DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan sports fans, grab your tissues. In a ranking that needs no methodology (because misery speaks for itself), Michigan teams have hit rock bottom, yet again.
From a social media place called @BigGameBoomer on X comes the “Top 50 Most Miserable Fanbases in Sports.” Their list includes five Michigan teams on their roster. They include the Detroit Lions (#10), Detroit Pistons (#16), Detroit Tigers (#29), MSU Spartans (#47) and the Detroit Red Wings (#49).
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It’s easy to see why Big Game Boomer might have chosen so many Michigan teams to catalog. It’s not like the Mitten State is exactly breaking records for winning seasons.
Detroit Lions: Masters of heartbreak.
The Detroit Lions…oh where to begin. In 2023, they teased fans with a 12-5 record, only to pull a classic Lions move – blow it when it mattered most. A 31-34 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the conference championship game slammed the door on their first real shot at glory since 1957.
When a Lions fan argued about them being on the list after going to the Super Bowl, Big Game Boomer said, “This is just a blip on the radar. They’ll go back to being mediocre sooner rather than later.”
Over the last decade, the Lions have had just five winning seasons so they are probably right. They’ve delivered some of the league’s worst performances, hitting rock bottom with records that get as bad as 3-13 in 2021. With an overall record of 591-707-34 since their inception in 1934, they’ve managed only 36 winning seasons in 89 years. Go Lions!
Detroit Pistons: Rebuilding forever.
The Pistons’ woes are equally tragic, grappling with poor performances that have left them at the bottom of the NBA standings. A combination of inconsistent play, frequent injuries, and questionable management decisions have marred their attempts to put together a winning season.
Their .471 win-loss record since the 1948-49 season screams unremarkableness as they continue to be outmatched and outcoached. The last decade? Pure agony. Two playoff appearances since the 2013-14 season, both ending in first-round exits. Their only winning season in that span was a 44-38 effort in 2015-16. The 2023-24 season saw them scraping the bottom of the barrel with a franchise- worst 14-68 record. I guess, on the bright side, there is nowhere to go but up (hopefully).
Detroit Tigers: Feline failures.
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Swinging over to Comerica Park, the Tigers’ roar has been reduced to a whimper. With no winning season since 2016 and just two since 2014 when they were swept out of the AL Division Series, Detroit fans have been left yearning for the days of past glory. The team’s performance has been plagued by inconsistent pitching, underperforming prospects, and a lack of offensive firepower. Their overall record since 1901 sits at a ho-hum 9621-9522, a reflection of long periods of mediocrity
interspersed with brief flashes of brilliance. In 124 seasons, they’ve made only 16 playoff appearances, capturing a measly four World Series titles.
This dismal track record has been a bitter pill to swallow for a once-proud franchise that boasts Hall of Famers like Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, and Alan Trammell. Despite the loyal fanbase’s unwavering support, the team’s management has struggled to assemble a competitive roster, leading to dwindling attendance and a pervasive sense of frustration and nostalgia.
Michigan State Spartans: A look at Michigan State’s athletic decline.
Moving to college sports, the Michigan State Spartans football team posted a miserable 4-8 record last season, barely escaping the Big Ten basement thanks to Indiana. Sure, their basketball team has been better, but neither team has seen a championship in over 20 years. Spartan basketball has won 1818 games over 125 seasons and lost 1155, with only two NCAA titles in 1979 (with the help of Magic Johnson) and 2000.
Their football record over 99 seasons is 602-410-30, with the last national title in 1966. The glory days are a distant memory and it might be time for a new school “fight song” that doesn’t talk about points growing, the fact that Spartan teams are “bound to win” or “victory for MSU.”
Detroit Red Wings: Once mighty, now mighty disappointing.
The Red Wings, once the pride of Hockeytown, haven’t sniffed the finals since 2015-16 and last hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2008. Since that championship, they’ve been knocked out in the semis three times, the quarters once, and suffered first-round exits in their last three playoff appearances. Their 2023-24 record of 41-32 marked their first winning season since 2015-16.
Despite an overall winning record of 3097-2683-815, their 11 Stanley Cups are mostly ancient history, trailing only the Canadiens and Maple Leafs in the league.
So, there you have it. Michigan, the ultimate training ground for sports fans’ resilience. Keep the faith, folks – because there’s always next year.
Or the year after that. Or the one after that…
