A lot of the time I get so wrapped up in talking about what’s going on with the Detroit Lions and trying to be a prognosticator of the Lions future. So much so that I tend to forget that SideLion Report is a blog. For most a blog means a site that is predicated on opinion with a hint of fact. For others it’s like reading somebody’s public diary. For me it’s a little of both. But more than anything else it’s an outlet for the millions of thoughts that cloud my mind on a daily basis. Each article is filing cabinet of information that I can unload from the attic of my brain one piece at a time.
With everything that’s going on in Detroit Lions land these days, I figured now is as good a time as any to just sit down for a minute and assess the damage of another 16 game season. What immediately comes to mind when I think of this season is growing pains. No I’m not talking about the classic TV show featuring Robin Thicke’s dad and DJ Tanner’s brother. What a theme song though right?
What I’m referring to is obviously the Detroit lion franchise and myself as a fan of said franchise. We’re going through a lot of growing pains. You remember growing pains from when you were a kid. Again- I’m not talking about the TV show. I’m talking about the pain you used to get in your legs when you were little. Your mom would comfort you and tell you that they were growing pains. That always made the pain hurt a little less because when you’re a kid, all you want to do is grow up.
The Detroit Lions are essentially the child that still hasn’t grown up, but constantly experiences growing pains. For the Lions the pains isn’t a reference to injuries, it’s a metaphor for setbacks after any success. Just think about it. Lions win their first ever playoff game, then lose the next game 41-10 and miss the playoffs the next season. Lions have the leagues number one offense, go to the playoffs and lose 58-37, miss the playoffs the next season. Lions look to have a decent team, their best player retires, miss the playoffs for 11 years. Lions finally get back with an all world passing duo, lose in playoffs and go 4-12 the next season. Lions have a historically great defense, lose in playoffs and go 7-9 the next season.
Now the newest growing pain is the Lions finish up season by going 6-2 in final eight games and show real promise for 2016, then Calvin Johnson decides he might want to retire. How much more can a fan take? Apparently a lot more as Lions fans are the guy in a bar fight that just won’t go down no matter how many pool cues you hit him in the head with. Why?
It’s because of mom and her comforting ways. She’s the one that taught you that growing pains always hurt, but they always lead to something you want, which is to be a grown up. Sure you realized by 24 that being a grown up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But when you’re a kid it’s staying up all night and eating pizza and ice cream whenever you want. Okay maybe that is what being grown up is if you forget about the job and bills. Anyways what I’m really trying to say is… this growing pain we feel as Lions fans has to pay off at some time, right?
I guess we’ll just keep waiting.