Monday open thread: What is your favorite part about being a Lions fan?

We’re in the worst part of the year. We’re over a month away from training camp with no football news to talk about. Basketball and hockey are done with, leaving us with only baseball, golf and motorsports to keep us distracted for the next six weeks.

But let’s not stare down the barrel of the abyss. Let’s kick off this week with something positive. Let’s talk about why we love being Detroit Lions fans. Today’s Question of the Day is:

What is your favorite part about being a Lions fans?

My answer: It isn’t being a part of “Detroit vs. Everybody” or a masochistic crave to be annually punished. But rather, I just love being part of something that is full of devoted, die-hard fans. Sure, there are plenty of other franchises out there that boast rabid fanbases who sell more merchandise and are louder on gamedays, but I would argue that Lions fans beat them all out in quality, not quantity.

Admittedly, Detroit is also cursed with the “Same Old Lions” cynical crowd that will continue to sour the culture a bit, but for the large majority of us, we cling to hope and excitement despite there never being any true reasons to express those feelings. We remain devoted despite being told time and time again we should just give it up.

And any time I start to question my own fandom, I just think about winning a championship. That fantasy keeps me going, because I cannot even imagine what it will feel like to have our collective patience finally rewarded. The city of Detroit is going to be nuts, and I want to be right in the middle of it. The anticipation of that single moment is my favorite part about being a Lions fan, even if I can’t be sure it’ll ever come.

Your turn.