In honor of the holiday, I want to talk about a question that has been posed to me several times this past week, but also a question that has been discussed in many sports circles in recent years. Why is it, that on EVERY Thanksgiving Day, we football fans must be subjected to the NFL stylings of the lowly Detroit Lions? Now don’t get me wrong…My Mother-In-Law is a Detroit native and a Lions fan, so for that reason alone, I lightly pull for the Kitty Kats when they are of no threat to my Eagles. And let’s face it, the Lions are NEVER really a threat to ANYONE, so I may as well just make them my second team. HOWEVER, anyone who knows me knows that I don’t believe in second teams. So we can go ahead and scrap that idea.
If their own fans don't want to watch, why should we be forced to watch?
With that disclaimer out of the way, which should cover me and keep me from being banned from my mother-in-law’s sweet potato pie this Thanksgiving weekend, I would like to know HOW IN THE WORLD the perennial NFL version of the L.A. Clippers became a part of holiday tradition. Who started this tradition?… Well, actually, I found that out during this year’s installment of Detroit’s annual Turkey Day debacle. The culprit behind our yearly punishment was the Lions’ original owner George Richards, who started the tradition way back in 1934. So I guess a better question would be…who’s idea was it to MAINTAIN this tradition?…and has he been fired yet?
Though I’m not a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, their Thanksgiving tradition is a bit more understandable. Besides, they are “America’s Team”, aren’t’ they? (LOL) The fact that their bandwagon stretches from sea to shining sea, gives their annual game some rooting interest, especially since their detractors reach just as big a range as their bandwagon. So Cowboy lovers and Cowboy haters alike have a genuine reason to watch them on Thanksgiving, whether it be to root for them or to hate on them. But who outside of Detroit roots for the Lions?…and for that matter, who in America cares enough to root AGAINST the Lions? They’re just the Lions!
I think it’s time for some new “traditions”. I think the NFL should “traditionally” change who hosts the Thanksgiving Day games every year. They change who plays in that terrible London game every year, so why not give us some holiday variety?
And the MOST ironic aspect of this WHOLE thing?……………the Los Angeles Clippers hosted a Thanksgiving Day NBA game this year on TNT………………….W……T…….F! Now THAT’S funny!
Devin “Dev” McMillan of The War Room, for War Room Sports
Tags: Basketball, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Devin McMillan, Football, George Richards, London, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, Thanksgiving, The War Room, TNT, War Room Sports