As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, every football season comes with strange circumstances. My affiliation is merely by default, being born in the Detroit area, and as a result I inherited a hapless team that not only fails to deliver, but often fails to even show up. When the football season does start, there's never passionate discussions about going all the way this year, it’s asking how bad will they embarrass us this year? How hard will this year’s top draft pick fall on his face? How many games will be blacked out on TV because the game didn’t sell out? I’ve seen more Lions games on TV living in Columbus than I ever saw growing up in Detroit.
Out of necessity, there’s an unwritten rule for Lions fans that we don't speak of openly. Root for the team, wear the colors, but go ahead and pick another franchise that you’ll follow all the way to the Super Bowl. For me and my brother growing up, that team was the Pittsburgh Steelers. I remember the thrill every Sunday watching Terry Bradshaw hand the ball to the unstoppable Franco Harris or going long to Lynn Swann for the score, and Mean Joe Greene leading the “Steel Curtain” by terrorizing anyone who came within proximity. Together in a show of perfection they lead black and gold to victory each week, and we were pumped. After we came off that high, we turned on the Lions and crossed our fingers, hoping they would at least score a touchdown this time. Often we left disappointed.
I remember the years of Barry Sanders. From the word "go" he was the best running back we ever laid eyes on, wowing fans over the fact that yes, he did actually play for this bad team. He was the only hint of pure excellence that wore a uniform for the Lions within memory, and they actually got to go to the playoffs in the '90s a few times thanks to him. Oh, but it was too good to be true, for he retired early because after years and years of performing for mediocrity, he left with his spirit broken and love of the game destroyed. Any good feelings of that era was erased by one sad announcement in 1998. We fans were forced to turn away with heads hung in shame, wondering how much ridicule we’d have to endure from this point forward.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
In a way I feel genuinely bad for Millen because he should have been put out of his occupational misery years ago, so yes, the last three or four years of failure were on Ford's head.
Now Millen probably can't even go back to broadcasting. Or do, like, anything football-related.
2 - Joanne Huspek
We should rejoice, that's what we should do!
Actually, since I grew up in Colorado and went to college in Minnesota, I cheer for the Broncos or the Vikings, not the Lions. Millen made it so very easy, too. He was a crybaby when the team lost (which was very often), and couldn't stand it when the fans expressed their displeasure at HIM. When you're the boss, the buck stops there.
I just can't believe it took this long for William Clay Ford to figure it out. Millen should have been gone long ago.
3 - RJ Elliott
Great article, Alice.
I still remember fondly the 1991 NFL season. It was the only year (in my lifetime) in which the Lions were viewed as being genuinely credible. They went 12-4, made the playoffs, won their division, even had a playoff bye, and shockingly even won a playoff game (against the Dallas Cowboys). John Madden was the color commentator for that playoff game, and he didn't sound at all pleased that these nobodies from Detroit were beating "America's Team." (Fat fucker.)
Anyway, they ended up getting crushed in the NFC Championship Game 41-10 by their nemesis (and eventual Super Bowl Champion) the Washington Redskins. Sigh...
But those were good times, the early 1990s. Barry Sanders, Wayne Fontes, Brett Perriman, Chris Spielman ... a great group of guys.
It just sucks that, in this time of NFL "parity," my team has consistently failed every season for about a decade now. Oh, well. There's always the Pistons and the Red Wings!
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
"NFL "parity,""
So, how bout those Colts and Patriots?
5 - Paul Mailloux, london On Canada
Evey year its the same thing....about this time I say that's it I'm picking a new team next season. Please Mr. Ford just give us a glimmer of HOPE!
6 - Randy
If im not mistaken, Junior was born during the same year Senior bought the our beloved Lions.