| 25 August 2010
I've been tracking the walk of the most dedicated Lions fan I've ever heard of for the better part of two weeks.
The tracking is over.
The better fan than I, fueled by the power of "SISU", Yooper Joe Paquette, walked into the Lions' Allen Park facilities Wednesday afternoon...18 days and 425 freaking miles after he began!
Joe's almost there...
The home stretch, walking into Lions' HQ...
...and right on to the practice field, greeted by The Schwartz I hope the
Joe had a few things to say about "SISU" once he arrived in Allen Park.
"It (sisu) means perseverance and being able to bounce back from a difficult situation, which we all know the Lions are in," Paquette said Wednesday. "I said that's what the Lions need, they need Sisu. But how do you get it down there? Do you send them a letter that ends up in the waste basket?
I'm guessing no. I was right.
"After the holidays when my weight and my cholesterol and my blood pressure all went north I said, 'Let's get into a little more committed routine of walking.' About March I said I feel good enough to bring Sisu to (the Lions)."
With a vengeance.
"Once they see that a 63-year-old man with arthritis in both knees can walk 450 miles just because of Sisu, they are going to buy into it," Paquette said. "We need the fans to get into it. We need our players to get into it. But I don't want them to say that I have Sisu. I want them to feel it. I want them to have it in their eyes and the hunger of Sisu in their eyes so that when they get on that field they know what they are going to do."
Damn straight!
The Lions are going to have Joe as their special guest at Ford Field for Saturday's preseason game against the Browns. Seems like the least they could do...
The Lions have video up at DetroitLions.com, where Joe goes into a little more detail about his walk and "SISU".
"By the power of SISU, you will lead the Lions to glory!"
Feel free to congratulate Joe at his Facebook page, and revel in a little "SISU!"
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