Shock honored after third title in six years
The Detroit Shock won the WNBA title Sunday at the end of the most chaotic season in franchise history.
A day later, the team was honored by a mayor and City Council that understood exactly how the players felt. After all, while the Shock was overcoming injuries, fights and suspensions to win its third title in six years, the city was dealing with the Kwame Kilpatrick scandals and an economy in turmoil.
"This is the start of my third week on the job, and we are facing a great number of challenges right now," said interim mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., who took over after Kilpatrick was bounced from office in a deal with prosecutors that will send him to jail and put an end to a sex scandal that embarrassed the city.
"That's why it is so important that we can host a celebration like this for a team that has given the city something to smile about."
The Shock spent most of the season in Auburn Hills and played its last three playoff games in Ypsilanti, but the team held its victory celebration in front of hundreds of fans on Campus Martius in downtown Detroit.
The party took place less than 24 hours after Detroit finished a Finals sweep with a 76-60 win over San Antonio.