Pistons save Detroit Sports Fans

Jumping off the roof didn't seem out of the question.

Working in the yard for the next several months seemed like a sad reality.

Watching television would become a thing reserved for the fall when the NFL starts.

But, that all changed because the Pistons have come back to life.

Detroit fans have been in shock since the Red Wings lost to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

After all, what team in Detroit had the respect of sports fans everywhere in the United States?

The Wings, of course.

Then they get their butts kicked by a hot goaltender and a great defensive team in the Ducks.

All the loyal Red Wings' fans and all of those who jumped on the bandwagon turned off the NHL playoffs as soon as the sweep was complete.

Being a big NHL fan myself, I still watch the playoffs but know of many people who don't care anymore.

The Detroit Tigers were expected to lose this year. Just not every game.

Yes, as of now, the Tigers have a four game winning streak, but I am not sure many baseball fans even know.

When you have a start like they had, people only have an interest if they keep losing.

Now, the Tigers win a few games so the attention will not be as high as it was when they were losing.

Mike Ilitch should sell the team and let someone who wants to win buy it.

But, he has too much money into the area of the stadium to give it up.

He still gets TV money and has the prestige of owning a major league baseball franchise, even though he is running it into the ground.

Detroit is a big baseball town, but with Ilitch being the owner, the interest has waned.

There are as many fans at their Class A affiliate in Grand Rapids as there are in Comerica Park.

I just hope the Red Wings are never in a rebuilding mode with him as the owner.

So, here come the Pistons.

They come in as a number one seed in the east. Then, they promptly go down three games to one to the Orlando Magic.

I, for one, was hoping but did not think the Pistons could win three in a row.

Boy, I am sure glad I was wrong.

After four games, Tracy McGrady announced how happy he was to be able to make it to the second round. Apparently, he forgot that it was a best of seven series.

Rick Carlisle made some strategic changes which worked, and the Pistons won the next three games.

Now the Philadelphia 76ers with Allen Iverson are up next.

From most of the things I read, the 76ers would beat the Pistons because Iverson could not be stopped.

As of right now, the Pistons lead the series two games to none.

Sure, I know, the Pistons could still lose this series.

But, worst case scenario, Pistons would lose in six games. This would give the Detroit fans at least one more week of NBA playoff basketball.

Best case scenario, the Pistons win this series and play either New Jersey or Boston for the right to go to the NBA finals.

Either way, the Pistons have provided Detroit fans with more time to cheer for their team than the Red Wings have.

Let's give credit where credit is due.

Joe Dumars has done an absolutely tremendous job with the Detroit Pistons.

He got Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace, Jon Barry, Rip Hamilton, and others on the team.

He drafted Tayshaun Prince, which turned out to be a great pick especially after his performance on Thursday night.

Prince plays like a seasoned veteran and makes big shots in pressure situations.

Dumars hired Carlisle who turned out to be a very good fit for this team.

As a player, Dumars was a quiet leader just as he is in the front office.

I have not read a bad word about him.

Detroit fans cheered him in his playing days and should congratulate him on the job he has done with this team right now.

He has saved the Detroit fans' year with the job he has done.

It is hard to be a fan of Detroit professional teams right now.

The Red Wings are a wait until next year team, while the Tigers are a wait for a decade or so team.

The Lions have been a wait until my next life team. Hopefully, that will change with the hiring of Steve Mariucci as coach.

So, all we have are the Pistons right now.

We can only wish that the Pistons will play up to their potential and win the east, then take their chances against the western conference representative.

Right now, Detroit fans can just be happy that the Pistons are taking care of business, unlike the other Detroit teams.