This week marked the tenth anniversary of the Detroit Pistons’ last NBA Championship (and unfortunately, probably a few years before they even contend for another). What a great championship series it was – they beat the flashy Los Angeles Lakers at the height of the Kobe/Shaq Era with hard work and defense. There were no celebrities – this was the ultimate team with a starting five of Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, and Rip Hamilton. They were the perfect example of Detroit tough.
While I haven’t lived in the Motor City in over twelve years, I still consider it home and would actually love to move back. Nothing pisses me off more than when somebody asks me where I’m from, I say “Detroit,” and they proceed to make a snide comment about it. First of all, it’s damn rude. I would never degrade someone’s hometown to them, no matter my personal experience there. Second, I think we are all aware of Detroit’s crime problems. A lot of other big, “nicer” cities have this problem, too (hi, Chicago). The 2008 economic crisis was particularly cruel to Detroit. Don’t make fun of a hardworking city and people trying to get back on their feet. Just don’t. FYI…it is improving slowly but surely.
Detroit gave you the automobile. For those of you who were fortunate enough to group up in the middle or upper-middle class, you can thank Detroit for a big part of that, too. We have some of the best restaurants in the country. And finally, we have some of the nicest suburbs in the country (Oakland Hills, anyone?). I am going to sound like the Birmingham brat I am, but to make my point, Oakland County was the second wealthiest county in the nation behind the Hamptons back when I was in high school. Sure, it has fallen off just a tad with the economic downturn (still top ten), but they are still consistently nice. Detroit suburbs could buy and sell almost anywhere else in the country.
hurrikatewarning 