Fierce And Nerdy: Fiercely Anticipating Steelers vs. Lions
Saturday, October 10, 2009 14:16
Editor’s Note: This is a cross post with Fierce And Nerdy.
Photo Credit: Andy Emcee
If I were Detroit I’d really hate Pittsburgh right now. Think about it. Last month, during the G-20 conference hundreds of articles were published revealing how Pittsburgh avoided the scythe of the Recession Reaper by focusing on green innovation, education and health care. In many of these same articles Detroit was mentioned as an example of how a city can really f*ck things up. In the eyes of the world it seems that Pittsburgh represents a 21st Century embodiment of Bensalem, the Utopian Island found in Bacon’s New Atlantis, while Detroit is a Bartertown where the Thunderdome has closed shop and Master/Blaster can’t find a job.
Photo Credit: MichiganMoves
Yet this socio-economic juxtaposition is nothing compared to the recent inter-city sports drama–in the realm of athletic competition, the specter of the Steel City continues to haunt the Motor City like Banquo’s ghost at Macbeth’s banquet.
During the Stanley Cup finals in June, the Pittsburgh Penguins entered Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena and became the first team to win a Finals Game 7 on the road since 1971. Not heartbreaking enough? How about this past Monday when the Detroit Tigers completed a historic baseball collapse, becoming the first team in major-league history to lose a division title after holding a three-game lead with four to play. And who is the manager of the Detroit Tigers? Jim Leyland, the beloved former skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates who still resides in… (You guessed it) Pittsburgh.
Now the Detroit Lions, fresh off last season’s historically execrable 0-16 season, play host to the Super-Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. Anyone willing to bet that this will be the weekend where Detroit’s luck will change? Didn’t think so.
6 Responses to “Fierce And Nerdy: Fiercely Anticipating Steelers vs. Lions”
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Gairzo
says:
October 11th, 2009 at 5:20 am
If Stafford and his favorite receiver were playing, they might have a shot. Wouldn't it be a monumental upset, though?
Give Detroit a couple years to purge themselves of the Matt Millen hangover and they'll turn it around–he really f**ked them up.
Nate Barlow
says:
October 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I'm with you there, Gairzo. I think you could expand upon your point in NFL Week 5 Picks regarding successful/unsuccessful teams. It's not just a matter of owners, but of the entire front office–or at least the owner putting his faith in the front office instead of the coach. Too often there are general managers and/or VPs of football operations who are allowed to stay in too long. They are the ones responsible for the coaching carousel, when they are the ones responsible for the problems. Fire the GM or VP, keep the coach.
Gairzo
says:
October 12th, 2009 at 3:18 am
Just read an article on Kevin Colbert who worked for the Lions before coming to Pittsburgh several years ago.. He was talking up Tomlin who, when he was hired in 2006, kept his coordinators, both older guys who either got a late shot as a head man (LeBeau), and or never got one (Arians).
Contrast that approach–stability, continuity, minimal player distraction–with Bill Cowher, who fired the older Ron Earhardt and hired young coordinators like Capers and Gailey who then became hot commodities and left for head coaching jobs. The Steelers always had a great defense, ( Cowher was the defacto DC), but struggled on offense for most of Cowhers tenure.
It took Tomlin two years to do what took Cowher 14–win a Super Bowl.
You make a great point. In 2000 Cowher and personnel director, Tom Donahoe could no longer work together. They both resigned. Rooney accepted Donahoe's and kept .Cowher.
Good idea for a column.
Ryan
says:
October 12th, 2009 at 5:54 am
In case you weren't aware, Matt Millen is from Pennsylvania (and went to Penn State). Even though he isn't from PIttsburgh, it's just one more way that the entire state of Pa can dig the dagger deeper into the soul of Detroit.
Gairzo
says:
October 12th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Actually, I was aware of that, having watched Mlllen play.
I can think of another spot for that dagger: Detroit fans going to Ford Field to tailgate had to ask Pittsburgh fans if they could join the party. The Detroit faithful wished they'd stayed home when they saw what the Pittsburghers were using to ice down some beer–A replica Stanley Cup.
Dog, that's cold.
Nate Barlow
says:
October 12th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Definitely. A.J. Smith in San Diego is a perfect (terrible) example. His ill effects are obvious in player personnel management (the LT fiasco in the off-season) as well as with coaching.