For so long, the Detroit Lions were a franchise that aspired to be great. The will was there. The Ford family, who had owned the team since 1963, realized that Detroit desperately needed a winner. Sure, Detroit is affectionately known as Hockeytown, but if the Lions ever figured it out, this town would rapidly become football-obsessed.
Sheila Hamp, Lions major owner, has been at the forefront of turning things around since the company was overhauled in 2021. She is a competitor by nature, and what truly motivates her is delivering a title and consistent winner to our city. This week, the Detroit News named Hamp one of the ten “Michiganians of the Year.” Daniel Howes wrote about Hamp’s ‘Noble Cause’ and how he fostered an egoless culture in the Motor City.
“I think of myself as a steward of the Lions,” said Hamp of her role in the organization. “The team belongs to the city of Detroit, and Detroit is a football town, for sure. If we could actually put together a winning organization for our fans, for the city, it would really be something. And you know, that’s turned out to be the case.”
You may read the complete narrative by Howes here. And now for the remainder of today’s notes: While the Detroit Tigers have had mixed results on the field, this is top-tier trolling from an AFC quarterback who once considered a career in politics.
