Detroit, MI
Heck yes, Detroit Tigers rooting for Pistons: ‘Proud to be part of the fabric of city’
This is an amazing time for sports in Detroit. Not just for fans.
But the players.
Late Monday night, after a Tigers victory over the San Diego Padres, the TVs in the Tigers clubhouse in Comerica Park were tuned to the NBA playoffs, as the Pistons played the New York Knicks in Game 2 in Madison Square Garden.
Justyn-Henry Malloy, the Tigers outfielder, sat on a leather couch, facing the TVs, nerves twisting in his gut, knowing what it feels like to play in the postseason, knowing what it feels like to have that kind of pressure.
Against the wall, Kerry Carpenter was at his locker, head turned, watching intently, and he screamed with excitement as Dennis Schröder hit a 3-pointer with 56.3 seconds left to give the Pistons the lead, 97-94.
“Give him the ball!” Carpenter screamed, walking toward the TVs, looking like, well, just about any sports fan in the Motor City.
“Bang!” Malloy yelled.
Malloy exhaled and started celebrating, as the Pistons hung on for the 100-94 victory, their first playoff win since 2008, snapping a 15-game playoff losing streak.
“I was pumped,” Malloy said Tuesday afternoon.
The good news for the Tigers?
They have an off day on Thursday and several players, as well as Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, plan to go to Game 3 in Little Caesars Arena.
“I love where Detroit sports is at and it’s a blast being a part of a number of teams who are bringing thrilling sports moments to the city,” Hinch said on Tuesday. “This city deserves it, these fan bases – the majority of them overlap, in different seasons and different times of year, all get to enjoy these thrilling moments.”
And yes, these pro athletes become fans.
“We quickly become Lions fans, Pistons fans and Wings fans when we joined the city, and I love that our players are all in on it,” Hinch said. “They’re all making plans to go on Thursday. We have an off day. We’ll have a strong contingency there. I’m going to be there because when you’re all in on the city, these moments matter. These moments are remembered by fans and by players and these experiences stand out, specifically here in Detroit, because of how cool of a sports town this is.”
Yes, Hinch saw it last fall when the Tigers played in the playoffs at the same time the Lions were having a fantastic season on the way to the playoffs.
Now, as the Tigers are playing some great baseball, the Pistons are playing in the postseason.
“I’ve seen it now firsthand because we played in playoff games,” Hinch said. “But I feel it in the winter, during the Lions season. I’m feeling it during the Wings season. I’m feeling it during this Pistons run and I’m pretty proud to be part of the fabric of this city.”
Part of the fabric of the city.
That’s what these players have become. That’s what these teams are.
It’s like one giant rebirth.
“It’s awesome,” Carpenter said. “I’m a huge die-hard sports fan in general. So, it’s pretty cool to be an adopted Detroit sports fan now.”
Malloy has been to about six Pistons games this season – some in Detroit, one in Atlanta.
“I’m a big NBA fan; I’m a big Pistons fan, and it’s just cool to watch,” Malloy said.
There is a part of him that watches as a fan.
But there is another side of him.
“You can kind of relate in certain ways with those guys,” Malloy said. “Obviously, it’s a different sport, but you relate to the work and you relate to the atmosphere. I played in a playoff atmosphere last year. I know the emotions, the anxiety, the excitement that goes with that type of game. So it’s almost like I’m riding right there with them, knowing how it feels, knowing all that stuff.”
But there is something more. It’s something that ties these teams together.
It’s the Lions grit. And it’s these gritty Tigers, who made an improbable run last season. And it’s this Pistons team that has climbed from the cellar, an improbable journey of its own.
“What I love is the resilience of that group,” Malloy said about the Pistons. “It’s very similar to kind of what we went through, going through some struggles, but to see them turning a corner and struggling one year and then having real success the next year, I can relate to that from a personal level and on a team level.”
Yes, that’s the part that unites all of them.
Understanding what it takes to go from the struggle to the success.
“Being able to kind of see that their growth from last year to this year, and to see the city’s growth too, with all those sports, it’s kind of like a sports revival in the city,” Malloy said. “So it’s cool to be here.”
So, yes, the Tigers will be rooting for the Pistons on Thursday night.
Because they are all part of the same fabric.
Cut from the same cloth.
Gritty. Resilient. And wanting to win for the D.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
Detroit, MI
Detroit ‘Sloppy Chops’ restaurateur\u00a0killed: What to know
How to anonymously submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Michigan
Here are the three ways to submit a tip to Crime Stoppers of Michigan safely and anonymously: by phone, online, and through the P3 Tips mobile app.
Mourning continued and no suspects were in custody a week after the fatal shooting of Detroit restaurateur and nightlife figure Mikey “Mike B” Brown at the end of February.
Brown was the beloved figure behind the “Sloppy” brand of restaurants, and remembrances have been rolling in online since his death.
Here’s what to know:
Shooting outside cocktail bar
“Mike B” Brown, 51, and two others were shot about 4:30 a.m. Feb. 28 in the area of 15789 Schaefer, police previously said.
The two others were found in front of the location, and Brown was found across the street, police said.
Police have asked those with information on the shooting to come forward.
There were no suspects in custody and no further updates in the case as of Monday, March 9, according to a statement from the Detroit Police Department.
Updates on the conditions of the two other individuals shot were also not provided.
Who was Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?
Brown was a husband, a father of five and a restaurateur.
He opened Sloppy Chops Restaurant, a steakhouse, in 2020 on West McNichols off the Lodge Freeway and later opened a seafood restaurant called Sloppy Crab, which was renamed the Crab Sports Bar, on East Jefferson Avenue near the Renaissance Center. Brown previously had two clubs, as well.
His downtown dining spot served as an answer to questions on offerings for Black diners in the city’s renaissance. His other “Sloppy” location showcased successful reach beyond downtown and into the city’s neighborhoods. Brown was also a cultural figure in not only the world of dining, but in the nightlife, the Free Press reported.
When are funeral services for Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown?
A family hour was set for 9 a.m. March 13 and a funeral was set for 10 a.m. March 13, both at Triumph Church –North Campus at 15600 J.L. Hudson Drive in Southfield.
What’s been the fallout since Mike ‘Mike B’ Brown’s death?
Outside of the community hurt, there’s also been calls for a crackdown on establishments that stay open into early morning hours in residential areas, ClickOnDetroit reports.
How to report tips on Mikey ‘Mike B’ Brown’s shooting
Those with information tied to the triple shooting can contact the Detroit Police Department’s homicide unit at 313-596-2260 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up or DetroitRewards.tv.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions need backup QB as Kyle Allen to sign with Bills
Former Detroit Lions QB Hendon Hooker reflects on his time in Detroit
Former Lions QB Hendon Hooker joins to discuss his time in Detroit and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s skill on the basketball court.
The Detroit Lions will need to find a new backup quarterback. Kyle Allen, the 30-year-old ninth-year veteran, will reportedly sign with the Buffalo Bills for two years and $4.1 millions, according to ESPN, reuniting him with his former coordinator Joe Brady.
Allen, who came to the Motor City a year ago after inking a one-year deal, appeared in just three games and attempted two passes this past season as starter Jared Goff logged 98.5% of the team’s offensive snaps at quarterback.
Allen’s greatest contribution came in the preseason, when he forced the organization to give up on its experiment with Hendon Hooker.
In the competition for the No. 2 job, Allen outperformed Hooker and made the former 2023 third-round pick expendable by bringing his stunted development into sharp relief. While Hooker struggled to move the offense when he was in command, Allen thrived in his four auditions, spearheading one productive drive after another for the Lions. He completed 79.5% of his attempts, throwing for 401 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. All the while, he exhibited a good understanding of the Lions’ timing-based passing game, giving management the confidence he could – if needed – relieve Goff in a pinch.
“I feel very comfortable with him,” Campbell said last August.
But as it turned out, the Lions were never forced to call upon Allen. Goff, who hasn’t missed a start since Week 17 of the 2021 season, remained reliably present.
The Lions hope Goff’s iron-man streak will continue.
But if it for some reason ends, Allen is no longer there to replace him.
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him @RainerSabin on X.
Detroit, MI
Detroit water main break snarls travel on East Jefferson Monday morning
Vehicles travel through water collected near water main break in Detroit.
DETROIT (FOX 2) – A water main break in Detroit is causing headaches for drivers and sending water into the streets of one of the city’s east side neighborhoods.
The break involves a 42-inch pipeline at East Jefferson and Burns Drive.
The breakage happened on Sunday, leaving only one lane open for each direction of travel.
Local perspective:
A day after the breakage, water was still gathering on the road of Jefferson Avenue.
Video captured of the scene Monday morning showed vehicles driving through ponds of water. Construction equipment were on site along with traffic cones.
The backstory:
This isn’t the only major disruption to water services in the region.
This weekend, a catastrophic breakage at 14 Mile near Drake impacted several Oakland County communities and thousands of residents.
Novi and Walled Lake were among those hardest hit by the breakage, which included dramatic scenes of waves of water washing down the road, submerging vehicles.
The Source: FOX 2’s Charlie Langton and previous reporting were cited for this story.
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