I love football. Local high school, Big Ten and NFL match-ups are magic. The magic relates to memories, tradition and unmatched athleticism.
Memories near and far make each season. There was nothing better than watching my son, Griffin (3), pump his fists for the Lions as they attempted to beat the NY Jets a few weeks ago. The only moment to top this was at the start of Superbowl XLIV when Griffin and his sister, Maurissa (7) chomped popcorn and belted Louis Armstrong's "The Saints Go Marching In".
Distant memories include drinking beer shots with my dad on football Sundays, watching the Rochester High School Falcons on chilly starlit nights, and spending sunny Saturdays at the Big House in Ann Arbor with my sister, Tina. There are also recollections of early-morning tailgates at Western Michigan University and of passing people up the bleachers — and sometimes cats — at Western Michigan's Waldo Stadium.
Traditions are very much a part of the magic. Nothing compares with watching Lions' football on Thanksgiving. At 12:30 pm, it was all about the Lions battling the New England Patriots for drumsticks while eating mixed nuts, drinking beer, partying with family and smelling turkey dinner. What else do you need?
Another tradition is the selection of alternate NFL teams to follow. My husband, Tracy, and I are loyal Lions' fans. But, we usually abandon hope and cheer for other teams half way through the season. So, at the start of each season, we select alternate NFL teams to follow. Tracy's alternate is always the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is also a close follower of the Patriots.
My alternate selections are based on a good story or a connection to Michigan. For 2010, the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots are my two alternates. The Saints' story is incredible and mimics the Lions' story in many ways. First, the Saints play for a city — very much like Detroit — rich in culture and history with a legacy of crime and political corruption. Next, the Saints unified and rallied back from Katrina's devastating damages to the Louisiana Superdome in 2005. My hope — like all Lions' fans — is that one day — like the Saints — Ford and the Lions will wake up. The Lions show up at every contest and "almost" win. But, "almost" is not good enough. It is still a loss and their record is still 2-9. My nod to the Patriots is all about Tom Brady. His talent reminds me that despite recent challenges, the maize and blue are legendary.
Did you realize the end is near? Only nine weeks — including Superbowl XLV — and that's it for football until August 2011. There is always Pistons basketball and Red Wings hockey. Don't get me wrong. I support my teams. But, it just doesn't do it for me like football. The athleticism required to play and win at football is phenomenal and remains unmatched by anything I see on the court or ice.
How about those last four minutes of the Saints face-off against the Cowboys? It looked like a done deal. I hung my head. My shoulders slumped. Then, there it was. A superb defensive maneuver caused the Cowboys to fumble and the Saints to recover the ball. A touchdown drive was next and saved us all from Thanksgiving damnation!
