Ford Sr. is the only curse on this team....

dalemotown · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010, 04:12 PM

(THIS IS ALL OPINION-BASED)

The Lions are not cursed. I used to think they were; but they are not.

If there was any glaring misfortune, it was that in 1964 a low self-esteem, rich guy who was the grandson of a great pioneer, and the weaker brother of a great businessman (Hank The Deuce / Henry Ford II) bought the team, in part, as if to say "See? I can run something!"

As a result, managerial incompetence has been the #1 culprit as to why, in 45 years, this organization has floundered in mediocrity as it's best, and sub-mediocrity as it's worst.

You can start with not having a G.M. who was able to recognize coaching talent, and let assistant coaches Don Shula and Chuck Knox slip away.

Ford's biggest flaw is his historical need to be emboldened by those around him.
His second biggest flaw is, he chooses to become personal friends with his three most prominent General Managers (Russ Thomas, Chuck Schmidt and Matt Millen) - all who would've either been fired sooner, or, never placed in such a position by owners who recognize good leadership.

If the Lions hadn't struck gold by picking two star running backs with picks #1 and #2, overall (Sims, 1980 and Sanders, 1989), this franchise would have had a much more horrible history (and won/loss record), in the last 30 years.

...To me, Ford's becoming the principal owner of this team 45 years ago is by far the most disappointing occurrence, in Detroit Sports History.

nwilcox · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 11:40 AM

Any other owner would have left town by now so be happy we still have a NFL team. Give it a rest, Ford owns the team and there is nothing anyone can say or do about it. If you are not happy dont watch, obviosly you like the Lions or else you would not be psoting about it.

Vonlenska · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwilcox

Any other owner would have left town by now so be happy we still have a NFL team. Give it a rest, Ford owns the team and there is nothing anyone can say or do about it. If you are not happy dont watch, obviosly you like the Lions or else you would not be psoting about it.

Sorry to say it, no offense, but that is a loser's attitude. Fans want a team to win.

sportz4life · #4 (**permalink**) 02-02-2010, 12:38 PM

Ford is definatley cursed..he is also a bumblng idiot, as evidenced by the fact his own family relegated him to only ceremonial ostions in the automobile company.

This is not news..it's like stating rain is wet..

cruzer1 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportz4life

Ford is definatley cursed..he is also a bumblng idiot, as evidenced by the fact his own family relegated him to only ceremonial ostions in the automobile company.

This is not news..it's like stating rain is wet..

Oops.

dalemotown · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010, 09:36 PM

It is my sense that most (51 percent or more) Lions Fans have indeed readily accepted failure. You don't say "Well, at least we have a team"; that mentality fits Ford's approach, perfectly. How can you think that way, and yet see teams like The Saints finally get it done?? Does that not provoke you to jealously? Anger? Frustration?....

cruzer1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:10 AM

I get tired of fans complaining. Ford is a good owner, he allows the talent evaluators to spend money. That's all I ask of the owner. The talent evaluators need to be better, and now things are looking better. They needed to bottom this thing out, to purge and cleanse the roster to get to be a champion. This is the hard part. In about three years, it should be alot more fun again, if you're brave enough to stay on board.

Biff Mayhem · #8 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Ford is a good owner

Susan, with all due respect, this is the worst, homerish, honolulu blue glasses thing you've ever said.

cruzer1 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biff Mayhem

Susan, with all due respect, this is the worst, homerish, honolulu blue glasses thing you've ever said.

You're not my friend, this isn't respectful. Don't call me susan. I'm a man, and that is my opinion.

Biff Mayhem · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

You're not my friend, this isn't respectful. Don't call me susan. I'm a man, and that is my opinion.

I'm your friend. It's just that you're wrong here!

RedRamage · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 10:44 AM

Ford is a good owner in some aspects. Look at Synder who's constantly meddling in the Redskins operations. Ford is very hands off and let's the people he hires do their thing.

Ford is a horrible owner in some aspects as well. He's done a piss poor job of finding the right people to run his team. And the people he hires he hangs on to well past the time they should be removed.

So, who's worse? Owners like Ford or owners like Synder? I'd say the latter. Synder, even if he gets the right guys in there will mess things up. Ford, if he ever finds the right guy, will let him run with the program. (Of course, Ownership is not limited to just guys like Ford or Synder.)

Hongbit · #12 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

The talent evaluators need to be better, and now things are looking better. They needed to bottom this thing out, to purge and cleanse the roster to get to be a champion. This is the hard part. In about three years, it should be alot more fun again, if you're brave enough to stay on board.

Millen is gone but the talent evaluators are mainly the same. Martin Mayhew (9th season), Sheldon White (13th season), Charlie Sanders (11th season), and of course the fantastic Scott McEwen (23rd season) were all key contributors to every draft of the Millen era.

dalemotown · #13 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

I get tired of fans complaining. Ford is a good owner, he allows the talent evaluators to spend money. That's all I ask of the owner. The talent evaluators need to be better.

Unbelievable.
...Who evaluates the "talent evaluators"?.....who determines how long these "talent evaluators" stay??
Who makes the demand that this team wins - say, oh...every once in a blue moon??

...Tired of fans complaining??....you know why I complain? Because the owner won't.

...But as you say: it's your opinion, and you have every right to have one.

sportz4life · #14 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

I get tired of fans complaining. Ford is a good owner, he allows the talent evaluators to spend money. That's all I ask of the owner. The talent evaluators need to be better, and now things are looking better. They needed to bottom this thing out, to purge and cleanse the roster to get to be a champion. This is the hard part. In about three years, it should be alot more fun again, if you're brave enough to stay on board.

So the fact the owner is not hands on enough, smart enough and proactive enough to hire talent evaluators or managers to perform in a competent and professional manner, for 50 YEARS is not acceptable. You have pretty low acountability standards.

ScrubBeaterUpper · #15 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hongbit

Millen is gone but the talent evaluators are mainly the same. Martin Mayhew (9th season), Sheldon White (13th season), Charlie Sanders (11th season), and of course the fantastic Scott McEwen (23rd season) were all key contributors to every draft of the Millen era.

Was Mayhew a talent evaluator? That is what's funny, I think he worked on the legal side of things and did not work in any capacity with scouting or evaluating.

It's a little odd to me that this guy got promoted to GM,

cruzer1 · #16 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hongbit

Millen is gone but the talent evaluators are mainly the same. Martin Mayhew (9th season), Sheldon White (13th season), Charlie Sanders (11th season), and of course the fantastic Scott McEwen (23rd season) were all key contributors to every draft of the Millen era.

They evaluated talent, but didn't make the decisions. Millen was the only one making decisions during his era. And there are obvious signs that he didn't follow the advice of his scouts. And it's obvious that he didn't do his homework like they are doing now.

dalemotown · #17 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzer1

it's obvious that he didn't do his homework like they are doing now.

This i agree with Cruzer. And the hope is, Mayhew and Schwartz will continue to draft guys that will give this team an identity - like they had in the early-to-mid 90's.

El Gato Pollo Loco!! · #18 (**permalink**) 02-04-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalemotown

This i agree with Cruzer. And the hope is, Mayhew and Schwartz will continue to draft guys that will give this team an identity - like they had in the early-to-mid 90's.

I agree with this. As much as I don't like WCF as the owner, he isn't the completely worst owner.

Splitter · #19 (**permalink**) 02-22-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwilcox

Any other owner would have left town by now so be happy we still have a NFL team. Give it a rest, Ford owns the team and there is nothing anyone can say or do about it. If you are not happy dont watch, obviosly you like the Lions or else you would not be psoting about it.

sorry dude, any fan can be pissy about their team if they want to. its a fans right. you pay your money you get your choice. you dont have to be 'happy' to be a fan

zimm · #20 (**permalink**) 02-23-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Splitter

sorry dude, any fan can be pissy about their team if they want to. its a fans right. you pay your money you get your choice. you dont have to be 'happy' to be a fan

it took you 20 days to come up with that response? i'm not impressed, dude.