Lion Fans: Cheer For The One Win!

I will give the 2008 Detroit Lions one thing:  Despite being 0-14, there is little dissension on a team that one would think would have a ton of it. 

But these guys are holding it together and are united in a common goal, to get a win and avoid being known forever as the worst team ever in NFL history. 

Any one who has played organized sports, from high school football, basketball or baseball to a competitive softball league to even a co-ed softball team, one thing is constant:  No one likes to be the patsy. 

I have played a lot of softball in my life, mostly Class A and B.  I’ve been on both sides, being on a team that has little chance to win and being the team beating the crap out of the team that has little chance to win.  Playing those games are tough from a competitive level.  I relished games that were decided by one or two runs and grew bored in games where my team was winning or losing by 15 or more.   

I remember one team I played for called the Ball Hawks (not my idea of a team name).  We didn’t win a game in two seasons but took pride in the fact that we didn’t succumb to the mercy rule during that time.  I know it doesn’t mean much but we did hang together as a team and in the third year, a funny thing started to happen:  We started winning some games.  Very little change in personnel and we played the same teams each year.   

We played five years and while the first two seasons were awful and hard to get through, the last two were much more enjoyable.  No, we didn’t win any championships but we did give the elite teams a run for their money. 

I’m sure that each Lion player is going to do whatever he can to get that one win.  They are down to two chances, at home against the Saints and on the road against the Packers.  My feeling is their best chance is going to be against the Saints.   New Orleans is out of the playoffs and are just going to be playing out the string.  Their secondary is weak and they haven’t done well on the road this year.   

So I have a request to the Detroit Lion fans.  Go out there and cheer for your team for that one win to avoid being called the worst.  Why?  Because it reflects on Detroit the city not just Detroit the team.  Even if this present team is sold and moved, history will show it was the DETROIT LIONS that went 0-16 in 2008.  We won’t lose the first pick in the draft since the next worst record is 2-12 by the Rams, Chiefs and Bengals.   

Millen is gone.  Ford, hopefully, will appoint a knowledgeable GM in time for the 2009 draft.  Marinelli, again hopefully, will be replaced because the new GM will know that Rod has been over his head the past three years.  Hopefully, the new GM will draft smart and make the Lions at least competitive in 2009. 

So again, I ask the Lion fans, go out and support this team for the final home game.  We’ve gotten our pound of flesh from Millen.  We’ve gotten about all were going to get out of William Clay Ford, Sr. which, as has been the case for 45 years, no reaction at all.  We can’t go down in history as being the worst.  While it may be deserved, it isn’t right…not now, not with all that’s going on with the economy, not with the thousands of auto workers not knowing if they will even be employed next year. 

Detroit is in dire straits and one win gives the city the one thing it needs:  Hope.

To start winning, you have to get the first win.  Let the final home game be the possible start of a new era.