I have finally figured out what the toughest job is in Detroit. Yes, my fellow sports fans, it is being a supporter of the Detroit teams. After spending over five hours at Comerica Park on Sunday, October 1st, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s hell being a fan of any Detroit Sports team.

I suppose I started to realize it in early spring after I watched my beloved Red Wings have the best record in the NHL. As I am sure many of us thought; this is it. Stanley will grace our presence once again. A week and a half later, I was left speechless. What could have happened? Why did it happen?

As hard as it was, I knew that I still had the Pistons making their playoff run, this time with the best record in the NBA. By May’s end though, another dream was shattered. How? What? Why? It was a double whammy and hard to stomach.

But wait, what was this? The Detroit Tigers were on a tear. They were scores ahead of all the other teams in the entire Major League. They were annihilating their opponents, with the exception of the Reigning World Series Champs Chicago White Sox and those Pesky Yankees. Suddenly, I had hope again. As I had with the Red Wings and the Pistons, my schedule revolved around theirs. I knew when the games were on, what time and what channel. I found myself at Comerica Park more this summer than I had the entire time since the park had opened. It was exciting and no longer a shame to admit; I was a Detroit Tigers fan.

A little over a week ago, I sat with my mom, who's not really a sports fan, who insisted that we watch the game. We saw the Tigers score 10 runs in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals. Together, mother and daughter cheered loudly as they won with a total of 15 runs. I laughed, thinking how ironic it was that the Tigers had scored 15 ‘points’ in a single game and the Lions could only muster 6 in their home opener. I thought this was it, the Tigers were the team. They were our salvation.

Then that last week of the regular season, all we had to do was win a few games and we would take the American League Central Division Title. How hard could that be? After all that we had accomplished, it would be a piece of cake.

Well we all know what I got for thinking. One game was all we needed going into the weekend games against the Royals at Comerica Park. Tigers had the best home and road record this year. No problem, we all could smell that Central Title and the start of the playoffs right in our own backyard.

I watched in anguish all week as they gave up leads, allowing the lowly Royals come back and win the games. But nothing was going to keep me from the park on Sunday, expecting a win, and a chance to see a celebration on the field.

A beautiful day it was, the sun was shinning bright, and the sold-out park was in a jolly mood. Spirits were high as was the emotion. A big 3rd inning seemed to be what was needed. The team was all a grins as the game went on. Then the floor dropped out. Again, a 6-0 lead was suddenly tied up. After twelve grueling innings, the game was finally over. I was sunburned on my forearms, nose, chin and cheeks. But the biggest pain was in my sports heart. Another let down. They say third time is a charm. I’m begging to differ.

Now, the Tigers are in New York, as the wildcard from the Central playing against the Yankees, a team we had a VERY hard team beating during the season. I will try to keep my hopes up and stay an all-weather fan, but it will be hard.

Is there a bright side to being a Detroit sports fan? Well, the Red Wings did win the Stanley Cup three times in six years. The Pistons did win the NBA Championship. The Detroit Shock did just win the WNBA Championship. The Red Wings start their new campaign on Thursday. But will it be the same without our beloved captain, Steve Yzerman or our power forward and brute, Brendan Shanahan? The Pistons pre season is set to start next week. What will that outcome be without Big Ben Wallace? And I know, I have sidestepped one Detroit Team – but with a 0-4 record, do I need to really mention anything?

Us true fans will remain despite the trials and tribulations, we’ll yell, we’ll scream, we’ll cheer and we may even cry, just knowing that we have the TOUGHEST job in Detroit.