Super Stars of the Super Bowls
I'm not a huge football fan, but I like the sport. So when Super Bowl time rolls around, like millions of other people, I watch. Honestly, I watch the commercials more than the game, but nevertheless I do watch the game. This year, however, is different. It's not every day that the Super Bowl comes to my town.
Now granted, we've actually had a Super Bowl before, believe it or not. Yep, little old, northern city of Detroit has had two, count 'em, two Super Bowls! No other city north of the Mason Dixon line can claim that. And I was fortunate to go to that one! What's my point? Well, I was going to say that a Super Bowl in your town might be a once in a lifetime thing, but clearly it isn't.
What's the big deal? It's a football game for cryin' out loud. It's not like it's going to change lives. Well...that would be where you could be mistaken.
It's no secret that Detroit is not the rosiest of places. We've been beat up in media and perception for so long that we've got a pretty good complex going. Forgive us if we decide to go medieval on someone when someone brings up crime, the 1984 Tiger riots involving a flipped and burning police car, racial relations and general poverty. We get pretty sick of that. In fact, a real good example of this complex is the "controversy" about having the Rolling Stones play the Super Bowl halftime show. Many Detroiters were outraged because the halftime show had them instead of some Motown themed entertainment. The anger was so high for a bit that no one really wanted to point out that Super Bowl halftime shows do not incorporate anything about the host city. I mean, I don't think Janet Jackson's nipple represents any facet of Houston.
The fact is, we try...we overtry...to show people that this really is a good place to be. And the Super Bowl gives us the perfect forum to show just how cool (not necessarily cold) the Detroit area can be. It's a major event that gives us a chance to show the world all the things we really have here. So here's a few cool things you might not really think about when it comes to Detroit.
* Musical heritage: Motown, Bob Seger, Eminem, Kid Rock. In fact all 3 of them still live here, and so do Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin. They ain't leavin'.
*We have an entertainment district. Yep, that's right. Around the area where the Super Bowl will be played are a number of other venues and halls that one any given night will have major events. You could walk from Ford Field to the Fox Theatre, the State Theatre, the Detroit Opera House (yes, opera house) and any number of restaurants. And it's very safe and well lit. In fact, Jimmy Kimmel is broadcasting this week from one of these theatres. Note to self...hang out downtown on Friday to catch Jessica Alba.
*We have a Second City troupe. That's right. Second City. As in SCTV...and talent feeder to Saturday Night Live. Second City-Toronto, Second City-Chicago...and Second City-Detroit. It pains me to admit I still haven't gone yet. Someone come visit me so I can take them! :)
*We're a border town, and Canada is south of us. We have to drive south to cross the border into Canada by way of either the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge (which is the busiest international crossing in North America, if not the world. We're talkin' serious commerce here.) You can go over to another country for lunch or dinner. Ontario license plates are as common as Michigan ones around here.
*We have the biggest fireworks display in North America. It occurs over the Detroit River at the end of June. It has to be big because it's an international celebration of both Canada Day and the 4th of July. Every year, it draws a million plus people.
*We have a monorail system! Well, ok...it's not the greatest thing in the world. Okay it downright sucks. Pales in comparison to say, the "L", or subways in NY, Toronto, Montreal and D.C.. And doesn't even hold a candle to Disney World's. But it works and it can get you around to places like...
*Greektown. Adjacent to the entertainment area is a collection of some of the most awesome places to eat anywhere. Greektown has, of course, great Greek restaurants and a casino. I'm pretty sure this area has a higher average temperature than the rest of the city because of all the flaming saganakis being served. (For those of you who don't know, saganaki is a cheese block that's served with bread after being lit on fire. Mmmmm.)
*MGM has a casino here as well. In fact, there are 4 casinos between downtown Detroit and Windsor. Honestly, I'm in the camp that could do without them, but there it is.
*We have an orchestra. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is based downtown and is world renowned. Until this year, the conductor of the orchestra was a guy named Itzhak Perlman. Maybe you've heard of him?
So, how many of those things did you know? I've actually geeked myself up coming up with that list, and I'm looking forward to hanging out in all the festivities this weekend.
The point is, it's not really about a silly little football game. It's about an image and a way of life. It's about a city trying to recover from years of being beaten down by people who don't really know what it's like here. So again, forgive us if we have a bit of a complex here. We're trying to please and show you that we're much better than you've heard...and in the process you just might have fun being here.
Now granted, we've actually had a Super Bowl before, believe it or not. Yep, little old, northern city of Detroit has had two, count 'em, two Super Bowls! No other city north of the Mason Dixon line can claim that. And I was fortunate to go to that one! What's my point? Well, I was going to say that a Super Bowl in your town might be a once in a lifetime thing, but clearly it isn't.
What's the big deal? It's a football game for cryin' out loud. It's not like it's going to change lives. Well...that would be where you could be mistaken.
It's no secret that Detroit is not the rosiest of places. We've been beat up in media and perception for so long that we've got a pretty good complex going. Forgive us if we decide to go medieval on someone when someone brings up crime, the 1984 Tiger riots involving a flipped and burning police car, racial relations and general poverty. We get pretty sick of that. In fact, a real good example of this complex is the "controversy" about having the Rolling Stones play the Super Bowl halftime show. Many Detroiters were outraged because the halftime show had them instead of some Motown themed entertainment. The anger was so high for a bit that no one really wanted to point out that Super Bowl halftime shows do not incorporate anything about the host city. I mean, I don't think Janet Jackson's nipple represents any facet of Houston.
The fact is, we try...we overtry...to show people that this really is a good place to be. And the Super Bowl gives us the perfect forum to show just how cool (not necessarily cold) the Detroit area can be. It's a major event that gives us a chance to show the world all the things we really have here. So here's a few cool things you might not really think about when it comes to Detroit.
* Musical heritage: Motown, Bob Seger, Eminem, Kid Rock. In fact all 3 of them still live here, and so do Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin. They ain't leavin'.
*We have an entertainment district. Yep, that's right. Around the area where the Super Bowl will be played are a number of other venues and halls that one any given night will have major events. You could walk from Ford Field to the Fox Theatre, the State Theatre, the Detroit Opera House (yes, opera house) and any number of restaurants. And it's very safe and well lit. In fact, Jimmy Kimmel is broadcasting this week from one of these theatres. Note to self...hang out downtown on Friday to catch Jessica Alba.
*We have a Second City troupe. That's right. Second City. As in SCTV...and talent feeder to Saturday Night Live. Second City-Toronto, Second City-Chicago...and Second City-Detroit. It pains me to admit I still haven't gone yet. Someone come visit me so I can take them! :)
*We're a border town, and Canada is south of us. We have to drive south to cross the border into Canada by way of either the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge (which is the busiest international crossing in North America, if not the world. We're talkin' serious commerce here.) You can go over to another country for lunch or dinner. Ontario license plates are as common as Michigan ones around here.
*We have the biggest fireworks display in North America. It occurs over the Detroit River at the end of June. It has to be big because it's an international celebration of both Canada Day and the 4th of July. Every year, it draws a million plus people.
*We have a monorail system! Well, ok...it's not the greatest thing in the world. Okay it downright sucks. Pales in comparison to say, the "L", or subways in NY, Toronto, Montreal and D.C.. And doesn't even hold a candle to Disney World's. But it works and it can get you around to places like...
*Greektown. Adjacent to the entertainment area is a collection of some of the most awesome places to eat anywhere. Greektown has, of course, great Greek restaurants and a casino. I'm pretty sure this area has a higher average temperature than the rest of the city because of all the flaming saganakis being served. (For those of you who don't know, saganaki is a cheese block that's served with bread after being lit on fire. Mmmmm.)
*MGM has a casino here as well. In fact, there are 4 casinos between downtown Detroit and Windsor. Honestly, I'm in the camp that could do without them, but there it is.
*We have an orchestra. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is based downtown and is world renowned. Until this year, the conductor of the orchestra was a guy named Itzhak Perlman. Maybe you've heard of him?
So, how many of those things did you know? I've actually geeked myself up coming up with that list, and I'm looking forward to hanging out in all the festivities this weekend.
The point is, it's not really about a silly little football game. It's about an image and a way of life. It's about a city trying to recover from years of being beaten down by people who don't really know what it's like here. So again, forgive us if we have a bit of a complex here. We're trying to please and show you that we're much better than you've heard...and in the process you just might have fun being here.