OT: Diaspora?
Last night and this evening, the Tigers are playing the Pirates at PNC Park, and I've seen A LOT of Tigers gear on people walking through my city the last couple days. It got me thinking.
We Pittsburghers loathe when national TV comments about "how well Steeler fans travel" because most of those fans DIDN'T travel; they live in those cities now as a result of the diaspora (as some of us call it) created by the collapse of the steel industry throughout the 1970s. I'd be a lifelong Pittsburgher if not for my father losing his job as a part of the early 80s economic collapse here causing us to move away for a few years. We Pittsburghers are well represented in the DC area, down through Charlotte, and into Atlanta, across the Sun Belt, and even in Denver.
Before Googling this, I talked with some Tigers fans downtown today and heard a story about father-son ballpark trips before school started, students attending Pitt & Carnegie Mellon, etc, but figured I'd cast a wider net here. Am I seeing the result of some Detroit area/Southeastern Michigan movements as a result of some of Detroit's recent economic issues and the changing economy in Pittsburgh? Am I reading far too much into this? Or was it just that random groups of Michiganders sought a long weekend in Pittsburgh?
(The Red Wings fan base is also represented quite well at Pens games; yours' is one of our favorites to interact with for a myriad of reasons, like the memories of the hard fought 08-09 Cup Finals, your passionate and largely knowledgeable fans, and you're not giant douches like the Flyers fans.)
NO POLITICS
August 8th, 2017 at 10:02 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 10:15 PM ^
Cue San Diego Mick saying you don't speak for him.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:20 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 11:24 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 10:54 PM ^
+1 from one Mick to another.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:44 PM ^
Before trying to change the meaning of what someone is saying maybe you should know what you're talking about.
August 8th, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^
of a Greek word?
Interesting.
Now 'tis.
August 9th, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
At least I know now who the other MGoArmenians are on this blog...
I don't think this is a result of "recent" troubles. There has definitely been a long brain drain from Michigan starting 30+ years ago.
To G_d's ears. Oh ferk, that's a Jewish saying. Nevermind. Crap, that's a Gilda Radner saying. Damnit.
Yeah, God forbid we move towards being Renaissance men (or women) and maturely discuss things other than sports.
Or we could just click on the practice reports links and ignore the OT ones, no?
(In all honesty, I saw something, talked with some folks on the streets, was curious, and after Googling and doing some reading wanted to learn more about an observation and how it might relate to what I saw happen with my own city. When people here want to comment on Pittsburgh's economic troubles, they "proudly" cite how much worse we had it in the early 80s than Detroit does.)
I dunno... after a root canal you tend to feel relief.
It's a rough journey, but yes, there is much relief at the end. Also, a very large bill to pay!
and not very far away. We should send more fans than other visiting teams do, other than the Indians.
Pretty much a daily occurrence if you live in Chicago, mostly with Tigers/UM/MSU gear, but the occasional Wings or Lions, too. Feel like half the damn city came from Michigan.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
As most people know, lots of big cities have sports bars oriented toward pro and college sports teams for the out-of-towners. Chicago is big enough to have a TCU bar (!). IIRC it's somewhere on Milwaukee in Wicker Park.
I believe most people moved to the suburbs. But then in recent years when the last generation or 2 has graduated from college and wants to live in a big city for some time (or a long time), they've gone to Chicago. That's my impression anyway.
And regarding the other argument going on here, I had never heard of diaspora being used solely or predominantly for Jewish people or in a negative sense. But after having looked it up real quick on Wikipedia, I see it often has a connotation of forced removal. Guess you learn something every day. Although now that I think of it, I guess I never hear about the French or English diaspora. But I have heard it in regards to other peoples who weren't forced to move, such as Koreans immigrating to America.
Random fact I've learned since living in Korea: Most ethnic Koreans from former Soviet territory are from Uzbekistan. Stalin basically forced all the Koreans in the USSR to move there.
August 9th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
August 9th, 2017 at 12:57 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 11:03 PM ^
There always seemed to be more DTW fans in Arlington than Ranger fans. There was a huge movement of Michiganders to Texas in the late 70's and early 80's due to the sucky automotive climate.
August 9th, 2017 at 11:52 AM ^
I am a huge fan of Detroit Metropolitan Airport too. Way better than DFW.
I'm disappointed.
August 9th, 2017 at 12:06 AM ^
August 9th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
in Puerto Rico
Side note: I love Puerto Rico.
I've lived in Philly and now Austin, and I travel a lot, for both work and pleasure. Michiganders leave. We are everywhere. Everywhere I go, there are Tigers bumper stickers, Michigan hats, Sparty t-shirts. It is most certainly a thing.
The Michigan economy isn't terribly dynamic, the weather is shite for 9 months of the year, state governance is questionable, there hasn't been a proper urban area in the state for decades. I love Michigan, especially the Great Lakes, the Dunes, the UP, Ann Arbor. But there's basically no chance for me to return and find a living in my field in anywhere in the state I want to live. I'd love to move back to Ann Arbor, but it's not happening anytime soon.
Also, I'm really looking forward to football starting back up so we can have real, new things to talk about.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
August 9th, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
Ever lived anywhere where there's sunshine in the winter? It makes Michigan feel a dark, dreary, and foreboding place during the october-april months.
Also, don't take it personally buddy. After you've tried living somewhere else you realize the things you didn't realize you were suffering through.
I'm not attacking you or your way of life, so don't get so defensive. But I'm telling you that there are legitimate reasons for a Michigan diaspora that are greater than purely economic.
August 9th, 2017 at 11:19 AM ^
At least the good riddance part. That was supposed to be a little more light hearted than written. I stand by the pansy-ass though!
I'm in the sun 9-10 months out of the year up here. I can deal with <32 temps for a couple months of the year. Winter is rad.
Or maybe some people have different personal tastes and like having a change of seasons?
Christmas in California feels a bit lame, with all the Santa decorations that make no sense in that climate. The months and months with no rain and subsequent water rationing get old after a while, too. (Also: horrifically bad traffic and real estate costs.)I've been to Texas, Florida, Alabama, Arizona and Cancun on 1 to 2 week vacations/work trips in winter before. That was years ago when I was young enough where I still had to go on trips my parents went on. Don't desire to go back. Have no use for that weather in Jan/Feb/March.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:06 PM ^
August 8th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
The Michigan economy isn't terribly dynamic, the weather is shite for 9 months of the year,Nonsense. Michigan summers are fantastic and spring and fall are pretty nice as well. Winter drags on too long, I'll give you that. But you're making it sound like this is the Yukon Territory or something.
Colorado. EVERY B1G fan base (well, maybe not Rutgers) is well-represented here, tons of fans.