Detroit Earned “City Of Champions” In 1935 And Here’s How - Ep 119

Send us Fan MailChampions Day Live from the Detroit Historical Museum. The 90th Anniversary a special conversation on April 18th 2026. Detroit didn’t just have a good sports year in the 1930s. Detroit had a stretch so absurd that it turned into a civic identity, a national headline, and an official holiday: Champions Day. We’re recording from the Detroit Historical Museum on the 90th anniversary, surrounded by artifacts that make the “City of Champions” story feel immediate again, from game used Red Wings sticks to the infamous plaque that declares Detroit’s status in ink and signatures. Here is the story from Episode 31 on Champions Day 2021https://www.buzzsprout.com/1897861/episodes/9657795We talk through the wins that built the legend and the overlooked details that make it stick: the Lions and their Portsmouth Spartans roots, the grudges and pride that followed the move, and how early pro football chaos helped shape rules we still watch every Sunday. One of our favorite moments comes from seeing how a new generation discovers this history, literally riding a train from Kansas City after falling into a research rabbit hole and deciding the story was worth the trip. The conversation keeps widening, because Detroit sports history is never just about sports. We connect the dots to civic spirit, the Great Depression backdrop, museum preservation, and the personal memories that hit hardest when a long lost radio voice comes back through a speaker. If you care about Detroit history, NFL history, the Portsmouth Spartans, the 1935 Lions title, or how a city holds on to its identity, this one is for you. Subscribe for more deep Detroit stories, share this with a friend who loves sports history, and leave a review so more people can find Champions Day. What part of the City of Champions story should we dig into next?https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampionswww.DJJamieDetroit.comwww.WearingFunny.com