This is an interesting topic for open mic, because there is a lot of room for interpretation. As a registered sports-aholic anonymous member, I’ve seen my fair share of disappointing performances, finishes, choke-jobs, broken-records, and scandals.
Hell, we’ve probably all lived through them together. Particularly lately with the prominence of mass media giants like the NFL Network and ESPN. But the first thought that jumped into my head when I read the call for articles was the outline of a Honolulu-blue lion profiled in attack position.
The emblem of my beloved Detroit Lions.
It’s word association and in my mind the Lions and disappointment are one and the same. When someone tells me they had a disappointing day, I’m literally thinking,”Detroit Lions.” Probably much like Chicago fans that walk around thinking, “Da Bears,” though with considerably less precision.
My therapist would tell me that this warrants further examination, so here we go. I warn you this is a journey to confront my most virulent demons and is not a trip taken lightly.
Where to begin?
It’s probably relevant to start out with the truth that I love football most, out of all the major sports in America. Though I have great appreciation for all competition and I am a loyal and knowledgeable fan to all my teams, of the large professional four I would rate them: 1) Football 2) Basketball 3) Baseball 4) Hockey.
And, I’m a Detroit Fan. Enough said. There is no scenario where I would even consider rooting for another team. Send me to Guantanamo G.W., but it ain’t going to happen.
So if other Lions faithful may deride me for exposing my team, the truth of the matter is, that something can only be truly disappointing if you love it.
So I can point to other Detroit sports disappointments such as the woeful 2003 Detroit Tigers season that set the mark for American League futility. I can also take solace in the fact that the Tigs have won a championship in my lifetime (1984) and have fielded intermittently good clubs over the years.
I could also point to the dagger that “Big Shot Bob” plunged into my back during the 2005 NBA finals that denied the Pistons their second straight NBA title (and some say over-all legitimacy), but their continued excellence over the years more than makes up for that.
Unfortunately, my greatest love is unrequited, and isn’t that the very essence of emotional pain? I send them flowers, buy them sweets, tell them I love them, but somehow I can’t get them to come upstairs for a drink.
In my lifetime the Lions are 194-314-1, a winning percentage of 38%, which is far and away the worst of any other professional football team during this tenure.
Honestly, that seems a little high.
28 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Eric Lehr about 1 year ago
soooo true. it starts with the head of the monster. maybe soon enough the fords will be forced to sell the franchise and the only detroiter willing and able to make the purchase will step up to the plate. we all know who i am talking about...mike illitch. he already is in the hockey hall of fame, his son may make it into baseballs, but if he were given a shot i know he would make it to canton. they know how to win. the fords only know about at best being #2. i dont blame millen. why should we point the finger at him. if we were all rewarded at our jobs for being an idiot we would only continue on the path of making the same decisions. barry sanders is by far and away the best running back to play the game. not only was he a great running back but his character is what made him the best. the man never spiked the ball, ran his mouth to the officials or coaches.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Thanks Eric,
Lord, if only Illitch would buy the team! Left under its current management, we have only a lot more losing to look forward to. Granted, I always HOPE for the best from the Lions and HOPE that they can patch a playoff run together, but I'm getting too old to EXPECT anything other than what I've been treated to so far. That said, GO LIONS! I wouldn't be a dysfunctional fan if I left em' now.
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Greg Adams about 1 year ago
Great article Daniel. It's funny that I wind up hanging out with a lot of Detroit fans here. My college roomie was a big Lions fan and as a friend of a Lions fan, it seems you've hit the nail on the head.
By the way, I've always said Barry Sanders was the best RB in my lifetime. Managed to get it done with little or no help from the O-line and virtually nothing from the QB position. He was phenomenal.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Well, perhaps the great thing about Detroit fans, is that we haven't been ruined by an over-abundance of success! The Red Wings, of course, are the exception, but for some reason hockey bandwagoners are more knowledgeable than bandwagoners in basketball, football, or baseball. Probably, because its a little under the main-stream radar. Anyway, thanks for the read Greg and you're right: Barry was/is/and always will be phenomenal!
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Max Iascone about 1 year ago
It's like the football gods like to see Detroit squirm, they were 6-2 and didn't even get to .500. How the hell does that even happen? I mean good god, they could have won the north had they kept going. At least you guys still have the Pistons and Wings right?
If only Barry Sanders had something around him for all those years, think of all the rings Detroit could have gotten but squandered away. They didn't even need Bobby Layne either, just someone whose name isn't Rodney Peete, Neil O'Donnel perhaps, or maybe even a guy like Trent Dilfer who didn't fuck up. And that O-line was awful. Jerry Ball was a great player but he can't do everything on defense. Barry carried that team to 5 playoff berths yet the management didn't give him a thing, that's what I call loyalty.
The worst part of this quandry is this, the loyalty of Lions fans lets the Fords churn out profits despite the constant losing, which gives them no incentive to sell the team. I say boycott the bastards, make 'em squirm. I know it can't be done but something needs to be done, I mean for god's sake the handling of the Lions over the years has been a travesty.
I'm not even a Lions fan and I'm getting worked up about it. Shades of James Orthwein and Victor Kiam in my eyes but exponentially worse. Then again, if the Lions are anything like New England, the promise land is just around the corner when the Fords sell. Keep the faith man, you'll need it. Sorry for the rant but it's just sickening how the Lions have been run over the years.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Max,
Yeah its something we always talk about: stop going to games so we can force the Fords to sell. Unfortunately, we're so used to losing that we don't even realize how bad it is. Don't mean to minimize spousal abuse but I honestly think it amounts to about the same thing. "Why the hell didn't you just leave him," they always ask on the talk shows. "Because he could be so sweet sometimes," is what we hear back. I was all fired up with our start last year only to get locked back in the closet.
Loved Jerry Ball too, and honestly, Spielman and Porcher were beasts, but three players do not a defense make. HaHa! You're right. Dilfer would've been an improvement over the quarterbacks I mentioned.
Of course, I hope you're right and an immanent ownership change will lead us to the promised land!
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
I loved this piece, even though I'm a devoted Browns fan. I guess it's because our two teams seem to have so much in common. (*sigh*)
I have an idea... let's race to a Super Bowl appearance. What do you say? Ready, set...GO!
(Oh, and Daniel? Please stop listing the Lions' starting quarterbacks. There may be small children reading this article.)
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Sorry Jim, it was both vulgar and scary to list those quarterbacks all in succession. I apologize for all the nightmares I may have caused. Welcome to the life of a Lions fan.
At least the Browns seem to be showing some promise! I won't jinx you any more than that, but if you're the tortoise, we're the slug. Both slow and covered in mucus. Maybe we'll cross the finish line together!
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
Dude, if the Browns meet the Lions in this year's Super Bowl, I will buy your pale white dupa a brand new beanie cap. Mark it.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Jim,
Do yourself a favor, find yourself a bookie, and put a twenty dollar bet on the Lions and Browns meeting in the Super Bowl. If it happens, you'll be a millionaire!
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
As a Chicago Bears fan, don't even BEGIN about quarterbacks! Good article also, as a family member to many Lions fans, I know the pain. If my family consists of normal Lions fans, the score is 17-14 Lions lead as time is running out, the opposing kicker steps out to attempt a 65 yard field goal when his personal best is 45, and the Lions fans know that a loss is on the way...then the kicker knocks it through the uprights.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
HaHa! Yeah Joe Chicago is one team that can actually match Detroit's quarterback futility. We've even swapped a couple times! You forgot to mention that the kick was in the snow with a swirling 100mph breeze, bounces off a Detroit helmet, somehow catches a thermal, and knuckles through the uprights, bouncing off the crossbar. And we all knew it was going in!
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
No, Chicago blows out every quarterback situation, at least you have Jon Kitna now, he's actually pretty good. "Sexy" Rexy Grossman or Kyle "I'm OK to drive" Orton are going to be "leading" this "team" this year. And I'm not sure why they are playing in 100 mph winds, but I have a feeling that there weren't that many passing plays.
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Samuel Bell Jr about 1 year ago
Wow Daniel, this is a well-written good article...I'm not a Lions fan but looking at that horrible list of quarterbacks makes me sick...Barry was so amazing and that ownership just didn't give a shit...it's like they went every Sunday, and for the gameplan said, "give the ball to Barry and try your best and block for him." How ridiculous. I really thought the Lions would make the playoffs last year, and hoped they would because I really do feel bad for those good Detroit fans, but they couldn't finish. I hope that they can build on that 6-2 start this year and make something happen.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Samuel,
I too hope they can improve on their 6-2 start, but for many of us (though excited) we knew it was doomed to failure. Not because they were winning and we were pessimists, but because they were making that run by leading the league in turnovers (by far). They were eeking out games they should've won by twenty. When the turnovers went away in the second half of the season, so too did the Lions winning ways. Honestly, I think there final record reflected about how good they were...not as good as 6-2 but not quite as bad as the second half collapse might indicate. I'm kind of on the fence about what to expect this year (as I am every year). I'm hoping for 8 wins, and I'm hoping that will be enough to make the playoffs. It's been a long time.
Yep, Barry was fantastic. The one great joy of my Lions fandome is that I watched every game he played. Simply amazing.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
HaHa! I read my reply and it does sound like an awfully pessimistic attitude. I guess as a Lions fan, you're always trying to discern the gold from the fool's gold.
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Josh Prope about 1 year ago
Im not a detroit expert so im not gonna say anything bad. But detroit has an offense that should absolutely tear defenses apart. Obviously the hole in the defense is, well everywhere. management just needs to step their game up
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Josh Prope about 1 year ago
also i would like to add. the lions need to give drew stanton a chance this year, i mean the kid tore it up at michigan state
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Josh,
The Detroit offense is certainly skilled enough to score points, the problem is, their offensive line is not good enough for them to have any type of consistency. I almost cringe for Kitna every time he steps back to pass because it's only a matter of time before he gets crushed. Also, their running game is a no show, so defenses can spend most of their energy sending LB's to crush the aforementioned Kitna. Give that guy credit: he's tough as nails. he took more big hits last year than I may have every seen (and I root for the Detroit Lions who always seem to be getting hit). I also like Stanton as I am a Michigan State fan too. My feeling is he'll get his chance sometime this year.
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Josh Prope about 1 year ago
daniel,
see i dont really get y the detroit offense's run game was so non existant last year. granted i see your point about the crummy o-line but with kevin jones and tatum bell. i mean come on with that kinda talent in the backfeild you gotta have some run production
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Josh Prope about 1 year ago
daniel,
for example. the rams had such an up and down injury prone season for their o-line. and with all of the injuries and crummy o-line play, steven jackson still managed to pound out 1,002 yards on the ground. to me with the talent of tatum bell and kevin jones they should have done better. their is no excuse for them playing the way they did when they are that good
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Well first of all, Martz wasn't exactly committed to the run which many people blame on him. They would literally put it on the ground like 12 times a game. Obviously, not enough. And honestly, the O-line is really that bad, and has traditionally been the achilles heel of the Detroit Lions. Even in Barry's tenure. His brilliance was that he didn't need an O-line, maybe the only running back who could ever say that. Personally, I loved Kevin Jones, as he proved that he was the only one who could consistenly run for the Lions. I thought it was a majorly bad move to let he and Duckett leave. They literally simply released him! Freaking idiots! Whoever lands Jones will find out that he is a MUCH better back than the Lions made him look. I think he's a legit number one. Tatum Bell was the worst of the three last year. As such, I don't predict great things from the running game either this year, though maybe the switch to zone blocking will help Tatum become more comfortable like he was in his Denver years. Hopefully, the addition of a run blocking tackle Gosder Cherilus will help sure them up, though I can't say he was the lineman I would've picked. Hopefully, he turns out to be the real deal. Either way, it's a lot to ask a rookie to come in and save the worst line in the league. They allowed both the most sacks and ran the ball the least. Both by heafty margins. Maybe some balance on offense will also allow them to keep Defenses guessing and allow them to have a little more success in the running game.
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Fred Richani about 1 year ago
great read. i heard the FIRE MILLEN chants in my head as i was reading.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Ditto. Unfortunately, the Ford's would find some other idiot to take his job. I'm banking on making the $150 million or so this year so I can purchase the franchise! The chances of that actually might be marginly higher than the current ownership doing anything with this team...that is to say...discouragingly small. That's for the read Fred!
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Eric Lehr 12 months ago
been a fan my entire life. daniel, i know what you mean. it just isn't fall if we are not pissed off and angry while singing "Forward Down the Field". maybe even getting drunk and starting fights like we did in the cheap seats in the silverdome.
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Daniel Muth 12 months ago
HaHaHa!!! LOVED the dome. You've never seen such good-natured fighting. We'd be losing and drunk and start punching eat other, only to have a couple more and be fast friends. For those of you never privy to the silverdome cheap seats, you've never truly lived.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Daniel this is an amazing piece of prose. You are truly a great writer.
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Daniel Muth 10 months ago
Thanks man. They say pain brings about the best art!
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