by Ian King (’29)

Detroit is entering one of its most exciting seasons in recent memory. With the Lions surging in the NFL, the Pistons cultivating a young core, and the city preparing for its iconic Thanksgiving Parade, Motown is buzzing with energy. This winter, the resilience, pride, and toughness that Detroit’s known for will be on full display for the world.

The Detroit Lions have embodied the toughness known by the city and the team. On November 23rd, the Detroit Lions played the New York Giants and won 34-27 in overtime. The Lions started the game down 10 points, but came back to win. Jahmyr Gibbs had a career game with 219 yards, two touchdowns, and 11 receptions, leading the Lions to a win to improve their record to 7-4. The Lions’ continuous resilience when they get into undesirable situations has inspired Detroit and become the identity of the team and the city.

The Detroit Pistons are underdogs. They came into the season after losing in the playoffs last year, ready to prove everyone wrong, and they’ve done just that. Holding a 14-2 record and coming off a statement win against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 22nd, the Detroit Pistons are ready to show the NBA what they can do. From Cade Cunningham’s leadership to the depth of the Pistons’ bench, they’ve grown and are title contenders, perfectly displaying Detroit’s growth and perseverance in the past two years. 

Fall in Detroit is never complete without Detroit’s famous Thanksgiving parade. The parade transforms Woodward and Downtown Detroit into a place of festivity and tradition. Balloons, marching bands, giant floats, and people fill the city and streets of Detroit, creating a tradition almost as synonymous with Detroit citizens as eating turkey during the holiday meal. It’s a moment when everyone can come together for celebration during the holiday season.

The success and future of the Lions, Pistons, and Thanksgiving parade aren’t similar by coincidence; it’s because of Detroit’s identity. Each piece reflects a part of the city. They reflect the resilience, fighting spirit, ambition, and toughness displayed by everyone in the city. Together, they remind us that Detroit’s spirit comes from its people, full of compassion, loyalty, and the willingness to never give up.