New Additions Yet to Pay Off

The past week saw a pair of big name athletes make their debuts on the Detroit sports scene. Daunte Culpepper made the start for the Lions against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, and Allen Iverson took to the court in Pistons blue for the first time when the Pistons traveled to the Meadowlands to play the Nets on Friday.

Culpepper was a superstar in Minnesota years ago, using his incredible natural talent to hurl the deep ball to Randy Moss and land on the Madden cover. He suffered a knee injury and was no longer the same player as he was out of Central Florida. After ugly stints with Miami and Oakland, Culpepper settled into retirement prior to this season, where he coached his son's pee-wee football team. Culpepper was prepared to sign a deal with the Chiefs earlier in the season, but for some reason he chose to become a Detroit Lion.

It had to be a ploy to sell out a game that was destined to be blacked out, and if it was, it backfired. The seats at Ford Field were sparsely populated this afternoon, and those that sat through it saw a typical Lions football game, and Daunte Culpepper looked to be a typical Lions quarterback. On his second pass in the Honolulu blue, Culpepper tossed an interception.

Fitting, isn't it?

Allen Iverson, who the Pistons traded for from the Nuggets for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheik Samb has yet to win a game with Detroit. Iverson's Pistons dropped his debut in New Jersey, but it was a close game. Sunday, it wasn't as close. The Celtics beat Detroit at the Palace by twelve, but they trailed for nearly the whole game.

The Iverson deal was a good deal. AI is a great player, and with his hefty contract coming off the books after this season, it gives Joe Dumars a lot of money to work with in the free agent market this off season. Even if Iverson's acquisition doesn't result in immediate wins, it will pay off in the future. The same can't be said of the Culpepper move.

Daunte Culpepper became a Lion out of pure desperation. The Lions have to know that they are in real danger of becoming historically bad. They are on the fast track to 0-16. Daunte Culpepper of 2002 could carry a horrible team to a few precious wins. Unfortunately, Daunte Culpepper of 2008 can barely carry a team to a first down. Especially after just three practices.

These are two different organizations. One is working to secure championships for the future and excitement for the present. One is trying to sell out a single game by tricking its fanbase into believing in an over-the-hill former star.

Which one do you think is which?