Detroit is more American then all it's Haters By: Dave Vanz Posted: Jun 10, 2008
I am so tired of the ESPN hate game on Detroit. I’m tired of the U.S. hate game on Detroit. Year and year out the people of Detroit fight to support “American Products,” to only be ridiculed by states that don’t. Year and year out we have sports teams that make it to the playoffs and contend for their rightful championships. But leave it to people like Jay Leno of the Tonight Show and ESPNtheMAG.com to make their statements as if they’re “cool” or “funny” for saying it. Hopefully none of the priceless cars in Jay Leno’s popular garage come from Detroit. (Wouldn’t that make him a hypocrite?) I know some people enjoy the fact we’re always the underdog according to the rest of the world, but dammit, give respect where respect is due. Stop bringing up crap that happened over 20 years ago and make comments like they still happen today. And for crying out loud don’t ridicule a town that has sports teams that out perform your own. So here’s something bold; Out of ALL the cities that talk smack about us, we are more American then you’ll ever be.
This really does not connect with Detroit personally, but I do feel that many people (including myself) are so against buying a foreign car and buying a "big 3" car, yet most of the big three's car are built in Canada or India, and even Mexico, then assembled in America. Yet Honda, Toyota, and Kia have been built here in the states. Hmm... is American even American anymore? So cheers Dave, your scooter is probably more American than my Chevy HHR. But I do agree with buying more Detroit, but too many people want that "look" that is not designed or created here in Detroit. So I say maybe we cannot buy Detroit made, but Maybe just try buying Michigan made. Michigan and Detroit will rebound once we realize the auto industry is not the only thing Michigan can be known for. We can rebound and open the doors to new companies, outside of the auto industry.
Yeah, they do, PC... write a song about it and I will get Dave to butcher it at every open mic in the Metro Detroit Area... lol! It will suck, but it will be done with passion!
I missed the joke...did Jay Leno actually say Detroit wasn't American? I doubt he did. I don't think anyone doubts how American we are. Detroit is well known for its automotive history and what is more American than that? I'm guessing Jay brought up the violence in Detroit in his joke. I agree that Detroit is a lot safer than it's portrayed in the media. However, there are still unsafe parts. The downtown is safe enough, but there are still rough neighborhoods, just as with ANY large metro area. It's an old stereotype, and it's still used in jokes a lot. I suppose it sucks for anyone trying to bring in tourists. However, I don't know if anyone brought this up yet, but I think the biggest problem is that so many people WELCOME the stereotype and glamorize it. There is a lot of music that comes out of Detroit that glorifies the violence of the city, also they boast about being from Detroit due to this stereotype. Be proud of being from Detroit for many of the GOOD reasons, don't be proud of the violence. I am proud to be from the birthplace of the automobile and motown music. Of course, those don't make for cool lyrics. Oh well.
I personally havent seen the availabilty for a American made product that is of the quality that Dave has. Im sure they exist, but you would really REALLY have to look for it, and you would probably have to get the thing shipped from Arkansas or someplace far away. Lets face it. Sometimes you HAVE to save money and do the economical thing to better support your family. Its nothing unpatriotic about that.
Now what about people who do have a bunch of money, like many in Hollywood, who will go and buy an Ashton Martin, and then have the nerve to kick us as we struggle to stand and clean ourselves off? Whats so patriotic about that, huh?
I like Jay Leno (btw, he's a big "Harley" guy)but the way I see it, he kinda played himself by reading that b.s. joke. Just like alot of people play themselves by formulating negative opinions and not experiencing the many (and growing amount of) gems that Detroit has to offer. Keep your opinions... we are on the way to showing the world that denying Detroit its fair share is over.
Really Dave I'm on your side. What I was trying to point out to you is what
someone not from Detroit would see when they read the site. To you it's
standing up and showing your pride in Detroit, to others it's a guy going off
about buying and being more American than others, yet there is a blog from
that same person about buying a non-USA product, to them it takes all the
punch out of your bold statement. As for Jay, you said it yourself, his joke
was on a subject that continues to be the focal point for others around the
US, exactly why he used it. Instead of bashing Jay, why not bash NBC to
get him here for a show? Have Jay be the one to show the Nation this is not
the Detroit of 20 years ago but rather a City of pride not deserving of all the
criticism of the past.
There's plenty of support here for Detroit in the comments. But the question is when it comes to supporting Detroit what does that look like?
I've seen way to many people that draw the line at automotive products. I've been around quite a few fashion designers and stores around town and as Dave mentioned - buying Detroit can be a bit tough when merchants aren't revealing it. Even here IN THE CITY. Why is it that the 'posh' clothing stores are selling imports and when you ask for a Detroit label they think you must be nuts. There are some very nice high end designers here that could use the patronage of the public and buyers from these stores. There are a few stand out exceptions, such as Spectacles and I'm curious to see what 313 East has to offer.
Detroit has been blessed with having an incredible wealth of creative people. However they are far too often encouraged to leave Detroit to be recognized. What is it ... we can't even recognize our own? Check your local merchants and their supplies and encourage the buy-in of Detroit. If the buyers don't know where to look, just ask.
Hey Chris, I guess one good point about ripping on something that happened 20 some years ago, over and over, shows that they really have nothing else to rip on the city for as a whole. (They could rip on an individual or something but not really the entire city)
He'd have gotten more of a laugh by making a stab at the Lions or the Tigers 'winning' touch. It's funny in the fact that it's TRUE.
Detroit is not what he makes it out to be, pure and simple. It's sensitive to Detroiters, not in that they're denying that crap did actually happen, but that nobody's bothering to take note that the city's come a long way from that time.
"People in this town are feeling like they're being kicked when they're down"
I think that's exactly why people don't take things like this lightly. I know Jay's writers are doing their best at helping Jay be funny, I just think people take a lot of pride in our city and until our city rebounds from a financial slump, jokes like this don't sit well.
Honestly, for me, I'm more annoyed at the ESPN comments. I can't stand watching Detroit sports on ESPN. If you've ever watched a Detroit game on ESPN, the commentators favoritism is extremely one sided.
People in this town are feeling like they're being kicked when they're down. ESPN hate's Detroit, it's something they always exploit. Leno's jokes are not funny, this cat gets paid way too much money. As for me, I'm tired of the hate, and I know that others can relate.
first off, I try to buy "Michigan" as much as possible, but like everyone else, it's pretty impossible to do that. Whether it's clothing, cars, bikes, etc. Second, Jay's joke symbolizes a touchy subject that continues to be the focal point of other people around the US. I think most people have kept their mouth shut over this for a while, but when your so called funny criticism is the same criticism that continues for over 20 years, I think the joke is over. If he's such a great comedian, maybe he should come up with something else. Then he'd be doing his job.
Now wait a minute, I know Jay, he is only doing his job. Comics bash people and places all
the time. Has it ever pissed you off when he tells a joke about Los Angeles? He has made
more jokes about things and people in LA than he has Detroit. He is a comic not a news
anchor. Jay could have a field day with this blog! Dave look at what you did! ...people of
Detroit fight to support American Products and Detroit is more American then all it's Haters
....yet the number one most popular blog on the site is about YOU buying a scooter made
in TAIWAN!!! Now that's Funny!!!! Detroit earned it's bad reputation, it's going to take
a long time to fix that. On top of that everyone pissed at Jay, we can't even take a joke?
that will make people want to come visit?????????? think about it.
I have heard alot on both ends about Detroit Sports Teams on ESPN... the fact that no one had anything notable to report during the Superbowl, MLB Allstar Game, and College Basketball really did not hurt, yet did not seem to help the lingering image that our city has.
As far as Jay Leno goes, to make jokes about something that didnt even happen was completely uncalled for. Im sure he pisses people off all the time with the stuff that he says, but to continue to bring up old nonsense that should have been long behind us is simply in bad taste. Just because everybody else bashes Detroit doesnt make it okay....especially in a City and State that has showed him such selfless hospitality in the past.
Lets face it, what Detroit is really lacking right now is LOVE. It will take those of us who have love for the city to continue to display it by working towards making it a better place to live. Its up to us, I could care less about the nay-sayers.... this is my City and I will fight for it. Our passion will turn things around.
I believe that despite all this negativity, people are beginning to view Detroit differently, especially when they visit and see it for themselves.
I cannot agree more with you. Most people outside of the state have the misconception that anyone that walks into Detroit automatically wants to steal a tv, blow up a car, or goes crazy and refuses to support anything involving the country. The idea that Detroit is just a sin bin frustrates me, this is coming from someone who lived in Detroit, went to school in Detroit, and has pride in his community. I also feel that this will not go away until we as a state embrace Detroit and help change it. The question that I ask many people is "How often do you go down to Detroit?" most people even in our community avoid Detroit like that plague. So we need to support ourselves, and rebuild this amazing city. I do have to say though, that the only time people come out to Detroit is for sports, there are some that go out for more, but most only come out for sports, We have many beautiful and amazing things in Detroit outside of sports.
And also... Jay Leno is going to Hell anyways so who cares what he thinks. He had to sell his soul in order to stay on TV this long.
I fully agree with you. I think the "outside" has poor imagery of Detroit. Thier opinions are based on what they read and hear. "Those" people need to come on down to motown after that, their hearts will always open up.
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