Cross Country
Good News for a Hard-Luck Town
The crime rate is high. So's the unemployment rate. The population keeps shrinking, and the auto industry is in the tank. It's not easy living in Detroit. But never mind that. For one bright, shining moment, all is well in Motown. The Tigers are in the World Series.
As recently as three years ago, this once proud franchise, which boasts alumni like Ty Cobb and Al Kaline, lost 119 games. But some sort of magic gripped the Tigers this year, and now a new crop of stars like Todd Jones and Ivan Rodriguez has taken the team to baseball's Fall Classic.
The spirit has united a metropolitan area often riven by racial and ethnic tension. And some Detroiters believe they're actually on a roll. The city successfully hosted the Super Bowl in February, and a burst of development is finally bringing life to a long-moribund business district. A study says each World Series home game will pump $9.47 million into downtown Detroit. So play ball!
With Angie C. Marek, Silla Brush, Will Sullivan and Associated Press
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