The Tigers’ losing streak continues, each and every game, more and more players are sent to the IL, and there is nothing good on the horizon. I thought this was finally going to be our year with Skubal in his last season, some new, somewhat promising signings, and an upward trajectory, but nope, time to look forward to the 2027 season. My only way to cope with this is by thinking it’s a sacrifice for the Pistons to continue winning in the playoffs. So, as you might imagine, after going down 3-1 to the Magic, I’ve been on quite the emotional rollercoaster the past few weeks. To make things more interesting, I’m doing all of this while not drinking, which is what some might call a miracle, others might say it’s for my own good and keeping me alive.

My girlfriend always tells me that the outcome of a win or loss, especially in a playoff game, significantly affects my mood, and I always deny it, when in fact it very much impacts it, super positively or super negatively. To break it down for non-sports fans, if my day is going incredibly well, and any of my teams lose, I can usually get by somewhat ok but if things are already headed in a downward direction for that day or week or weeks, oh god does it get dark. The one thing that was once my escape from this somewhat cruel but beautiful world is now slowly killing any chance of happiness I had. Sounds a bit extreme and ridiculous, but unfortunately, it’s true. I’m sure any other sports fans can relate to this. But you learn to get over it, and over time, you may get your hopes up a little less and less in fear of being let down once again. On the flip side, when life is great, AND your teams are winning, it feels like rainbows and butterflies, nothing can stop you, you’re practically invincible.

What keeps me and the other millions of sports fans around the world is the hope, the hope that this is the year, this is the season, it’s finally all coming together, and for 1 out of the 30 or 32 teams in professional sports, it is, but it seems like those are never any of my teams or my friends teams, besides you spoiled Dodgers fans. College is a different story, though, blessed that my dad and my family decided to root for the University of Michigan instead of any other colleges in Michigan, despite not attending U of M, thank fucking god, green is such an awful color on me.

Given the scandals, accusations, and ridiculous things that happen within that program, they continue to be in the running. Not as often in football as someone like Bama or in basketball like Uconn or Duke, but they continue to be competitive and have won a national championship, in both Football and Basketball, within the past 5 years, which keeps my head above water for the time being. We will see what the rest of 2026 has to offer.