The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (a.k.a. My Favorite Detroit Lions Team)

A favorite Detroit Lions team?!?!  How can I possibly pick this. I've been watching the Lions since I was six, which means I've been watching them since 1990.  In that time, they've made the playoffs six times...yeah, that's right, only six times.

Of all the franchises that played during that whole span, only four teams have made the playoffs less (Cardinals, Bengals, Saints, and Rams). They are one of only three teams to have not made the playoffs this decade.

I can give you some specific moments that summarize the previous paragraph. Ty Demter throwing six interceptions in one game. Marty Mornhinweg taking the wind in overtime.

Dan Orlovsky running out of bounds in the end zone. Draft busts: Andre Ware, Van Malone, Bryant Westbrook, Juan Roque, Aaron Gibson, Stocker McDougle, Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, and Drew Stanton.

Oh yeah, and 0-16.

Let's not just look at my lifetime though. The Lions are only one of five teams to never have made an appearance in the Super Bowl. It should also be noted that three of the other teams (Saints, Jaguars, and Texans) weren't even around when the Super Bowl started.

Ok some might say that the Super Bowl is a hard thing to achieve. Agreed, but here's some more for you. The Lions have a winning record against only seven of the thirty two current teams, and none of them are currently in their own division.

The Lions all time leading passer Bobby Layne, hasn't played for them since 1957. 

So what could possibly be my favorite Detroit Lions team of all-time? 

All of them. Each and every year, from 1930-2008. The years I saw and the years I didn't. The 12-4 season of 1991, the 1957 championship year, even the 0-16 season last year. 

"How can this be?" you ask.  After all the reasons I just gave about how horrible the Lions have been and how hard it is to be their fan, why would I say this?

Answer:

Thanksgiving day games

Herman Moore breaks the receptions record

Mike Utley and Reggie Brown

Next big thing Calvin Johnson

No. 20-Lem Barney

No. 20-Billy Sims

No. 20-Barry Sanders

The Chris Spielman's, Charlie Sanders', Night Train Lane's, and Jason Hanson's of the world

The Silverdome

Barry Sanders (deserves another mention)

History

Tradition

Some might say that this is a cop out, that I should just pick one season as my favorite.  That leads me to my number one reason that every year is my favorite year for the Lions, and that reason is loyalty.

As a sports fan, you can like many different teams, jumping on bandwagons is fun and sometimes necessary. But to be a true fan, you root for one team above all, it doesn't matter if their doing good or bad. 

In football, that team for me is the Lions.  Sure they disgust me at times and I probably yell at them more than I cheer during a game, but you can bet that no matter what, I'll be rooting for them in the end. 

That's how a guy like Chris Spielman, who played for hated team Ohio State, can become a favorite player. That's why even though I believe that Matthew Stafford wasn't the right pick, I will root for him with all my heart. 

That's why I don't care what arguments can be made for Jim Brown or Walter Payton...To me, Barry Sanders is the greatest running back ever, you will never be able to convince me otherwise.

Blind loyalty can be painful at times, as a Lions fan I've felt it, but it makes me a better fan. I know that one day the Lions will win the Super Bowl and all that pain and agony will be worth it, because when they raise that trophy, we the fan will be raising it with them.

Don't apologize for being a fan of your favorite team.

I don't apologize for being a Lions fan. 

I own it.

I'm proud of it.