In Detroit, the Lions and Tigers are Roaring Along with the Engines

Whisper it. Do not jinx it. But it appears as if the long-suffering residents of Detroit and, in fact, Michigan, have reason to be hopeful for a far, far brighter future. There still plenty of problems in the D, despite the oft-misguided efforts of well meaning Governor Rick Snyder. But over the past four years, a crack has appeared in the filthy black clouds that have dogged this region. Heck, even the

has been saying nice things about Detroit. Detroit also has a ready-made metaphor available in the shape of the Detroit Lions. For years, loyal Detroiters have suffered some of the worst football played in the history of the NFL. The team has been badly managed, chosen badly in the drafts and generally underperformed, until finally they had a winless season four years ago. It was the kind of history that no team wants to achieve. 0-16. Horrendous. The following season, they won two games. Better but still horrible. But then last season, there were signs of recovery. Cautious signs, but signs nonetheless. Defensive end Ndamukong Suh came in the draft, and quarterback Matthew Stafford looked ready to fulfill his potential. Sadly Stafford got injured in game one, but the Lions still won six. This season, Stafford is fit and firing, Suh is still a monster in the tackle, and wide receiver Calvin Johnson seems able to make impossible catch after impossible catch. There are smiles on the faces of Detroiters, and not just because of these Lions who, at the time of writing, just hours before the team's first Monday night game in a decade against the Bears, are 4-0. The Tigers too are generating joy as MVP fave Justin Verlander seems intent on firing his team into the World Series. Texas is tough opposition, but so were the Yankees and look what happened there. The one bright spot on the Detroit sporting landscape in recent years has been the Red Wings who, if not winners of the Stanley Cup, are usually right up there. They have started well this season, currently standing at 2-0. Reasons to be cheerful – 1,2,3. The Lions have seen the very bottom, sat down and played around in the muck, and now they are rising rapidly. That is the spirit of Detroit. These people will not be kept down. Of course, sporting success can only take a city so far. Fortunately, in Detroit there are other things happening that could keep Detroiters smiling well beyond game day. In just over a year, the unemployment rate has fallen 1.5 percentage points, higher than all other states but three. It still stands at 11 percent, but progress is progress. The Detroit Three – Ford

, Chrysler and General Motors

– are reporting strong profits. Ford is outselling Toyota, while Chrysler is playing on its strengths by building its image based on its home with those Eminem-led ads. The bottom line is that Detroit is no joke. Ask the New York Yankees. Ask the Dallas Cowboys. But more importantly, ask the next Detroiter that you meet. Chances are, they will be grinning like a Cheshire Cat.