The power that sports possess is something truly astounding. Professional Sports have been for decades a method by which we cope with other problems or issues. In turbulent times we will always have our teams to give us an outlet, an escape from everything that is troubling us. (Unless there is a lockout, thanks David Stern/NBPA) I know that when I feel like I need something to lean on, I have the purple and gold; I have the Boys in Blue. As individuals we can do this, but when an entire city does so, we truly are witnessing something miraculous; something beautiful.

Detroit: “Rock City,” “Motown,” “Motor City,” “the 313,” is a city that is still recovering from troubling times. For years Detroit was the center of the American auto industry, and boomed as more and more jobs opened up. However, economic downturns, gasoline shortages, and outsourcing have had disastrous effects on the city. These problems led to a high rate of crime, rampant drug use, and population migration out of Detroit, a 10% decrease from 2000 to 2010. Within Detroit are entire neighborhoods abandoned, empty. What motivates those who stay to continue to labor? Why are those who stay becoming more and more united? What is fueling Detroit’s recovery?

It would be a complete stretch of the truth to say that sports are responsible for all this. (I’m not that foolish) However, we cannot deny that sports have the ability to serve as motivation for recovery; sports can help us cope with our problems. Sports are not the reason why Detroit is recovering, but they do play a role and are helping fuel this recovery. From the Red Wings (a Detroit sports constant) to the Tigers, the Lions, and the Pistons, Detroit has been blessed with resilient sports franchises, and although they have seen their fair share of lows, these teams continue to fight, much like the citizens of Detroit.

The Detroit Red Wings are the city’s professional hockey team, and are one of the most celebrated franchises in the history of the National Hockey League, have won 11 Stanley Cups, 4 since the 96-97 season. The Red Wings have made the playoffs 25 times in the past 27 seasons, including 20 in a row as of the 2010-2011 season. This team truly has blessed the city of Detroit with a constant. The Red Wings have in many ways been the rock for professional sports in the city of Detroit. For all hockey fans in the city, this franchise has not let them down. The city’s other professional sports teams, however, have had much rockier histories.

The Detroit Pistons, the city’s representative in the NBA, are one of the most interesting franchises in the history of basketball. The most notable Pistons teams are those of the Bad Boys era, led by Isiah Thomas, Bill Lambier, and the likes of Dennis Rodman and John Salley. During this era the Pistons won two NBA Championships. The Pistons rose again to title contention in the early 2000s, and won an NBA championship in 2004. Since then however, the Pistons have slipped out of playoff contention, with the bottom feeders of the NBA. Now regrouping and rebuilding, the Pistons are poised and looking forward to the future.

In 2003 the Detroit Tigers suffered the worst regular season in the history of Major League Baseball. Just three years later, however, with a new manager, and a new lineup, the Tigers won the AL Pennant, and have regularly been contenders in the AL Central, winning the division and although currently down 2-0 in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers, the Tigers will never give up.

More recently, one team has served as a symbol for how resilient the city of Detroit. The Lions, the team’s NFL representative. In 2008 the Lions suffered the worst record in the history of the NFL, at 0-16. The Lions went “O-fer” (Pronounced like gofer without the g), the first and only team in the history of the NFL to do so. Like the city of Detroit, the Lions reached a low like never before; they had no reason to be happy; no silver lining to look at. The Lions hung tough, they did not give up, and today the Lions are 5-0, tied for first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers, and one of only two unbeaten teams currently in the NFL.

The parallels between the city of Detroit and the Lions are truly something special. Sports are a very great way to spend free time, and they offer us a good method by which to stay in shape. On a much deeper level, however, sports can give us something that we need. Sports can give us the only thing that will keep us from giving up. Sports can give us hope.