Honolulu Blue, baby

In these parts, the expression “S.O.L” doesn’t always refer to your crappy state of luck and mean you’ve all but run out of it. This is Detroit, after all, the resilient Motor City and home to “cars, bars and a few weirdos,” as they used to say.

No, when Detroit sports fans think of SOL, it has only one meaning, particularly during the NFL season: “Same old Lions.” And with good reason.

Like back in 2008 when they went 0-16, a record then but later matched by the 2017 Cleveland Browns. (Sorry, Bonnie.)

One thing’s certain. I have never written a positive blog post about the Detroit Lions. I even did a search of my own Heart Matters Blog website to prove myself wrong. No such luck.

Usually, it seems, if I mention the “L” word at all, it’s a snipe. Same old Lions.

Why? Because Detroit is one of four active National Football League teams that has never made it to a Super Bowl (along with Houston, Jacksonville and well, Cleveland).

They have just one playoff victory since winning their last NFL Championship in 1957 — three years before I was born – when Super Bowls didn’t even exist.

That’s well before home games were played at Ford Field and held outdoors at Briggs Stadium, the former Tigers Stadium on Michigan and Trumbull. My father used to talk about suffering through those late-season games in freezing cold temps. Yet those hopeful, die-hard fans still bought tickets despite the lowly Lions’ dismal records. Talk about a winless drought.

And they hadn’t won an NFC Division title since 1993.

That is, until last Sunday on Christmas Eve. Yes, Michigan, there is a Santa Claus, and he was watching. These bad boys were very good. They beat Minnesota, 30-24.

Playoffs here we come. It’s been awhile. As in, since 2016.

But first we must finish this year’s season. We play Dallas (tonight) and Minnesota (again) on January 7. As of this moment (Saturday, December 30, 9:15 a.m.), our team is 11-4.

I’m not gonna lie. It’s fun to root for the home team again. Tigers, Pistons and Lions. Who knew? We did.

Just in case you need a refresher in the Lions’ fight song, “Gridiron Heroes,” I’ve dusted off the lyrics and googled them for you. Sing it loud and with pride:

Forward down the field,
A charging team that will not yield.
And when the Blue and Silver wave,
Stand and cheer the brave.
Rah, Rah, Rah!
Go hard, win the game.
With honor you will keep your fame.
Down the field and gain,
A Lions victory!

Speaking of dust, for the Christmas Eve game against the Vikings, Rebecca and I dug out our old Lions jerseys hanging up all these years inside a set of old metal high school lockers we keep in the basement.

Mine: Barry Sanders, outstanding Lions running back for 10 seasons (1989-1998). Hers: Calvin Johnson, great Lions wide receiver, a.k.a., “Megatron,” for nine seasons (2007-2015).

There was also a Joey Harrington jersey in there. Mediocre Lions quarterback (2002-2006). Not sure whose jersey it is. Free to a good home.

All of the jersey colors are some variation of Honolulu Blue. Let me explain.

Honolulu Blue isn’t something that pops into your head when you’re talking about Detroit, unless you’re talking Lions. They’ve worn the iconic ocean-blue jerseys as home uniforms for nearly their entire existence. (A former team owner’s wife picked out the color in 1934. A cross between royal, navy and steel blue.)

Silver helmet, silver pants for nine decades straight. Aside from those hideous all-black and steel gray uniforms. What were you thinking, Ford family?

Frankly, it doesn’t matter what they wear. I’m more interested in their on-field d’elegance than their sartorial eloquence.

(Aside: Truth be told, have you seen Travis Kelce’s pre-game attire? The Kansas City Chiefs tight end/Taylor Swift’s current beau has his own clothing line called “Tru Kolors.” Nice merch, dude.)

But I digress.

Rebecca and I will be watching tonight’s Lions regular season game against Dallas. It starts at 8:15. We will make it through the fourth quarter and stay awake.

For Sunday night, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve ball drop in Times Square, it isn’t looking as likely, though. Either way, we intend to have a Happy New Year.

Forward down the field, guys.