What a season! I am a lifelong Detroit Lions fan. My husband, however, is more than just a fan—he’s a fanatic. If you know us, you know that I’m the "glass is half full" type, but when it comes to the Lions, my husband is the eternal optimist. No matter their record, he always finds something good to focus on and proudly wears his Lions gear.
In recent years, as the team started winning more, a lot of people suddenly became Lions fans. They hopped on the bandwagon. At first, I rolled my eyes and thought, “Of course. It’s easy to cheer for a team when they’re winning—not so much when they’re not.” I grumbled about how I wouldn’t be able to buy my husband his yearly stash of Lions gear anymore because prices had gone up and the merchandise was no longer in the clearance section.
But then it hit me. I stopped the cynicism when I took a step back and really thought about what this winning phenomenon meant—what it was actually doing. This winning Lions team brought an incredible sense of pride to the city.
Don’t get me wrong: true Detroiters have always been proud to say, loud and unapologetically, “I’m from Detroit!” We’ve always known what an amazing city Detroit is, even as we ignored the naysayers and the vitriol from people who had likely never set foot here. Those outsiders judged the city based on misguided reports, thinking it was a disaster or a “big nothing.” But this Lions team showed the world what Detroit and Detroiters are truly about.
Yes, we’re hard and gritty, but we’re also proud and full of “Detroit Love.” (And let me tell you, there’s no love like Detroit Love!) This Lions team put that Detroit character on a world stage, and it felt so good.
What felt even better was what I noticed everywhere I went. People were proudly wearing their Lions gear, nodding at each other with big smiles and a cheerful, “What up, doe? Go Lions!” In stores and restaurants, people who might never have taken the time to speak to one another were suddenly connecting—bonding over the Lions. Politics didn’t matter. Our differences didn’t matter. For a few months, what united us was being part of the Lions’ Pride. And that felt amazing.
So, even though our beloved Lions didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, they gave us something just as meaningful. They entertained us, inspired us, and showed us how to fight against the odds. They united us and gave us something to dream and hope for.
For that, I say thank you—and GO LIONS!
Well done! Your dad and are just as proud of you.