The Detroit Lions‘ Brad Holmes has the fans feeling optimistic. But where does he rank among the Motor City’s four major general managers?
Detroit’s four major sports teams have all had their moments. The Tigers are a historic team that has traditionally been a contender. They have participated in the World Series 10 times. Unfortunately, they have only won four of them, but those wins were four of their last six appearances.
Had it not been for the New York Yankees dynasty that appeared in 29 World Series between 1921-1964, and won 20 of them, the Tigers could have had an even more impressive resume.
The Pistons were traditionally not a very good team, but back in the mid-1980s, they built one of the great teams in NBA history. A team that changed the way the game was played. The ‘Bad Boys’ were despised outside of the Motor City, but the way they played defense changes the game forever.
As a matter of fact, all the praise that Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs teams received for their tough gritty defense was nothing more than carrying on what the ‘Bad Boys’ started. The going-to-work teams of the early 2000s were pretty good too, but they could’ve won more than just the 2004 NBA title.
The Red Wings have the richest history of all of Detroit’s teams as they have brought home the Stanley Cup 11 times. Plus the Red Wings playoff streak of 25 straight seasons, not including 2004-05 when there were no playoffs due to the lockout, is the second-longest in NHL history behind the Boston Bruins record of 29 straight that lasted from 1968-1996.
Then of course there are the Detroit Lions. They were the dynasty of the 1950s having won three NFL championships in the decade. Now the Cleveland Browns played in seven title games and did win three themselves in the 1950s, but the Lions participated in four title games, all against the Browns, and won three of the head-to-head matchups. That makes the Lions the team of the 50s.
However, it has been 60 plus years not only since the Lions have won a title, but since they were truly a serious contender. Today the fans of the Honolulu Blue and Silver have hope due to what many consider a very successful offseason engineered by Brad Holmes.
Now it’s only been a small sample size for Holmes so far. The tale of the tape will be written in the coming seasons, but where does Holmes rank for Detroit’s fanbase among the four current major sports general managers in the Motor City? After taking a straw poll among some of the most rabid Detroit fans I could find, let’s count down to Motown’s most trusted general manager.