Motor City's lookin' for love

By Dan Nied [send email]

Charlie and Darko.

Detroit needs this.

In a city that was shunned four years ago by arguably its greatest athlete ever, Barry Sanders, and will see arguably its favorite athlete ever, Steve Yzerman, retire within the next three years, Charles Rogers and Darko Milicic are coming along in a very crucial time.

Honestly, when Barry walked away in 1999, it wasn’t all that detrimental to Detroit’s sporting world. We still had Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov. Grant Hill was supposedly just about to hit his peak and the Lions weren’t going to be any good anyway.

But things changed. Hill went to the Magic and did a fine disappearing act. Yzerman, while still beloved, is now a shell of his former self and the Lions went into the can the last two years, winning just five games. Mix that with Fedorov turning down a $10 million per year contract offer this season and things aren’t looking up right now.

This is the most important transition period in Detroit’s recent history.

Right now, Ben Wallace, a guy who averaged six points per game for the Pistons last year, is the most nationally recognized man in Detroit sports.

Something, someone, has to give to this city so the city can give back to them.

We need Charlie and Darko.
Charlie is the charismatic, homegrown wide receiver the Lions chose with the No. 2 pick in the draft. He has blazing speed and a chip on his shoulder and could bring major national attention if he forms chemistry with second-year quarterback Joey Harrington.

Darko is a 17-year old, 7-foot enigma the Pistons will most likely draft with the second pick on June 26. He has an impressive all around game and may have the skills to help Ben Wallace rebound. Darko could be a difference maker.

Their potential is sky high; Detroit needs them to fulfill it. If Charlie can play like he did in his college days at Michigan State, he will instantly become a fan favorite.

If Darko can ease into a leading role with the Pistons, and become the Dirk Nowitzki-type player everyone expects, then there will be nothing but unconditional love from the people of Detroit.

And, with the parallels between the two drawn with hype and draft status, if Charlie and Darko can do it together, they might just save a sports city that is on the verge of a deep depression.

The Tigers may never see .500 again, the Red Wings will be victimized by the new NHL in 2004, the Pistons were just exposed by the Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Lions have no where to go but up and only a few rungs on the ladder to start climbing.

And that is only our sports teams.

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is neck-deep in a security scandal that somehow did not surprise anyone. Abandoned buildings accompany Detroit’s so-called “Entertainment district” and are impossible not to walk by on your way to Ford Field or Comerica Park.

Race riots in nearby Benton Harbor this week are shaking the city at its core with memories of the 1967 riots. Back then, a shell-shocked Detroit was brought together again by the world series win of the 1968 Tigers.

The only thing Detroit really has is its sports passion.

We need Charlie and Darko.

Hey, Detroit fan, imagine if, during a week in November, Charlie catches 10 balls for 140 yards and two touchdowns, and Darko averages 30 points and 14 rebounds per night.

Can you see the potential impact of Charlie and Darko? Can you see what they would mean to a city that welcomes heroes with open arms and takes them in like adopted children?

The results would be fantastic, almost like 1998, when Barry rushed for 2000 yards and Yzerman led the Wings to their second straight cup, winning the Conn Smythe trophy along the way.

We can’t be sure that either Charlie or Darko will pan out, but we can look at probabilities and possibilities.

And Charlie and Darko seem to fit nicely.