Does anybody know where Detroit, Michigan is? Clearly sport doesn’t. Detroit has a franchise in each of the four major North American Sports, the Pistons (NBA), Lions (NFL), Red Wings (NHL), and Tigers (MLB), and all of them are in a different geographically-defined league or conference, based on the sport they play in. Detroit itself is a part of the Midwestern United States, as defined by the United States Census Bureau. However, in the world of sport, Detroit is the nexus of North America.

The city’s two most successful franchises are the Pistons and the Red Wings. The Pistons are represented in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, while the city is represented by the Red Wings in the NHL’s Western Conference. How can the same city play in both the east and the west?. The Pistons themselves actually play in Auburn Hills, ironically located north and a little west of Detroit itself. The Pistons have celebrated five official championships, the last coming in 2004; one of only two seasons since 2002 in which they did not win their division. The Wings have 11 Stanley Cups to their name, most recently in 2008, and are also recognized as one of the most dominant franchises during the 40s and 50s.

The Tigers are a part of the American League Central division. They have been an overall weak team in the last couple of decades, having only made the postseason twice since their last World Series victory in 1984; and even lost an AL-record 119 games in 2003. However, after finishing second in their division in three of the last four years, there is reason to be optimistic about the boys of baseball. They’ve become stronger and are looking for the division crown in 2010.

The NFL played it safe when placing the Detroit Lions. Instead of putting them in a central, east or west division, they threw them into the NFC North. The Lions, like the Tigers, haven’t enjoyed much success as of late, having gone over a decade without a playoff appearance. They last won their division in 1993, and haven’t won a league championship since before the Super Bowl in 1957, when they steamrolled the Cleveland Browns 59-14 to win their fourth title. Since then, it’s been tough times for football fans in Detroit. An 0-16 season in 2008 is a pretty big black eye on the Motor City.