I chose the Lions because they're a perennial losing team. I live in Raiders and 49ers area, and Kaepernick went to my local university. The whole city bandwagoned the 49ers when Kaepernick starting tearing it up, but I didn't want to be a bandwagon fan also.

So I chose the Lions. Fuck cheering for a team that has a ton of success, because that's easy. It's a lot more difficult to root for a team like this who shows flashes and repeatedly implodes on itself. But you know what? It will be worth it. I missed some of the worst Lions years, and for that I feel kind of guilty. I've only known the Lions with Stafford as their QB. This is my first year as a fan without Calvin Johnson. But I definitely already know the heartbreak this team can bring. The 2013 playoff game, tonight, and all of the other shitty stupid decisions this team seems to make game in and game out. This team represents hope. Hope that the underdog will finally pull through and become great. They're almost a Rocky-esque against all odds type of organization, and despite the heartbreak I couldn't have chosen a better team to root for.

I'm already making the mistake of indoctrinating my son into the fandom. Hopefully he won't resent me for it. I have hope that even if they don't win a super bowl before I die, at least my son may be alive to see one. I'm only 30 so hopefully they'll win a few before that happens though!

Rambling at this point so i'll end it there.