Mike Valenti: Time to Move On from 'Stupid' Lions Fight Song
The Detroit Lions, after a countless number of insufferable seasons, finally appear to be headed in the right direction.
Dating back to last year, the Lions have won nine of their last 11 games, and they’re coming off an impressive victory against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. On top of all that, the organization, via the leadership of head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, has established a winning culture both inside and outside the locker room.
Yet, there is one element of the Lions that still irks popular 97.1 The Ticket on-air personality Mike Valenti: the team’s fight song.
The song, known as "Gridiron Heroes," has been sung after Lions scoring drives for decades now. Valenti believes “all it represents is losing” and that, with the team on the upswing, the time has come to move on from the gimmicky tune.
“Obviously, you know I think this team has turned the corner,” Valenti said on “The Valenti Show with Rico” Friday. “I believe they’re going to win this division (the NFC North), they’re going to win a playoff game. Oh, by the way, Minnesota blows. So, my point is, it’s time to get rid of that stupid fight song.”
Longtime NFL offensive lineman T.J. Lang, who played with Detroit during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, joined the popular afternoon talk show Friday, and didn’t disagree.
“Find something different that gets everybody pumped up,” Lang said. “You have to pick and choose the times when you play it, right? I mean, there were times last year where they’re losing by four touchdowns and that song comes on. It’s like, ‘This is so sad.’ I don’t even know if the players like it.”
Valenti’s co-host, Rico Beard, echoed Lang’s sentiment that the song cannot be played after just any touchdown.
“T.J., that’s my compromise. That song can only be played when you are winning, you’re maybe a score away – to kind of pump the crowd up – or you’ve won the game,” Beard expressed. “But, if you’re down by three touchdowns, can’t play it. It’s as ridiculous as when (former Lions wide receiver) Roy Williams used to do the first-down (gesture). It’s like, ‘Roy, you’re down by 40.’”
Theo “Gridiron” Spight sings the current rendition of the fight song.
The next chance to hear the song played is during the Lions’ home opener with the Seattle Seahawks Sunday (1 p.m. kickoff).
