Fool's Hope: Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions.

I mention these two words to anyone out in the street and most of the time the response is usually: “Isn’t that the team that went 0-16 that one season?”. To everyone else, they are that team. They accomplished that feat that no team dared to ever achieve. To me, however, those two words have a lot of meaning.

I’ll be honest, I never really enjoyed football when I was growing up until my sophomore year of college and that was when I took an interest in my own team: the Detroit Lions. To my luck, that was also the season that they finished 0-16. Many people are quite surprised that I have taken a huge love for them especially since that unfaithful 2008 year. Coming out of that season, I never truly gave up on them. Beginning of the 2009 season with the draft pick of Matthew Stafford and a new coach, Jim Schwartz, my hopes for them soared.

They won only two games that season. Most Sundays would end with me moping and cursing at the television set. Monday morning, I’m ready for the next game, fully confident my Lions will win the next game. I don’t know if one would call it fool’s hope or what. There is something about that team that brings me back each week.

What is it? Could it be Matthew Stafford, a modest quarterback with warrior-like quality and a huge love for the game? Could it be Calvin Johnson, the quick wide-receiver, that never gives up during the game no matter the score. Could it be Jim Schwartz, the Shakespeare-quoting coach, that pours his heart and sweat into rebuilding this team from pit bottom? Or is it that silver, white, and blue team that roars back on the field each week, covered in blood and sweat, battling to the last minute? Who knows what it is that draws me back each week.

I know I am not alone. Every true Lions fan returns back to their team during each disappointment, each proud accomplishment, each Sunday to watch the game. Sure, we curse and cry when they lose, and we cheer and bawl when they win. There some element of the game, some element of the team that is so captivating.

So here it is. The 2010-2011 season. My fool’s hope caused me to make a bet that the Lions will make the playoffs this season, who knows, maybe they will. But I will be here every Sunday watching them, whether they win or lose.

I’ll support them like a parent support their child. I’ll never give up on them. Someday, it will pay off. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, yet I guarantee you that the Detroit Lions will make history.

While they made history of a 0-16 season, history is sure to happen again for the Detroit Lions. Who knows: it could be a Superbowl.

Roar on Lions fans. Keep fighting. There is hope in Motor City for our Detroit Lions.