 ESPN was running their top sports stories of 2008 all day on Christmas... got me thinking.. what are Detroit's Top Sports Stories for 2008 ?
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10.) Billups for Iverson trade. Mr. Big Shot was the straw that stirred the Pistons during their entire current run. The Grant Hill/Ben Wallace trade was the first move, but the Chauncy pick up was the most important. Sending him to Denver for Allen Iverson signaled change. It officially ended an era. It also hasn't worked at all, though I'm a firm believer this was just a salary cap dump.
9.) NASCAR doesn't even come close to selling out MIS. If you wanted an early indicator on how bad the Michigan economy was, this was it. NASCAR had sold out MIS for 30 straight races prior to the 2006 June race. But it was still putting 130,000+ fans into the 150,000 facility. Not this spring. Not even close. While the official number was 125,000... the number of sold but empty seats left actual people attending at under 100,000.
8.) Tigers Bullpen. Or lack there of. The Tigers show up on this list twice. Even though this wasn't as big of news as getting Miggy, it was the primary reason why they couldn't compete in the AL Central Division. Zumaya couldn't stay healthy, Rodney couldn't throw strikes and after 2 splendid season's when Todd Jones got it done ugly, it just started being ugly.
7.) Rob Parker's brain goes AWOL. Perhaps this isn't as big of deal as I think it is. But I think that when one of the cities most prominent sports writers goes off on a bender and starts making up stories, attacking coaches in press conferences by going after his family, you've got yourself a story.
6.) Big 3 falter. Why is this a sports story ? Because nothing effect Detroit's sports teams more then the Big 3. They employee the majority of its fans. They buy the majority of the tickets (directly or indirectly). They and their suppliers purchase the majority of the advertising and are the majority of the sponsors of most Detroit sports events. Already we have seen the Lions not sell out 5 different times this season. The Detroit Grand Prix has been cancelled. The Palace is playing to half an auditorium more nights then not. Its a big sports story.
5.) Miggy come to Motown. In a move which sent shock waves through the Detroit sports community, Dave Dombrowski shocked the baseball world and Tiger's fans by pulling the trigger on the biggest deal of the off-season acquiring Miguel Cabrerra and Dontrelle Willis in a huge 7 player deal. Why is this in the 2008 biggest stories instead of the 2007 ? Because while the deal went down in 2007, we didn't get to see it blow up till 2008. Miggy was very, very good.. but he wasn't great. Dontrelle sucked. I mean really, really sucked.
4.) Red Wings win the Stanley Cup. Again. 4th Cup win during the current run, hence its fourth on our list of Detroit sports stories. Considering its the only major championship brought home this year, you'd think it'd be higher on the list. But face it.. Red Wings fans are spoiled. We are getting used to Cup wins. In fact, its a bad year now if they don't win the Cup. Hopefully, the Wings winning the Cup, again, will be 5th on the 2009 list.
3.) Michigan Football goes 3-9. I said it before the beginning of the season that I couldn't see 4 wins on the schedule. I predicted it here. There were some fans who still though Michigan would win 10 game this year. Of course, some fans thought the Lions might win 10 too. Michigan suffered through a miserable season. Losing to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State in the same year for the first time in nearly half a century. Add that to a loss at home versus a MAC team (first time ever) and you have Detroit sports story No. 3.
2.) Millen Fired. There is a god.
1.) Lions go 0-16. Oh, I realize that they are 0-15 and the last game still to be played, but trust me, they will end up 0-16.
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