Detroit, MI
Meet the local company making Spirit of Detroit jerseys for over 25 years
DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Spirit of Detroit statue is ready to go for the Lions playoff run.
Monday morning, the statue was dressed in a Honolulu Blue Detroit Lions jersey to commemorate the team’s success. Once word got out, excited fans came by Monday to snap photos.
“We watched the game every weekend. We’re so excited,” Lions fan Macarena Diaz said. “Everyone’s excited. Wherever you go, they know you’re from Detroit.”
“Used to love it when we put it on when the Red Wings would win,” Lions fan Katie Mcnulty said. “Seeing the Lions on there is just really, really cool.”
Before sunrise, crews were hard at work installing the jersey. But even before that, Nicholas Piach and his team at Banner Sign Co. were hard at work designing it.
“Oh, it’s handsewn,” Piach said. “The major changes in the jersey this year is the dots in the numbers.”
The business has been in Piach’s family for 60 years, but it’s called metro Detroit home for 100 years. In that time frame, they’ve been apart of many sports moments.
“I think my first Spirit of Detroit was for the ’97 Red Wings Stanley Cup championship,” Piach said. “We put a jersey on when we beat the ‘Legion of Doom,’ I believe was Philadelphia. We swept them.”
From there, the jersey’s kept coming. They now even make jerseys for the Detroit Tiger outside Comerica Park.
“I have to tell you, not all of them worked out as good as they do now,” Piach said. “Now, it’s kind of routine for us.”
For this Lions jersey, Banner Sign Co. began work in October. It’s installed with help from another local company, Prop Art Studio.
Related video: Detroit Lions ‘We Want More’ bus tour for fans across Michigan
Detroit Lions kickoff ‘We Want More’ bus tour for fans across Michigan
“There’s a million pins in it,” Piach said. “You don’t see it, but there’s Velcro, there’s pins, the sleeves need to lay just right.”
It takes lots of work to only be on display for a few weeks, but the pictures and joy it brings to Detroiters will last a lifetime.
“I wanted to get a picture for my dad because he’s disabled,” said Mcnulty, who was snapping a photo. “I wanted to get it and bring it to him.”
“Anytime someone is looking at my work taking a picture of it, that is the ultimate satisfaction,” Piach said.
Detroit, MI
Wenceel Pérez returns home, but when will he return to Detroit Tigers?
Tarik Skubal injury: Detroit Tigers ace discusses left elbow surgery
Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal talks to reporters May 4, 2026, at Comerica Park about needing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow.
Wenceel Pérez is home.
But when will he return to the Detroit Tigers?
The 26-year-old outfielder returned to Detroit on Friday, June 19, after spending a couple extra days in Houston awaiting clearance to fly. He suffered an orbital fracture June 16 when a plyometric band struck him below his left eye during his postgame workout routine.
Don’t expect to see him in MLB games anytime soon.
“It’s not injured, from what I understand, where it’s going to be something long term,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park, “but it doesn’t mean it heals itself fast. He’s feeling better and better and reporting progress.”
The fracture doesn’t require surgery.
“We’ve got to pay attention to the bone healing,” Hinch said. “The eye part of it is, the swelling is the main issue. There were a couple of days there where your eye swells shut and the vision is not there.”
Pérez hasn’t played for the Tigers since June 16.
Before the injury, he hit .180 with seven home runs, 14 walks and 29 strikeouts in 53 games.
Parker Meadows injury update
Center fielder Parker Meadows hasn’t played for the Tigers since April 9.
The 26-year-old has been on the injured list with a left radius fracture, a concussion and a right mouth laceration, with the left radius fracture requiring surgery. There isn’t a timetable for his return to the Tigers.
“The bone shattered, so it’s not as simple as healing a simple break,” Hinch said. “I say shattered as a non-doctor, so I’m not sure if that’s the actual term, but I know it’s been a work in progress to continue his ability to do everything with that hand and arm and wrist. It’s been slow, and there’s not much we can do.”
Before the injury, he hit .250 with two walks and 10 strikeouts in 12 games while serving as the everyday center fielder.
“He’s not hitting and doing all those things that would lead you to start to wonder when he’s coming back, but it’s progressing,” Hinch said. “The nature of the injury, as we are learning, has been the slowest a bone heals. It’s by no setback or no issue.”
‘Slow ramp’ for Gleyber Torres
Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who has one of the best on-base percentages in baseball, remains sidelined with a left oblique strain. The 29-year-old received a cortisone shot Friday, but he still hasn’t resumed baseball activities.
It’s his second left oblique strain over the past two months.
Last time, Torres missed one month while recovering on the injured list.
It could be an even longer process this time.
“He’s doing his normal rehab therapy,” Hinch said. “It’ll be a slow ramp for him.”
Before the latest injury, he hit .280 with four home runs, 29 walks and 33 strikeouts in 43 games while serving as the everyday second baseman.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Detroit, MI
Police investigation at Monica and Clarita streets in Detroit
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Detroit, MI
Man armed with gun shot by police in downtown Detroit ahead of fireworks show, police say
A man, who authorities say was armed with a weapon, was shot by Detroit police on Monday ahead of the annual Ford Fireworks show.
Police say another person, a 19-year-old, was arrested before the shooting.
Detroit police say that at about 6:24 p.m., officers arrested the 19-year-old, who was armed, near the area of Farmer and Bates streets. At that time, a man was seen walking away from a group. Police say that the person ran away, prompting a chase.
During the chase, an officer fired shots, hitting the man several times. The individual was taken to the hospital, and a weapon was recovered from the scene. The individual’s identity is currently unknown.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public, and the incident remains under investigation.
The annual fireworks show is set to begin at approximately 10 p.m. over the Detroit River.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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