True (Honolulu) blue fan

Everyone has that one friend who lives in Metro Detroit but roots for a seemingly random football team.

In fact, three of my closest friends root for the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even though it seems everybody jumps ship when it comes to the Lions, Ford Field is always packed at the start of each season.

Listen, I could sit here and write about all the various heart-breaking moments in recent years. True fans remember it all: the Dallas Cowboys’ 2014 wild card game, the Aaron Rodgers’ Hail Mary, or even the infamous “Calvin Johnson rule” dealing with what actually constitutes a catch.

You can make all of the excuses in the world, but the fact is the Lions don’t produce.

We still return to them anyway, with a smile and heart filled with hope.

We allow them to continuously disappoint us year in and year out without accountability.

Why is that?

I can’t speak for other fans; I can only offer up my own reason as to why I come back: I love it.

Plain and simple, I just love root- ing for the Detroit Lions.

I wish I could explain why I love it so much, but I just do.

The heart wants what it wants. Deep down, I know that if the Lions ever win anything significant, that feeling will be irreplicable.

As for this current regime of Head Coach Dan Campbell and General Manager Brad Holmes, I’m willing to preach patience.

These two started from scratch after trading quarterback Matthew Stafford before last season. I know their second year has gotten off to a terrible start, but there is a lot to like.

Even if they don’t work out, I’ll still stand calmly on this ship of chaos, waiting for the day the team can repay my loyalty.