Because we here at MT headquarters are such aficionados of athletic contests, we decided to mark this moment in Detroit sports history with a bit of word-play to celebrate the good fortune of both the Lions and the Tigers. Regular Idiot Boxing columnist Jim McFarlin rose to the, um, challenge when we asked him to render the athletic zeitgeist in verse. Now, depending on how skilled you are with phrasing, the following poem will likely fit the melody of "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky" (go ahead, give it a try!), and even the glorious "Eye of the Tiger." Fun!

We are, of course, anxiously biting our knuckles awaiting the outcomes of impending games. We'll also be watching our mailbox and inbox to see what sports verse you readers will answer with. Send contributions to letters@metrotimes.com or by USPS to Letters, Metro Times, 733 St. Antoine, Detroit, MI 48226.

Better yet, sing the song and shoot a video of yourself. Send us a link of your video posted to YouTube or Vimeo to lionsandtigers@metrotimes.com and we will put it on our site!

"Lions & Tigers"

Sung to the tune of 

"Eye of the Tiger" 

(Rocky III Theme)

by Survivor

Rising up

After so many years, 

Some were bad, some were gory

What's the difference? Now we've got two great teams.

And their fans found the will to survive!

(CHORUS) It's the Lions and Tigers,

And they've both learned to win,

Risin' up to the challenge of their rivals,

And we'd better enjoy it —

Remember Oh-and-sixteen?

These are wonderful days for the Liii-ons and Tigers!

The big cat,

Miguel Cabrera,

The best hitter on the planet,

Justin Verlander

Should we just call him "Cy"?

Just a man, but he can't seem to lose!

(CHORUS) It's the Lions and Tigers,

And they've both got some bite,

Risin' up to the challenge of their rivals,

And we'd better enjoy it —

Remember Tigers '03?

These are glorious days for

the Liii-ons and Tigers!

Finally,

We've got a Q-B,

If we can just keep Matt healthy,

Our defense

Is silver crushin' again,

Thanks in part to a boy who's named Suh!

Megatron,

Victor Martinez,

Motor City's got much talent,

No matter what happens

It could always be worse —

We could be Boston Red Sox fans today!

(CHORUS) It's our — Lions and Tigers,

And they're ready to fight,

Risin' up, and we will not go down easy!

Sports fans — time for rejoicin',

We're important again!

These are memorable times for

The Liii-ons and Tigers!

> Email Jim McFarlin