So, now you change your mind. After the Detroit Pistons beat the L.A. Lakers last night in Game 1, television sports analysts are starting to reconsider their opinions of the overrated Lakers dominating the court.

In the pregame show, the know-it-alls in suits were saying that the Lakers would beat the Pistons hands-down. Well, after some serious defense, the Pistons came out on top.

Once again Michiganians are cheering for their professional Motown ballers. Since the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings aren't showing their stuff in the arenas and ballparks (we still love them, though), we of the mitten are ecstatic that the underdog won the first game of the NBA Finals. We are packing the bars once again to root for our homeland hoopsters, screaming at big screen televisions and coming together in flocks to support the 'Stones. Yeah, it's only one game, but think of it this way - one win down, three wins to go.

Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and everyone else who was guarding Shaquille O'Neal definitely had a run for their money. O'Neal is considerably larger than those guarding him. He weighs nearly 100 pounds more than some, however, stopping O'Neal with fouls and guarding him with more players seemed to work. Phil Jackson needs to get back to the fundamentals and remember what every basketball player learns in junior high: Offense sells tickets, defense wins games. Keep it up, Detroit.

Today's Detroit boys are certainly making a statement. The Lakers' big heads are shrinking, and hopefully they won't figure out what the Pistons seem to know quite well - individual superstars can't step to a cohesive team. Yeah, that's right, Hollywood. D-town is for real.

We are proud of you, Detroit; and are looking forward to cheering you on from our favorite bar stools and couches throughout the series. Keep on keeping on, and make Jack Nicholson take off his sunglasses in awe of the Motown skill.