Changing Of The Guard

One night in Cleveland may just reflect what is about to happen in Detroit sports over the next few years. The Pistons' playoff run came to a depressing halt with another loss in the Mistake By The Lake, finally taken over by a younger Cavalier team and the NBA's Great Marketable Hope LeBron James. Meanwhile, across the street, the Tigers defeated the Indians for the first time all season and showed what kind of ballclub they're supposed to be- a big hitting, solid pitching, and intense baseball team.

Over the past five years, the Pistons have been the main focus in this town. Their hard-working, blue-collar attitude won them fans and games over and over, becoming one of the premier franchises in the NBA. Their rise helped to cushion the decline of the Detroit Red Wings, who after their last Stanley Cup in 2002 have been steadily declining in importance in this town, to the point that it took the Wings a full playoff round before they were selling out the Joe Louis Arena.

With this playoff defeat, the Pistons' run of excellence may be over. Five straight Eastern Conference Finals, five straight division titles, one NBA Championship, and numerous All-Stars over the past five seasons are a level that few teams get to and stay at over a period of time. However, this season felt like the last big rush for a championship for many of the team's players. The young guns that were once there have aged into veterans. The veterans that held the team together are gone. Frustration seized the team over the past three games and, instead of channeling the anger into their games like they would have in the past, the Pistons took it out on each other and their coaches. They looked dysfunctional.

But, in the same town, on the same night, the Tigers took control over their main rivals in Ohio. On all levels, tonight's game was a beat down. It may have been the first time the Tigers have stood up to the Tribe all year, but it can't be the last if this year will be a success.

It seems like it is time for the cycle to come around again. All of the periods of excellence for Detroit sport teams seem to overlap for about one year- the Red Wings were from about 1995-2002, the Pistons from 2002-2007, and the Tigers got it started last year. Look back at the 1980s and early 1990s- the Tigers had from 1983-1987, the Pistons went from 1987-1991, and then the Red Wings started coming out of the cellar in 1991 and got back near the pinnacle in 1994 and 1995.

So fear not, Detroit sports fans. The Red Wings might be too young and too old at the same time. The Pistons might be falling apart at the seams. The Lions are... the Lions. But, if cycles hold true, the Tigers will be the main focus of this town in the immediate years to come. There was once a wise man that said "Every new beginning comes from some other weakening's end." Well, the Tigers have control of the spotlight and now is their time to shine. As one team loses, another wins across the street. Sometimes, it's just funny how the world works.