With the success that the Tigers,Shock,Pistons and Wings have enjoyed this year I thought it would be interesting to discuss what the best sports organization in town is today. There is an arguement that could be made for all 4 teams, so what I am looking for is for someone to build a strong, convincing case as to why one sports team is superior to the others. The rationale can include management, players, faciliities, history, economic efficiency, fan-friendliness, community involvement, league dominance....the sky is the limit.

Special props to anyone who can build a case for the Lions. lol. Feel free to do a ranking of sports teams (include more if you feel ambitious...college?) to accompany your arguement.

My quick ranking:

1)Tigers - young talent, manageable payroll, excellent coaching, beautiful stadium, strong lineage of success, in the heart of the city, owner who is dedicated to winning, huge momentum after finishing one shy of leagues worst record ever a couple years ago!
2)Shock - Hard to deny 2 championships in the last 3 years, successful owner, great mix of talent and a hard nosed coach that invites feelings of championship nostagia
3)Red Wings - Great coaching, great owner, strong lineage of success, shown ability to adjust to rule changes and still be one of the dominant forces in hockey
4)Pistons - Easy number one choice a year ago. Poor offseason, inability to develop/keep youth, team identity crisis and controversial head coach are signs of an organization that has a lot of questions to answer this season as it pertains to management and player personnel.
5)Lions - Fords suck. Millen sucks. Head Coach is on thin ice, but you gotta love Martz and the new offense. There are defintely signs of improvement, but in a town where every other team has proven to be one of their respective sports' elite...this is the natural position for the most depressing team in the city of Detroit. Oh yeah, nice stadium.

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"Great coach, this team wins the title. Average coach, they get to the ECF repeatedly and fail. Crap coach, this season happens" - The Low

I would also consider how many customers each organization has.

For instance, the Shock may be great, but how many people care?

The Lions have 8 home games per year and provide live entertainment to about .5 Mill people per year.

However, the Tigers have about 84 home games and cycle almost 3 Mill people through.


So, if the Tigers are good, more Detroiters get enjoyment out of it.

Does this make any sense?

Just to be crochety about the Lions, screw the new stadium. Gimme the dome's noise, tailgating ability and superior sightlines anyday. I hate how FF looks like a cross between a football field and a loft apartment. It's also cramped and spaced out. I may be in the minority, but I don't care about the amenities. I don't want a sports facility dressed up as a mall.

Well said. The Pistons are the ones, with the building of the Palace, that created the mini-mall concession trend.

Pistons-----irregardless of the what they did in the playoffs last season, actually they set the standards for other teams to follow such as:
#1 They were the first Pro Basketball team to own their own private airplane Roundball one. This is a fact, it was a big article in Sports Illustrated the year before the Bad Boys won the championship about this.

#2 They are the only basketball team that fans tailgate. It happens in football a lot but not basketball.

#3 They were the first team to build a state of the art Basketball facility ala the Palace

#4 The 3 Championships speak for themselves

#5 Joe Dumars being one of the few who played his entire career with one team and went on to win a championship as a player and GM.

Tigers

#1 If they go on to win the Worl Series, this has to be the best turn around in all of sports.

Shock

#1 Two championships in the past 3 years

#2 Bill Laimbeer the coach who has one championships for pistons and now shock

Red Wings - Don't follow them a whole lot.

Lions -- What can I say, they are my home team and every year they disappoint me.

Historical View

1) Wings. An old and recent history of winning. Several of the games' greatest players have worn the Winged Wheel.

2) Tigers. Loads of tradition. 4 for 9 in the World Series. Kaline, Cobb, Anderson, Leyland (?)

3) Pistons. Last 25 years have been great with ups, downs and ups again. But previous to 1980, this was a franchise noted for it's futility and lack of success.

4) Shock. Too new to be included IMO, a subdivision of the Pistons as they are in the same ownership group and stadium.

5) Lions. What can you say? They've spent 50 years undoing their legacy.

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There is no such thing as a good time for bad luck. - Down, On March The Saints
Progress cannot be organized. - Ludwig von Mises
You cannot stop innovation. - Sun Tzu

This is a hard question. Its easy to give the Tigers props right now for beating the Yankees which was a huge accompishment but their titles have been running in about 20 year increments.

RedWings. Easy 1st choice. Go to a wings game and you will be impressed with the parade of accompishments hanging on the rafters which puts the Palace banners to shame. During the height of "Hockey Town" in the mid-late 90's I believe they kept on retiring things at the Palace just so the fans from the Joe would have something to look at.

But in the same time frame as the NBA ( since the mid-50's ) the Wings have only won 3 cups. Made the playoffs 19 out of the past 22 years but only have 2 cups in that period. So if you like a competitive team and something to watch in the reg season they would be a good choice.

Note - Wings cap is 39mil.

Lions? Have not even been in the Superbowl since they have had it.

Shock? They would have won this had fan interest not been considered but we are dealing with such a huge difference that I would have to discount them.

Overall I would have to go with the Wings. Very dissapointing in the playoffs but management was always willing to spend whatever they could to help out the team and they usually were able to retain the talent. Personally I never really could get into Hockey. Don't ask me why just never really followed it.

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It is just a matter of time for the Lions before they'er made into winners .

Pistons rank the highest here: ESPN.com: SPORTSNATION - Ultimate Standings: SportsNation's Fan Satisfaction Rankings

You have to click on 2003 to see NHL teams included.

That`s a joke.........right???