Oct
7
keeping the streak alive
Filed under Washington D.C., sports, Michigan at 9:12 pm | 2 Comments
The Detroit Lions have never won when playing at Washington. I had the privilege of seeing them keep that streak alive today in memorable fashion, making it 21 games in a row they’ve lost in D.C., dating back to 1937.
I went with my older brother and his father-in-law. When we got the tickets months ago, we never imagined it would be 90 degrees and sunny for an October game, but it was. Fortunately, the sun was at our backs, and we even had some shade for most of the second half. Our seats were on the 40 yard line, up in the 4th tier. We were a long ways up, but the seats were great.
We saw a surprising number of Lions’ fans. (Surprising that the Lions have any fans?) Unfortunately, it looks like the Lions used up all of their offensive prowess in the first 4 games of the season. They were completely dominated in all areas of the game, providing the let down we Detroit fans have come to expect. Even so, we had a good time amidst the home crowd, unlike other Lions’ fans I know who felt the need to hide out in a suite. 
Maybe all the Lions need is a marching band …
Sep
8
In what appears to be the biggest prank in the history of Michigan sports, the Detroit Lions donned the Wolverine maize and blue in Ann Arbor today, losing to the visiting Oregon Ducks 39 to 7. What other possible explanation could there be for such a poor performance by the home team?
While I’m still in a bit of shock from last week’s upset (Appalachian Who?), the spectacle today went a long ways to help reality set in in fairly short order. It wasn’t worth the 5.94 GB of space it occupied on the TiVo.
I realize I have high expectations, coming from a long tradition of excellent teams, year after year after year. But losing two weeks in a row, in the Big House, to start the season … that just doesn’t happen at U of M. Until this year, I guess. It appears this is going to be a season of records: the 1st time losing four games in a row since 1967, the first time opening a season with two straight losses at home since 1959, the second-most yards surrendered in program history, etc.
There wasn’t much in today’s game worthy of analysis, and I offer no suggestions for turning things around. I’m merely a loyal fan settling in for what appears to be an historical season. They may not be the best Wolverine team in recent memory, but they’ve got enough talent to be far better than this. Come on, Wolverines– the Big Ten season and the Rose Bowl await.
Jun
9
trip recap
Filed under family, travel, Michigan at 4:58 pm | Leave a Comment
Our trip back to Michigan and Chicago was a good one, though it came and
went far too fast. We didn’t even come close to seeing everyone we wanted to visit, in spite of our best scheduling efforts.
Even though I know most of you would like a day-by-day recap of the entire trip, my random thoughts will have to suffice:
(1) Toll roads are dumb.
(2) The Ohio Turnpike walks all over the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
(3) There was something comforting in seeing flat, sprawling land again.
(4) I forgot how many lakes there are in Michigan. Beautiful.
(5) It was refreshing to hear some solid Reformed preaching again. 
(6) Although things in Michigan still feel more familiar than Virginia, it was good to get back to our house after the trip and have it feel like “home.”