The rumor has become fact. The Detroit Lions are going to wear black jerseys for two games in 2005. As I stated before, this idea is ridiculous. Why? First, because black, contrary to Matt Millen's opinion, is not one of the Lions' colors. Second, the Lions aren't some expansion club. They are one of the oldest teams in the NFL. They shouldn't even be forced into accepting an alternate jersey. If they must, then just wear the Throwback model which now seems to be standard attire on Thanksgiving.
Instead, the Lions are going to look like the Carolina Panthers. Or a USFL franchise. I realize fewer and fewer of us can remember a time when the Lions were an elite NFL franchise, but there is simply no reason to toss out a rich history because the recent past has been mediocre at best. A third (or fourth) jersey option won't make the Lions better nor does it embrace the franchise's tradition. I actually think it kind of detracts from the club's much more successful past.
While the city is somewhat divided on the black jersey, I'd guess it's about 70-30 against, it's the reaction to the Lions helmet logo that I am confounded about. It seems over 50% of Lions' fans don't like the logo we affectionately refer to as "Bubbles". The complaints range from the fact Bubbles either doesn't look much like a Lion or that he's simply not tough enough.
I'll admit the logo isn't the best rendering of the king of beasts, but it could be worse. Do you really want Millen and company selecting a new logo? If he did, I'll bet we would get a lion wearing an eye patch.
As for Bubbles not being tough enough, that's plain laughable. Is that cute little Dolphin on the side of Miami's helmet striking fear into anyone? How about that nasty Raven on Baltimore's helmet? Ugly? Without a doubt. Scary? Please. How about the lovely corporate logo for US Steel that Pittsburgh uses? Has the fear generated by the logo earned them four Super Bowl titles? Somehow, in spite of their less than intimidating logos, these three franchise have won a combined seven Super Bowls and appeared in ten NFL championship games.
Bubbles' perceived lack of toughness is hardly the reason the Lions haven't made the big game. Nor would a more ferocious lion design keep Charles Rogers in one piece or get Joey Harrington to increase his completion percentage, two things far more likely to lead to on-field success. Trust me, if the Lions became even a mini-dynasty Bubbles would be plenty tough enough for everyone.
In the end, what sells jerseys, hats and the like is winning. If the Lions win more, they will sell more merchandise. If they could go on a run like San Francisco of the 1980s, the Steelers of the 1970s, or our own Lions of the 1950s, Honolulu Blue and Silver (with or without black accented) jerseys would fly off store shelves in Detroit and around the nation. And Bubbles would be one of the most popular logos in all of sports.
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