Pat Caputo: Tigers? Lions? It's More Like Verlander And Suh Who Own Detroit
Even in a town like this one that is enamored with sports, there is a buzz louder than usual.
It's not because the Tigers are in first place in August. Nothing new about that in recent years — and there is skepticism because they still didn't win the division. Finish strong this time. Actually win the division. We need to see it to believe in the Tigers. 2006 and the American League pennant it brought was a long time ago. And the Tigers didn't win the division then.
It's not because the Lions won their final four games last year and their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, did a pretty good impersonation of Aaron Rodgers and Phillip Rivers rolled into one during the preseason opener Friday.
Preseason hype and the Lions go together like love and marriage, a horse and carriage, Joey Chestnut and hot dogs.
There might be more people who are optimistic about the Lions this season, but the detractors are in the weeds ready to pounce up and say, "I told you so." Especially about the often-injured Stafford.
The buzz has more to do with two athletes who have captured the imagination of this town — Justin Verlander and Ndamukong Suh.
