DETROIT, Michigan People maintain their loved ones who have passed away in their hearts through a variety of activities, mementos, and tributes.
There is a Detroit Lions family.
Sisters Connie, 35, and Emily, 32, gave up their voices to support quarterback Jared Goff during his victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs, extending a playoff run Detroit hasn’t experienced since the 1991 campaign.
Their father could not be there in person. While Emily watches the historic game in a pub in downtown Detroit, he was spiritually with his daughters every step of the way. Emily wears his wedding ring and a Lions team ring on a chain around her neck.
On Thanksgiving Day in 2002, Ted Frikken succumbed to unexpected liver issues. He was survived by his wife, Ann (Rogers), and his three daughters, Kristy, Connie, and Emily.
“He was the most ardent and committed Lions supporter I have ever come across,” Emily remarked, sharing a story her mother had told about his fandom.
“Thursday is my birthday. When my mom and I were scheduled for discharge on Sunday, my dad insisted on being the first to leave the hospital so he could attend the game,” Emily said. “We were, and he left us right away before heading to the game.”
“He was the most ardent and committed Lions supporter I have ever come across,” Emily remarked, sharing a story her mother had told about his fandom.
“Thursday is my birthday. When my mom and I were scheduled for discharge on Sunday, my dad insisted on being the first to leave the hospital so he could attend the game,” Emily said. “We were, and he left us right away before heading to the game.”
During Lions home games, Connie’s fondest recollections are of tailgating outside the Silverdome.
The meetings would take place at the same location, right up against a fence, with a grill blazing away, and would always begin at nine in the morning. When the Lions relocated to Ford Field in downtown Detroit, the tailgate took up residence at Eastern Market.
Ted dressed for the game, whether it was at home or away.
He alternated between Lions shirts, jerseys, and his favorite player, Barry Sanders. He also wore blue and silver Zubaz pants with stripes that looked like claw marks. The Lions team ring Emily now wears around her neck was always on his wrist.
Ted has an assortment of Lions beer mugs at home. He had on a pair of binoculars inside the stadium, but they weren’t for watching the game.
Connie remarked, “Well, my dad had these openable binoculars that were actually filled with Scotch.” “Every Sunday. He was never apprehended. After entering the stadium, he simply requested ice water and drank his Scotch throughout the entire match.
The basement served as the family’s makeshift Lions sanctuary when they were away from home games; it only suffered one serious damage.
Ted was watching a game when he leaped up and inadvertently punched a hole through a ceiling tile because he was so thrilled.
His affection for his family was equal to his love for the Lions.
Emily remarked, “I think our dad was the ultimate girl dad.” We were at the game with him every single Sunday. He was explaining the game to us. He was instructing us on spiral throwing technique.
While watching a game in the stadium, Emily thought back to one of her favorite, most clear memories of her father.
“Our receiver received a lateral pass from our quarterback at one point,” she remarked. The man merely stood there. He did not try to run or make a move; instead, the linebacker from the opposing side simply approached and struck him.
When Emily was a little child, she asked her father, “Why didn’t he run?”
Ted’s expression instantly turned to one of unadulterated delight and pride.
“This is the reason I bring my daughters to the game,” he added, turning to face the man he was sitting next to. Thus, they pick up crucial s—.”
Ted had a strong, resilient, and fiercely passionate personality.
He instilled these values in his kids, and they have a same passion for competitive athletics as he did.
At the moment, Connie coaches basketball at Roseville High School, and Emily serves as the athletic director at Regina High School in Warren.
When Connie imagined her father watching the current Lions team, she commented, “I think Dan Campbell would be his favorite person in the world.” “The way this squad plays with a toughness we haven’t seen, their lack of fear, and their philosophy of “biting the kneecaps” That seems like something my dad would enjoy seeing on a daily basis.
The last time Detroit had a chance to compete in the NFC Championship game was on January 5, 1992, when Ted was in the stands at the Silverdome watching the Lions defeat the Dallas Cowboys 38–6.
Emily remarked, “That’s really emotional.” After the Buccaneers game, Connie and I were crying uncontrollably. We were elated, but all we could think about was our dad and how we wished he could have witnessed it.
He was quite desirous of this. After the game, I’m sure he would have been crying with Connie and me. He would have, I’m sure of it.
