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You see?!
DO YOU SEE?!?!
This is why the Pistons will win. Very few people respect them.
But this isnt about the Pistons, or about Nov. 19, or about Sheed, or Larry, or anything relvent to the past 20 years.
This is the stigma attached to Detroit since 1967. Oh, Im sorry you Southern states fought for your right to own slaves, but when Lincoln freed them, they went immediately north. The country AS A WHOLE still held laws that discriminated unfairly against people of color. The flash point was Detroit, 1967. The city was burned....to...the...ground. The friggin military had to be called in...THE FRIGGIN MILITARY! Soon after (another local term) the Great White Flight occured veeeeeeery quickly (that term is used to describe the absolute exxodus of caucasion people from the city limits of Detroit....no person posting here lives in the city limits...props to the people that do, though. The effect of said event has killed the city. It has been perpetually broke since).
That was it. Tarnished forever.
To add insult to injury, Devil's Night was created. You peeps from the south or where ever probably never heard about it, and if you did, Detroit originated it in (big coincidence here) 1968. You see, when the military moved in, it was as near martial law as you can get. Punishment was doled, media was removed, etc. Those people who lived in the city (the REAL city, you michiganders know what I mean) never forgot. They wanted equality, but the mass mentality took over in '67, and carried over to '68. Devil's Night.....the day before Halloween (the 30th), the ritual burning of the city.
Fast forward 16 years of that crap....
The Tigers win the Series in '84. Some schmuck national reporter takes a photo of some white-boy in front of a burning police car and it.....has....never....been...the...same. Its so old and tired. The carnage was NOT widespread. It was limited to a 2 block area of downtown. It lasted a grand total of about 2 hours. Order was restored.....but...that...damn....photo...lived... .on.
Fast forward 20 friggin years....
Nov 19. I am not gonna rehash. If you personally think that a fan throwing a beer is a good reason to charge in the stands...whatever.
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This is the image of Detroit. It will ALWAYS be the image of Detroit. So-friggin-what.
Thats why we LOVE the Pistons. They have the same damn at ude everyone has in D-town. That "Fuk you, we can do it without you" smirk. y, confident and courageous.
You see, another little known fact about Detroit is that it is dying a slow agonizing death as a viable city. You will all hear about Detroit ad nauseam for 2 events this year.....MLB All Star game...and (dear God this is gonna suck) the SuperBowl. We are gonna get so trashed. Not even on a national scale this time....its gonna be worldwide.
SO!
If youre from the area, put your thick skin on Michiganders. It only gets worse.
For all those who judge, put yourself in OUR position for one friggin second!
The town you grew up near has a terrible image that was existent before you were even born. But you love that damn city because you were told what it "used" to be like. You have enjoyed all its offerings (sorry SA, but Detroit is the ultimate sports town. If the Tigers get on track, and it looks like they are along with the Lions, no city could hold a candle). You appreciate the diversity of your area, not fear it. (Detroit Metro area is home to the largest Middle Eastern population in the nation...its not even close. Detroit, as a city alone, is 80% black..10% Arabic...10% misc...by contrast, the surrounding suburbs are 80% white, hence The Great White Flight)
What do you do when people bash it? You defend it. With all your heart, soul and vigor.
Would you do it any differently?
I doubt it.
just kidding
the Pistons
