Long-suffering local fans cheer for Detroit Lions as Thanksgiving tradition
Detroit Lions fans don’t generally have a lot to be thankful for, but that’s no reason not to party.
About 700 people crowded into the Windsor Yacht Club throughout the day Thursday for the 28th annual American Thanksgiving Day Football Classic, hosted by Advance Business Systems.
The party is also a charity fundraiser, this year for Sparky’s Toy Drive. Apart from raising some money, the football fans in the crowd weren’t hoping for much.
“I am a long-suffering Lions fan,” said Tal Czudner, with Landscape Effects Group, one of the party sponsors. “I turned 50 today. I’ve been a Lions fan for 50 years. I’m proud to say I’ve never wavered.
“The good thing about being a Lions fan, you always have optimism for next year.”
Lions fans from across Michigan and Essex County braved the chill and a very real likelihood of disappointment Thursday for the team’s annual Thanksgiving Day game. This year, the Lions went up against the Chicago Bears.
It’s a tradition that stretches back 85 years. The Lions — formerly known as the Portsmouth Spartans — played their first U.S. Thanksgiving Day game after moving to Detroit in 1934.
The matchup was a marketing gimmick to attract fans. It worked. The game sold out.
That game, also against the Bears, started another tradition. The Lions lost.
“I’m a Lions fan,” said Jack Jorgensen, president and CEO of Advance Business Systems.
“I’m always going to say ‘Go Lions,’ but I’m also not that hopeful. It is a love-hate thing. It is what it is, but we’re in the area, we celebrate the time and the event with the U.S., and it’s become a great signature event for us and the business community.”
His company’s U.S. Thanksgiving Day tradition was born in 1991 when it started busing people to the Silverdome. It has since turned into a massive networking and fundraising affair.
The event has raised about $200,000 since it started. Jorgensen was hoping to raise another $13,000 to $15,000 on Thursday.
Past recipients have included the Make-a-wish Foundation, Children’s First, Family Respite
Services, Children’s Aid Society Youth Advisory Committee, Farrow Riverside Miracle Park and John Mcgivney Children’s Centre.
Most of the people at the Yacht Club on Thursday were Lions fans, whether they wanted to admit it or not. Deborah Jones was wearing a Lions jersey, but she was still hesitant to say the words ‘I’m a fan’ out loud.
“Ever since I was little my dad liked the Dallas Cowboys,” said Jones, publisher of Biz X Magazine. “My partner really likes the Lions, so I guess it’s kind of grown on me.”
She was hoping for the best before the start of Thursday’s game.
“I’m just hoping today they can pull off a win for all our American friends out there,” said Jones.
“It’s a big tradition to go to the game in Detroit, and it would be nice if they won.”
It never hurts to be optimistic. The final score? Chicago Bears: 24. Detroit Lions: 20.