Just as the news couldn't get any worse, it does. I'm fairly certain one of the film crews doing business in Michigan will soon be working on a new film with Detroit as the major theme.
Not only does Time magazine buy a house in Detroit and plan on doing a year-long story, it starts off with the most dismal photo of Detroit one could muster on its latest cover.
But in hindsight, Time should have waited until last night when an even better photo op was available even if the photographer had to be in Minneapolis.
The one bright spot in Detroit this year has been the Tigers. First place since May and 7 games up in late August, fans bought Tiger caps, shirts, and tickets. Comerica attracted over 2.5 million paying guests. Beer was flowing, bars were packed and downtown was alive even as the demolition crew was tearing down the rest of Tiger Stadium.
There are statistics for everything in sports. Even one for the chances of being in first place when you are 7 games up and losing first place. The number: 96%. If your doctor tells you that you have a 96% chance of recovery, you are very happy. If you place a bet knowing you have a 96% chance of winning, you bet more than you normally would.
But what about the 4%? That's where the real money is made. The long shot. In an earlier blog, I wrote that people love to bet on long shots. They mostly lose. Who would have thought Detroit was going down?
On a gloomy October 7, the one bright spot has flickered out. Comerica Park's lights won't be on this weekend. Woodward will be quiet. Thousands of bars and sports clubs will be devoid of Tiger spirit that only days earlier were wondering how many kegs and cases to order so they wouldn't run out. The T-shirt printers don't need to work overtime, in fact, they don't need to work (no one is buying Lions stuff). Hotels, taxi drivers, newspapers, radio shows and who knows how many other businesses wiped out of the lucrative play-off revenue and hype.
Sports blogger's blame the coach. They blame the Townsend Hotel. They blame poor fielding. They blame the Tiger's inability to score runners in position. The question is why do we have to blame anyone? The better team won. It's time to move on.
Yes, Time has more to write about. No doubt they are excited about Kilpatrick's return this month and the story that will produce. But one thing is for certain. We live here and the only way Detroit is going to change is because we want it to change.
And if you really want Detroit to change, visit it when Comerica and Ford Field are dark. There's far more to it than any article Time will ever write about.
Happy Wednesday!