Red Wings popularity in Detroit/Michigan

[unsaddleddonald 357]

97.1 was talking about this today.

The consenus is that the Lions and Tigers are (much) higher on the food chain than the Wings.

I completely agree, but I hate it. What does it say about the state of Michigan where the majority of us support arguably the worst run franchise in sports with bumbling idiots running around and yet we take for granted arguably the best run franchise in sports.

Factors that I understand to be true:

• Winning has made Michigan sports fans lethargic
• ESPN tells people to love the NFL and pay no attention to the NHL, so people love the NFL and ignore the NHL

Unfortunately I can't make everyone think logically...

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Fewer people play hockey and you're more likely to watch a sport you have played.

Hockey is a "white person" sport so a good chunk of the population ignores it.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

That's the general consensus because Football and Baseball are the 2 most popular sports in the country. So obv that trickles down to each state. I can say with certainty that the margin between hockey lovers and the other major sports is a lot closer in Michigan than it is in any other state. I've noticed several ESPN polls over the years asking fans what sport event they are most excited about for that particular weekend. And many times their "color coded" map of the U.S. will be mostly one color throughout the entire country, with Michigan being the only state with a different color (the color representing Hockey). Not to mention everyone I know from all diff areas of Michigan that put the Red Wings not just number 1, but number 1 BY FAR over any other sport. I guess that's what happens when you have the best and most consistent hockey team in the world for over 20 years

[AtomicPunk 296]

If the Lions were to ever win anything, you would see how huge football is here. Even with them sucking, they are still very very popular.

[Travis 576]

I actually explained this to an out of state relative who was visiting a couple of years ago.

No matter how good the Red Wings do, Detroit will seemingly always belong to the Tigers.

[kipwinger 8,807]

Well at least the Wings are more popular than the Pistons. You know you've got a s***ty product when your sport (which is played everywhere) is constantly losing ground to a sport played almost entirely above the Mason-Dixon.

Anyway, hockey is the most intense, physically demanding sport there is, and baseball is the most cerebral. As such, they are the best. Anyone suggesting an opinion to the contrary is wrong. Yes, I said it, your opinion is absolutely, positively, scientifically verifiably, wrong wrong wrong.

"But...But...But...Kip, the NFL has hilarious commercials, sensationalized drama, and tons of play stoppages. You don't even have to pay attention to the game to enjoy it"

Shut you face biotches!

[unsaddleddonald 357]

If the Lions were to ever win anything, you would see how huge football is here. Even with them sucking, they are still very very popular.

I agree, but that is my biggest problem.

The Michigan public drools over a bunch of L-O-S-E-R-S!!!

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

The Michigan public drools over a bunch of L-O-S-E-R-S!!!

Bunch of losers? The Tigers have been to the world series twice in 6 years and are a legit contender for the title. The Pistons have sucked the past few seasons but were title contenders for most of the 2000s (and obv champs in '04). And the Lions, well, the Lions are huge losers, and have basically always been, so you're right about them (making the playoffs in 2011 was the biggest success in years). But don't act like the Wings are the only team in Detroit that can bring the city a Championship. Though I do agree the Red Wings should be number 1 in the state.

Edited July 17, 2013 by TheDetroitRedWings

[kipwinger 8,807]

I agree, but that is my biggest problem.

The Michigan public drools over a bunch of L-O-S-E-R-S!!!

Huck, huck. You can say whatcha want but that gal darn Titus Young story was just dang good tv. 3 times in a week! That's hi-larious! Reminds me of my cousin Ricky-Jo, 'cept Ricky's was all for Meth.

Anyway's say whatcha want bout the NFL, but everybody knows football is a man's sport and anybody doesn't like it is a p*ssy and probably a *errorist.

[Guest The Axe]

Wings are rad.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Football and baseball are always going to be more popular just based on the sheer number of people that watch those sports compared to hockey. Relative to most American hockey cities, the Red Wings have a massive following.

Edited July 17, 2013 by GoWings1905

[dropkickshanahans 463]

This could be the first time in a long time (if ever?) that all 4 teams see the playoffs. The Lions made a lot of moves this offseason to strengthen their defense and offense, the Pistons have good young players and signed a top FA (Josh Smith) and brought back the old favorite Billups, the Tigers are a contender but need to separate themselves from Cleveland in the division, and we all know what the Red Wings have done so far and I expect them to finish high in the East and make a good run. Overall I think it'll be an exciting year for fans of every team.

Edited July 17, 2013 by dropkickshanahans

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Weren't the Wings a lot more popular in Detroit in the late 90's, than they are today?

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Hockey is by far the best sport, though it has the worst officiating which is probably due to so many rule changes all the time and deciding what's a penalty.

Football is 2nd, but I mainly stopped watching cause it gets old quick when every play some overzealous ******* just NEEDS to celebrate the play, no matter what it is. Holy crapballs!...I ran for 2 yards, here's a pre-cursor to my end zone dance in another 80 yards.

Baseball...home runs are cool, that's about it. The rest of the game is so painfully boring that if I had to suffer watching an entire game, I'd peel my skin off like a fiending drug addict.

Basketball. What can I say. You want a sport that's so much hype... You can win a championship with 3 good players. 3! Oh no you di'int just slap my wrist. Foul! Look ref, you can see where he slapped me.

Soccer. They play dead every time someone slide tackles you. If a football or hockey player (not named Mike Ribeiro) saw that, they would be completely disgusted.

Which brings me back to baseball. Synchronized swimming is pure excitement compared to that s***. I'd take the Westminster dog show if given the choice.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

My opinion of course only, I loathe baseball, football and basketball.

[evilmrt 636]

In the late 90s and early 2000s, I think the Wings were a solid #2, maybe even #1 around playoff time. That special era has ended for the Wings, while the Tigers are actually pretty decent these days. You could also say that the Lions aren't embarrassingly bad anymore, as they were for so many years then. The almost simultaneous rise and "fall" lead to the Wings dropping to #3.

If there was another star like Yzerman, co-star Lids, with a solidly familiar, really relatable supporting cast (Drapes, Malts, Holmer, D Mac, Ozzie etc).... I think it could happen again.

Those guys just connected with the people in ways that I think only Dats and Z do now.

Edited July 18, 2013 by evilmrt

[evilzyme 769]

I think popularity is great amongst the State. I mean, I can find random people at events and speak some good hockey with them. I can always run into atleast one person that actually is knowledgeable about the team and sometimes I can find someone whom can really speak about the pipeline and future. It may not be at the same level it was prior in the 90s but it certainly is still there. Look at USA Hockey, we're second in registered players only down by like 2,000 IIRC to Minnesota, aka the State of Hockey. After Michigan and Minnesota it drops off pretty nicely and then it goes within "divisions" basically. Hockey simply doesn't get it's full due in America, so it always will take the backseat in media coverage and what not.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Football, at all levels of play, is "America's Sport".

[newfy 695]

Debatable if those other teams are ahead and that alone shows how much hockey is loved in Detroit. It has become lethargic for a lot of fans though with how much the wings have won.

The Lions were getting blacked out on channel 2 not that long ago and we're gonna say theyre clearly ahead of the wings? I dunno about that

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Football, at all levels of play, is "America's Sport".

Which is sad. How many of these players have been in trouble with the law, etc.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Well this also can be good thing, hockey is the far superior sport and it doesn't need all the drama, over the top celebrations and endless player fiascos. The fanbase may be smaller but way more passionate, loyal and the athletes are the most down to earth guys in all of sports.

Long story short other leagues may be bigger but quality beats quantity 100 out of 100 times. I mean giving a murder a contract would never happen in hockey because gangmembers and other troublemakers do not have a place in hockey. Hello Patriots...

The Wings problem is simple: as fans we have been spoiled and since Mr. I has to spend money in order to supsidize teams that should not have a Nhl franchise, instead of trying to built another team like 2002 the interest in watching an only behind the pack team is going down. Personally I would prefer less teams and free spending

[unsaddleddonald 357]

Bunch of losers? The Tigers have been to the world series twice in 6 years and are a legit contender for the title. The Pistons have sucked the past few seasons but were title contenders for most of the 2000s (and obv champs in '04). And the Lions, well, the Lions are huge losers, and have basically always been, so you're right about them (making the playoffs in 2011 was the biggest success in years). But don't act like the Wings are the only team in Detroit that can bring the city a Championship. Though I do agree the Red Wings should be number 1 in the state.

No I was talking about just the Lions.

[unsaddleddonald 357]

Well this also can be good thing, hockey is the far superior sport and it doesn't need all the drama, over the top celebrations and endless player fiascos. The fanbase may be smaller but way more passionate, loyal and the athletes are the most down to earth guys in all of sports. Long story short other leagues may be bigger but quality beats quantity 100 out of 100 times. I mean giving a murder a contract would never happen in hockey because gangmembers and other troublemakers do not have a place in hockey. Hello Patriots... The Wings problem is simple: as fans we have been spoiled and since Mr. I has to spend money in order to supsidize teams that should not have a Nhl franchise, instead of trying to built another team like 2002 the interest in watching an only behind the pack team is going down. Personally I would prefer less teams and free spending

I think that is a great point. You could even take that a step further and suggest that a part of the reason that hockey is so disrespected is because NHL players don't make negative headlines.

Obviously, that is a very backwards statement. I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not, what does that say about us as a society in general?

Again though, point the finger at ESPN who likes to talk about talk more than anything. They will take a controversial subject and beat it to death.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Which is sad. How many of these players have been in trouble with the law, etc.

It's a pre-requisite for being a Dallas Cowboy is it not?

[Datsyukian-Deke 722]

The fact that we can have this debate says a lot about hockey in Detroit. You don't have an argument in prolly any other American city.