When James was baptized we held a party and plenty of family and friends showed up. The baptism was on a Sunday and after church everyone returned to our home for food and drink. On the big screen the Lions were playing and people were enjoying a very pleasant time. All of a sudden the Lions did something stupid, lost the game, and the entire party shifted from a happy one to a “did that really happen” one. Noticing the change in atmosphere I mentioned that someone should really write down all the bad luck the Lions have had over the years. The next day I began researching the Lions and created a website called “Curse of Bobbly Layne”. It was based on the premise that when Bobby Layne was traded, he cursed the Lions saying that they would not win for 50 years.

Are the Lions a cursed football team? I present some of the evidence that supports this.

Mascot Dies	1960	After 27 years of being the Lions mascot, William Baker was found dead on a sidewalk near Woodward Avenue.
Ford Rotunda Fire	1962	A year after Bill Ford was voted Lions President, The Ford Rotunda (The fifth most popular tourist attraction in the country) burned down.
Lucien Reeberg	1963	Died in the off season of a heart attack after his rookie season
Karras Suspended	1963	Lion Pro Bowler Alex Karras and Green Bay Packer halfback Paul Hornung were suspended indefinitely for gambling. Alex Karras was also told to stay away from a bar called the Lindell Athletic Club (AKA Lindell AC) by Pete Rozelle who charged it was a center for illegal sports betting. In outright defiance, Karras bought shares in the bar and became bartender there during his suspension. One day, ex Green Bay tackle Richard Afflis (AKA Dick the Bruiser) wandered into the bar and challenged Karras to a wrestling match. Karras agreed and the two began hamming it up to promote the wrestling match. A patron mistook this as a real fight and broke a pool stick over “The Bruisers” head. A fight broke out seemingly everywhere resulting in one of the largest brawls in Detroit history. “The Bruiser” alledgedly broke some bones in a police officer and got a hefty fine. The fight caused national attention and the wrestling match proceeded with “The Bruiser” defeating Karras after Karras opened up a gash in “The Bruisers” forehead. Karras eventually got out of the bar business, apologized to the NFL, and was reinstated in 1964 after a year suspension.
President Kennedy	1963	Kennedy Assasination & Bill Ford purchase of Detroit Lions share front page of newspaper on the same day – Nov 23, 1963
63 Yard Field Goal	1970	The Saints had just replaced their coach and had only one win up to that point in the season. The Saints kicker was an anemic 5-15 up to that point in the season. They were not much more than an expansion team but they had the curse working for them when they lined up for the last play of the game. With the Lions winning by one point, Tom Dempsey kicked a 63 yard field goal that set a new record (at the time). Tom Dempsey, was handicapped and born with only half a foot but with the help of the curse kicked 4 field goals against the Lions that day and knocked them out of post season play.
Chuck Hughes	1971	Died on the field while returning to the huddle in the final two minutes of a Bears upset win over the Lions
Don McCafferty	1974	Hopes were high that Superbowl Winning Coach McCafferty would develop the Lions into a Superbowl winner, but he died of a heart attack while working in his yard during the off season.
Draft Pick Lost	1974	Is it possible to trade your number 1 draft pick and not know it? The Lions did just that in 1974 when they traded Dave Thompson to the Saints for the Saint number one draft pick. They did not realize the deal was for Dave Thompson and their number one pick till they went to draft 13th overall and found out New Orleans had that position. It does not get much more embarrassing than this.
Playoff Drought	1982	Thanks to a strike shortened season, the Lions made the playoffs with a 4-5 record. They then lost to Washington 31-7 in the first round of the playoffs which marked the first time in a quarter century the Lions scored a point in a playoff game.
Reggie Rogers	1988	The Lions 1987 First Round Pick Broke his neck and was convicted of negligent homicide in an alcohol related automobile crash that killed 3 teens.
May Day Play	1988	Chuck Long only quarterbacked here for 23 games but perhaps the funniest example of futility in history happened during his reign as quarterback. Lions were leading 14- 12 with the ball on Detroits 12 yard line and 4th down coming up, the punting team came onto the field. However right before the ball was snapped, one of the Saints defensive players yelled “MayDay” which was the Lions receivers code word that the defense was not covering them and to fake the punt and do a pass play. Needless to say the punter (Jim Arnold) did not punt, but instead threw the ball to his receiver (rookie Carl Painter) who had no idea it was coming and hit him on the back as he ran down field. The Lions lost the game 22- 14 but created one of the all time funniest moments in history.
Mike Utley	1991	Paralyzed on the field on what looked like a routine play during the Lions most successful season since the curse went into effect.
Eric Andolsek	1991	Died in the off season while working in his yard by a truck who’s driver had fallen asleep.
Reggie Brown	1997	Suffered paralysis while making a tackle, the same day Barry Sanders broke the 2000 yard mark for the year.
Barry Sanders	1999	On the brink of eclipsing Walter Payton’s all-time NFL rushing record (currently held by E. Smith), Barry Sanders retired. His representative, David Ware, stated that Barry would sign a check returning his bonus money immediately of the Lions were to trade him. Sources close to Sanders stated several reasons for the retirement including the teams awful 5-11 performance the previous year. Sanders also did not believe the organization was committed to winning and allowed too many key veteran players (such as offensive linemen Lomas Brown, Kevin Glover and Zefross Moss) to depart as free agents. He also grew weary of Coach Bobby Ross and his “tempermental personality” which was in much contrast to Wayne Fontes, his earlier coach. Imagine how proud Lion fans must have been when one of the greatest talent in history is willing to pay millions not to play for you and would rather retire just 1,457 yards shy of Payton’s rushing mark than play another season as a Lion.
Overtime Toss	2002	Everyone knows the value of winning the toss in a sudden death overtime game. On this November day, Lion coach Marty Mornhinweg won the overtime toss and elected to kick off. Needless to say the Lions never even got a chance to go on offense as the Bears scored on their first possession.
Road Loss Record	2003	The Lions went 3 entire seasons without winning a road game, shattering the old record and adding another prized piece of tin to their collection. The streak ended at 24 when the Lions beat Chicago at Soldiers Field in 2004. With salary caps creating parity in the league it is very doubtful that another team will ever break this record.
Millen Man March	2005	A local radio station organized an “Angry Fan March” at the last Lion home game of the 2005 season. The protesters were well organized and equiped with protest signs and orange shirts (the colors of the opposing team) and peacefully demonstrated and marched outside of Ford Field. One sign read “There are a Millen reasons why the Lions can’t win” and another sign read 20-57 (Millens record with the Lions at that time, in 2007 his record improved to 31 – 81, 50 games under 500).
Americas Most Wanted	2006	Does it get any worse than when one of your past quarterbacks shows up on Americas Most Wanted? Jeff Komlo, ex Lion quarterback, was featured on the popular television show. Apparently the cops have been chasing him since May of 2005. Komlo tells a reporter that he can’t believe he is being lumped in with the criminals but still refuses to turn himself in at this time. Perhaps he feels his time with the Lions is punishment enough.
WTF	2006	Which is worse, a Lions assistant coach driving drunk? Or a Lions assistant coach driving naked? How about both! Believe it or not, Coach Joe Cullen pulled into a Wendy’s drive thru naked and ordered a meal. A week later the assistant coach was busted for drunk driving. The last time an active defensive coach got into this much trouble the Lions promoted him to head coach (Wayne Fontes, Cocaine and DUI charges)! Will history repeat?
Curse Peaks Out	2008	The steady decline of the Lions over the past 50 years would result in the un-thinkable. In the final year of the curse, the Lions would go winless at 0-16, putting them in a category of their own and officially ending the reign of the Curse of Bobby Layne. It was at this time the Lions attempted their own quirk of fate to stop the curse, by drafting with the first pick of the first round a player from Bobby Laynes own High School-Matthew Stafford. Coincidence?
Corey Smith	2009	Died when his boat capsized after one of the passengers tried to throttle forward in an attempt to pry loose the anchor. The Lions held a memorial service for him on March 21, 2009.