Mitch Albom

Detroit Free Press Columnist

’Tis Super Bowl morning

The world’s biggest game

But Detroit is silent

It’s always the same.

For 50 years running

We’ve listened to screams

Of Super Bowl battles

Between other teams.

* * * * *

We chomped on our nachos

While other fans roared.

We sat drinking Faygo

While champagne was poured.

And once more tonight

We’re out in the cold.

Broncos? And Panthers?

This really gets old.

* * * * *

At first we were fine,

We all understood.

Not every team goes —

Even some that are good.

But decades rolled by

And it seemed we were cursed.

Others got better

And we just got worse.

* * * * *

The Packers went first

They’re in our division.

The Vikings, three times,

Earned Super admission.

Even the Bears, who

For years were a flop,

Saw Super Bowls twice and

Once came out on top.

* * * * *

And bad enough those guys

Who play tough and hearty

But even expansion teams

Went to the party.

Tampa Bay won one,

Seattle the same,

Baltimore’s been there

Under two different names.

* * * * *

The Cowboys and Steelers

Have each been eight times.

“Why their teams?” we scream,

“And yet never mine?”

The Patriots own it,

The Broncos are back.

The Saints, Jets and Falcons

At least got to pack.

* * * * *

Just four teams have never

Seen a Super Bowl bus.

The Browns, Jags and Texans

And then, of course, us.

A 50-year hurdle

Still waiting to clear it.

Only once — ’91

Did we ever get near it.

* * * * *

Lost the NFC title game,

41-10,

Twenty-five years

We’ve not been close again.

Too many losses

And too many coaches.

The Lions keep bumbling

Old age approaches.

* * * * *

And so when tonight

Denver meets Carolina

Forgive us if we feel that

Things could be fina.

We’d like for some angel

To come from above

Scoop up our poor franchise

And show it some love.

* * * * *

Take pity on fans who

Have grown old and gray

Waiting for Motown

To see Super Day.

We’ve watched draft picks wasted

And saw Barry quit

And now Calvin Johnson

May tell us, “That’s it.”

* * * * *

So with all due respect

To Brady and Peyton

It’s time for the gods

To stop Lion hatin’

And end this long drought.

Let us reach the big show

Or by the time Detroit gets there,

We’ll be too old to go.

Contact Mitch Albom: malbom@freepress.com. Check out the latest updates with his charities, books and events at mitchalbom.com. Catch "The Mitch Albom Show" 5-7 p.m. weekdays on WJR-AM (760). Follow him on Twitter @mitchalbom. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/mitch-albom.

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