winning attitude. An attitude that's been missing in Detroit for quite some time.
The Detroit Tigers baseball team is also winning and possibly on the verge of going to the World Series.
While in San Diego, we came across many football fans who were pulling for Detroit because they know what that city has experienced over the last few years, not just in football, but in life. When the scoreboard showed the final score of the Detroit Lions win, a loud roar came from this beach combers paradise of Southern Cal.
It was great to see so many Americans really pulling for this underdog city called Detroit.
Yes, there still is a heart in America. Thank God.
No comments:
Post a Comment