I was at the Secord Lake Eagles recently with my friend Jeff Kimball and 75 other people gathered for the same reason: To watch the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It was an electric atmosphere. The Eagles Club, like every other place in Michigan where Lions fans came together, was probably just a smaller version of Ford Field: Happy, loud and proud.
When we intercepted the ball to end the game, I yelled louder and longer than I ever have in my adult life. I could barely hear myself because everyone else was doing the same.
As Jared Goff took a knee to end the game, it was like a spiritual moment. Jeff brought up his brother, Ron, who recently passed away and was a big Lions fan.
All I could think of was how I would have loved to talk with Sean about this. He would have been so stoked about this year’s team.
Even when we disagreed on life, as all fathers and sons are prone to do, we would always be able to talk about the Lions and Tigers. That was our common ground.
Of course, if he were here, he would have been talking smack in his adopted town of Sarasota to anyone who would listen. And even to those who didn’t. “DeeTroit,” as they called him.
Sean was a Lions fan since the day he was born. It was his destiny.
And he was there with us in spirit, happy to be part of this winning team.
