There is also a reasonable amount of support that over the last few years, the city of Detroit has seen a groundswell in the amount of renovation of buildings, increase of business and rise in population. My point is that everything in life is cyclical. Everything.
Everything except the performance of our beloved Detroit Lions over the last 50 years.
The Ford family purchased the Lions in 1963. Since then, the only period of "winning" as a franchise that you can lay claim to is the 1990s. Your "hay day" was a time period where the team went from double digit wins to double digit losses almost every year-to-year. Think about that for a moment. The best laurel you rest upon is a time period of not ever getting the job done.
One more time. Your best decade in five can be accurately classified as 'wildly inconsistent' and winning no championship.
Amongst that roller coaster, you have one play off win in over 50 years. One. What has this lackluster performance record of yours won you? I'll tell you- somehow you have won THE most disgustingly loyal fans in all of the NFL.
There is no other fan base that has had such a painstaking playoff record. There is no other group of professional football fans that has endured an 0-16 season. Over the last 31 years we have seen our baseball, hockey and basketball teams clinch a total of 7 national championships. The "City of Champions" has not even come close to applying to its own football team since before JFK was assassinated; which ironically occurred the day the Ford's offer was accepted to buy the Lions franchise. Forget football- there is no other group of human beings that has ever forgiven the level of trespasses that we have given to your ownership of our football team. None.
Now, what do you do about that? Many would love to see you sell this football team. I realize that this is both unrealistic as it is unnecessary in order to turn this team around. I actually love the romantic concept that the family that owns an American motor company would own the successful football team from the Motor City. We ask for nothing more than we would from ourselves in the face the adversity this football team has faced.
First, we ask that you at least have a voice. We ask that when the league consistently disrespects our team in the way of bad calls creating losses, we would like for you to at least show it affects you. Take a stance and let the league know that what was done was wrong and should not be tolerated. How can you expect behavior to stop if you do not express your measure of it?
Second, we want you to compete. When you see a Lions staff member consistently under performing, do something about it. Treat this team like your business and send the message that mediocrity will not be tolerated. Send that message and then do something about it. All we ask is that you hold accountability to your own employees so that they can deliver a preferred performance.
Twelve years ago, when I bought into Lions season tickets, my father (now 74) jokingly foreshadowed the lifetime of disappointment that you would inflict upon me. I shrugged it off because I truly believed that those "clutching defeat from the jaws of victory" days were over. I was wrong then but I believe you can prove me right now.
I believe that if the proper actions are taken, that this team can be something and be something soon. Why? Because statistics support the cyclical nature of the NFL that I spoke of earlier. Unfortunately, I also believe that if nothing has been done on your end to right this ship, it will continue to the next generation. Why? Because you have already allowed it to do so and I am that second generation.
Be a sports team owner. In fact, be a human and show us that you actually have a pulse. Push back against what is wrong and actually do something about it. I guarantee you have no idea what a successful Lions team could do to this city and I assure you that you underestimate the impact it would have on the fans that, like myself, have unapologetically loved this team all these years.
This team's fan base has an immeasurable amount of passion for our Detroit Lions. I implore you to show a fraction of that towards this team consistently winning. We've shown it Sunday-in-Sunday-out for decades but now it's your turn. You are up now. For the love of everything Honolulu blue, step up, Ford family.
This team's fan base has an immeasurable amount of passion for our Detroit Lions. I implore you to show a fraction of that towards this team consistently winning. We've shown it Sunday-in-Sunday-out for decades but now it's your turn. You are up now. For the love of everything Honolulu blue, step up, Ford family.
