The Detroit Cicadas
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog
<–17 year cicada. I’ve been thinking about the Detroit Lions. “Lions” just doesn’t seem to fit. The lion is the King of the Jungle – at the top of the food chain. The other animals run away from lions. I’ve made suggestions before…they should move to the Philippines and become the “Manila Folders” or perhaps go to Massachusetts where they could be the “Holyoke Chokes”. Well, I’ve decided they should change their name to the Detroit Cicadas. The cicada is a slow-moving creature that comes to life for a few weeks – makes a lot of noise (pre-season?) – then crawls back into the ground and goes dormant for 17 years. They don’t bite or sting, are benign to other creatures, and are often eaten by predators. They suck (plants) and cause flagging (penalties) of twigs. Sure sounds more appropriate to me. One more thing…I hearby predict that the Detroit Lions (or Cicadas) will NOT lose next Sunday…this is going to happen believe me…I’m good at predicting! (the Lions are idle next week…actually they were pretty much idle this week…). Feel free to send a link of this suggestion to your friends.
It’s a bye week for the Lions so they won’t lose unless they take up the offer to play the Girl Scouts !
Yes the Lions are idle this coming Sunday. I bet they’ll still find a way to go to 0-4 even though they’re not playing on Sunday. Don’t get me started on whats wrong with this team. Its difficult enough to admit to friends and family that I am a Lions fan.
Dan
Another name I’ve heard before is the “Pontiac Possums” (back in the Silverdome days, obviously). Why possums? They play dead at home, and get killed on the road.
The Lions are arguably the worst franchise in any of the four major sports. The architect of all this miserable play is Matt Millen, but the ultimate blame goes to Mr. Ford for continuing Millen to run his team into the ground.
Hi Bill,
My husband and I live on Lake Michigan near Duck Lake State Park and I am trying to get some information on a phenomenon we keep hearing about that happens on the lake periodically.
Supposedly, when conditions are just right, the city lights/skyline of Milwaukee can be seen reflecting on Lake MI so that it appears to be very close. Have you heard of this happening? If so can you direct me to a source (newspaper, date or date range) so that I can learn more about it? thank you!
Carolyn,
I believe it is called a Superior Mirage. It has to do with how light is being bent due to atmospheric conditions and air temperatures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirage
Ok first off…
Detroit is a tough city, if you are weak you will be beaten up, killed, etc. So right away Detroit doesn’t fit, then Bill you explained about the Lions LOL
I like the idea of Cicadas… They have many similarities.
I have been calling them the Detroit Losers for years… Back in the 90s they had some good runs though (pun intended) BARRY SANDERS
Batch was good, but the man should have just cut his thumb off and got it over with sheesh!
If someone mentions sports greats you hear names like Dale Earnhardt, Bret Farve, Richard Petty, Joe Montana, Babe Ruth, Lebron James etc…
You mention the worst and you hear the Lions before ANYTHING else… It’s horrible!
Oh well… GO CICADAS! LMAO
I was going to suggest “Great Lakes Loons” but I hear it’s taken. How about the “Eastern Michigan Eunuchs”, or the “Michigan Millens” I’d love to see those mascots.
The only Michigan sport I care about is hockey. Go Wings!
(…and I’m definitely not a bandwagon fan… I’ve been watching them for years!).
A friend of mine thinks Detroit baseball is worth watching, but I have yet to be convinced of such.
Bill, any predictions about the winter weather? And any news on Skywarn training for winter?
I saw this today..somewhere,
“Don’t vote it only encourages them.”
thought it was prety funny!
I was pulling weeds in the courtyard at my son’s school and something made noise and startled me. It was a cicada. It was icky!
I still think that Ford should bring the jobs back and send the Lions to Mexico.
July 2005, shortly after my father had passed away, I was picking blueberries. A great big fat cicada landed on the bush I was picking from and sang his song loud and clear, then flew off. I was so surprised, I thought maybe it was a sign from my beloved late father! It was awesome. I like the song of the cicadas and I enjoy hearing them.
The Lions on the other hand…………..are fat, lazy and over paid!