The now 0-15 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.A year ago, the Patriots were a game away from a perfect run through the regular season and just three games from duplicating what the '72 Dolphins hoped they'd never to see: another team matching their undefeated season.
The Giants monkey-wrenched the whole thing and somehow Mercury Morris avoided death by schadenfreude. But before New York pulled off one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets in recent years, the Patriots were scrambling to capitalize on the marketing opportunities that go along with a historic 19-0 season. Which inevitably led to stuff like this.
While no team came close to perfection this season (the Titans won their first 11 games before losing), the Lions (or, more likely, their fans) could be sitting on a gold mine as they attempt to become the first NFL franchise in the history of man to (avoid) go(ing) 0-16.
CNBC.com's Darren Rovell points out that despite Lions wideout Calvin Johnson ranking just 75th in jersey sales, bitter, disgruntled Detroit fans have created a market for merchandise highlighting the team's futility.
it has become fashionable and cool to hate on the Lions with more than a bag on your head. A guy named Johnny King has a Web site called DetroitLions0and16, where he's selling 0-16 season shirts with a drawing of a lion sprawled out on the floor.King added: "We believe it is time for the people of Detroit to stand up and say we are not going to take it anymore. If we the people can boot (Mayor) Kwame (Kilpatrick) out of office, why can't we put enough pressure on old man Ford to do the right thing by selling the team to someone who will make it a winning team - or hire someone like Parcells? Give him the check book and total control and it would happen."
"We've sold about 300 shirts and when they do lose it's going to be crazy," said King, who says he was a Lions season ticket holder for 20 years and was ready to make a new statement with the shirts.
Yeah, but Kwame was framed. Okay, not really. But unlike the mayor, William Clay Ford doesn't have to answer to any constituents. And, apparently, he doesn't have to regularly undergo psychiatric evaluations. On the upside, maybe King can make a few bucks off Ford's incompetence. You know, like Matt Millen but with fewer harmful side effects.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-28-2008 @ 12:22AM
George B Vieto said...
Lions fans take heart. William Clay Ford makes Al Davis look like Bill Polian by comparison. You can only hope that William finds religion and gets the right people to run the franchise. Don't hold your breath.
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