Is Matthew Stafford the most polarizing athlete in Detroit?
By Robert Jones
Matthew Stafford is the most prolific passer in Detroit Lions history, but his lack of success in big games may also make him the city’s most polarizing.
The Detroit Lions have been the model of inconsistency and destitution for over 60 years and they are easily the Motor City’s most polarizing team.
The Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings have all made several title runs during the Lions drought and all of them have brought multiple championships back to Motown over that period as well. So even though the Tigers and Red Wings are currently in various stages of rebuilding and quite frankly the Pistons need to be, the Lions are still the polarizing one.
Outside of those who saw the Lions last championship in 1957 and are still with us, the only legacy the rest of the Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful know is ineptitude and losing.
Ask any Lions fans about their most gut-wrenching moment from following this team, and they invariably will have several right at their fingertips even if there is one clear winner in their mind.
The Lions are a smorgasbord of painful memories and heartbreaks.
Yet they also boast some of the games greatest players. And I’m not just talking about their championship decade of the 1950s. The list of Lions that haven’t won a title is still fairly impressive.
Lem Barney is one of the elite cornerbacks in NFL history. He could have played in any era and still been one of the best. Charlie Sanders helped revolutionize the tight end position as much as the Colts John Mackey.
Billy Sims was on his way to being one of the greatest runners in league history until he blew out his knee. Al ‘Bubba’ Baker was dominant in his early NFL career in Detroit before a contract dispute led to him leaving the Motor City.
Herman Moore was the first receiver in NFL history to catch over 100 passes in a season. Calvin Johnson was the biggest mismatch against anyone in league history. Kevin Glover and Lomas Brown were among the best and most consistent offensive linemen year in and year out during their careers.
And Barry Sanders … let’s just say that he isn’t the NFL’s all-time leader rusher because he decided to default the title. Had he stuck around and gone for it, that record would have become as impossible to break as Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak.