General Discussion

Here in Detroit, most of us are Lions fans. Before Selection 2000, I spent too much time blogging with others about our team. After 9-11, most of my online time was for DU.

One of the wise and great people who followed and posted about the Lions was from West Virginia, Mr. Robert F. of Huntington. His father was from Detroit, so as he grew up they would follow the team from their home in Huntington.

Mr. F. liked to write about his life away from football, too, describing his two beautiful daughters and how the local boys would drive him crazy. He was a Vietnam war combat veteran and pretty much conservative when it came to Washington, but we respected each other and had a heck of a lot of fun talking football and trading an occasional barb about Nixon or LBJ.

The thing was, no matter what we said, or whose ox got gored in some argument or some joke, we were and stayed friends -- loyal to the team and to each other.

While we just knew each other online, Mr. F really was a friend for real life. When the Lions drafted a new quarterback -- Joey Harrington -- Mr. F couldn't wait to see him in action. Unable to get the team on the computer or cable for the first pre-season game, this was 2002, he asked if I would videotape the action. I did and sent it to him via the post. A few days later, my wife received a giant fruit basket from Harry & David to say, "Thanks!" What a guy.

When Mr. F. passed away, seemingly without warning, as he had never breathed a word of his illness, it was as if I had lost a brother. His widow asked the owner of the site to track me down. I hadn't posted in several years, but she wanted me to know the news. My heart fell through my shirt when I heard.

A couple of years later I had business in Marietta, Ohio. I took the opportunity for a day trip through western West Virginia. I crossed the Ohio River and set over to Parkersburg and followed the river southwest to Huntington to pay my respects. Looking at the map, it seemed closer than it was. No problems, though. It was a beautiful day and more beautiful country.

In Huntington, I found the cemetery where my friend rests. The people managing the place were surprised when I told them I was from Detroit. They were very kind to me. I dropped off the only Lions memorabilia I had, a "Terrible Towel" knock-off with the leaping Lion logo handed out to fans for some home game or another. I wanted him to know that I cared and still care.