I’ve heard it before and being influenced a bit by radio personalities in Detroit like Mike Valenti, Terry Foster and Drew Sharp, you Lions slappies are going to tell me “you’re not a real fan” sounding much like Ted Buckland from “Scrubs”.
I’m tired of this joke of a franchise and guess what, I’m tired of fans like you!
If you’ve seen one Lions playoff win in your lifetime (at least those of us born before 1991) and you still say “it’s just a rebuilding project” you’re part of the problem. If you’re satisfied that the Lions had the greatest running back in NFL history arguably and did nothing, you’re part of the problem. You don’t want to hold this sorry a** franchises feet to the fire, you keep packing it in at Ford Field, you buy the jerseys and the concessions, you plan your Thanksgiving around the hope the Lions will “turn it around and show the NFL what next year will bring”. The Fords LOVE you. Martin Mayhew loves you. Tom Lewand loves you. Jim Caldwell is sure appreciative of the second chance to prove he can’t coach.
You Lion fans wear that like a badge of honor. As a real fan of the Detroit Lions, one that is critical, one that wants to, at least see a team in the Super Bowl, you sicken me as much as Tiger Fans 2.0 established 2006 sicken me. You demand my blind loyalty to a team that is a national joke. I live in Northern California, I try to hype the Lions from out here in the midst of Raider and 49er jerseys by wearing my Lions, #81 Calvin Johnson jersey at work. Do you know the reaction I get? “And what team is that?” This isn’t DeAndre Levy or Darius Slay. This jersey actually says “Lions” AND Johnson on it and this team is so irrelevant I get “and what team is that?” What’s worse? I get it from co-workers!
I was talking to my guest and he said to me “Damn shame about the Lions, I mean I’m a Steeler fan but I don’t hate the Lions” then I said to him “But you don’t like them either right? More like you don’t think about them.” He admitted that was true. The Lions don’t even have the Cubs “lovable losers” mantel to cuddle against. They’re the Lions. Arguably the most nothing franchise in all of pro sports. Not noted for anything exceptional, even the 0-16 (that some fans hold onto like some accomplishment) is shrugged off and almost forgotten.
You’re partially to blame loyal suckers. You trekked out to Tiger Stadium no matter how cold, sacrificing your Thanksgiving…you went to that white elephant called the Silverdome and spent money for Darryl Rogers’ salary, you cheered on Wayne Fontes like he was Don Damned Shula…(and for this franchise he IS Don Damned Shula) you witnessed 0-16 at Ford Field (which I suspect some of you secretly enjoyed), you’ve witnessed our last five coaches baffled by things that don’t throw even Jason Garrett or Jack Del Rio…yet me bringing this to your attention, yeah, that’s the problem.
Then after this season; which is shaping up to be 3-13 by the way, you’re gonna be excited for the draft or as it’s jokingly called in Detroit “The Lions Super Bowl”. What is it you’re going to be excited about? Reggie Rogers? Charles Rogers? Mike Williams? Joey Harrington? Eric Ebron? Ryan Broyles? Jeff Backus? Dominic Raiola? Kyle Van Noy? Reilly Reiff? I’m genuinely lost over what you’re going to be excited about unless it’s year 59 of the Lions Rebuild and maybe just maybe, that Alex Karras kid will pan out!