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I’ve written a few open letters to William Clay ford, Sr. I have no idea how effective they have been or even if anyone bothers to show them to him...

Thoughts On Detroit Lion's Thanksgiving Day Game and William Clay Ford, Sr.

by Seattle Lion Fan (Scribe)

0

311 reads

Opinion

November 28, 2008


I’ve written a few open letters to William Clay ford, Sr.  

 

I have no idea how effective they have been or even if anyone bothers to show them to him.  But being a Detroit Lions fan and respectful of the game, I think using the written word is more effective than any other medium.

 

Not that I don’t enjoy the creative ways Lions fans voice their displeasure while at the game…some of them are downright ingenious. But living in the Great Northwest, I am at somewhat a disadvantage. I’d look pretty stupid going to a Seahawks game with a paper bag over my head saying “Ashamed of being a Lions fan.”

 

There has been a lot of discussion by NFL pundits about taking away the Thanksgiving Day game from Detroit and start a rotation of teams to host the game. If you are going to do that for the early game, then Dallas should also have the game taken away.  It’s only fair to have all three Thanksgiving Day games on a rotational basis...and the NFL Network already has that in place.

 

 But no one is going to even think about taking the game away from Dallas just because it would be fair.  Dallas may have rate seasons of ineptness but are usually in the thick of things in the NFC East. But should that be the measuring stick? The NFL requires that all teams get at least one nationally televised game.

 

Dallas has already been nationally featured many times this year before Thanksgiving. Does that mean the game should go to a team that hasn’t had any other games on national TV? 

 

Seems to me with that argument, Thanksgiving Day games would be for teams with the least amount of national exposure instead of being competitive. A dumping ground for ineptness.

 

I am all about tradition. I suppose the older that one gets, the more important tradition becomes. I’ve witnessed many a Thanksgiving Day Lion games though I’ve only ever actually gone to one game.

 

It was 1976, the year I graduated from high school. A friend of my Dad’s scored some tickets and we decided to go. We had never been to the Silverdome, heck, never even been to Pontiac before so it was going to be an adventure. We saw the Lions play the Buffalo Bills with O.J. Simpson.

 

O.J. ran wild, getting 273 yards but the Lions still prevailed, winning 27-14. Best of both worlds, seeing O.J. set an NFL record and the Lions still winning the game.

Author Poll

Should Lions Play on Thanksgiving?

  • Yes
  • No
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Should Lions Play on Thanksgiving?

  • Yes

    55.6%
  • No

    44.4%
  • Total votes: 18
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