The Sound of Music

Yours truly just watched that movie again for the umpteenth time, and it never ceases to move me. And no, I'm not talking about from the couch to the john, to the refrigerator, and back  It's such a heart-warming story. What a classic. It ranks right up there with The Wizard of Oz, Old Yeller, Love Story, and The Blues Brothers. Powerful stuff.

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer were masterful in their roles, though I'm not at all sure after proposing to a lovely lady in a tender moment, I would want her to belt out a song. Especially when she was backed up by an invisible orchestra. That would be scary.

Even the child actors were terrific. There was Dreidl, and Marta, and Petr, and Doc, and Sneezy, and Bashful, and... oops, wrong movie -- but that one was pretty good too. Maybe not as good as The Shawshank Redemption or Caddyshack, but not too shabby.

In the end, the superbly talented Von Trapp family managed to escape the evil clutches of the Nazis and made their way to Switzerland, where they could be happy and sing on. Hurray for the good guys.

There were many terrific songs featured in that movie, but many of us remember the most famous one. So please get yourself in a Sound of Music mood and sing along....

Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
Till you find your dream.

What can all this possibly have to do with sports? Simple.

If you've been a Lions' fan since about the time the Sound of Music came out (1965), then you've already tried to climb every mountain, but they kept rolling boulders down at you.

A guy named Ford knows all about streams -- of your money.

Since when are you going to see a rainbow while inside a domed stadium, like Ford Field, or the Silverdome before it? When you get out, you'll be lucky to find your vehicle still there, let alone a pot of gold.

Ah, but there are always dreams, you say. Indeed there are. I dream that next season Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer will not only star in a long overdue sequel to The Sound of Music, but win Dancing With The Stars, then immediately go into training to eventually claim gold medals at the next Winter Olympics, while shocking the world as a figure skating team. Julie recently turned 79, and Christopher 82.

Anything's possible. Even the Lions winning the Super Bowl.

But if I was a betting man, my money would be on Julie and Christopher simultaneously doing quadruple toe-loops, axels, and even back-flips on the ice, before the Lions sniff the Lombardi trophy.

Bottom line? Lions' fans can smoke all the Edelweis they want and sing songs, but if they ever come down, they'll realize the glorious mountaintop in Switzerland has always been an illusion. They've been in the La Brea Tar Pits all along.

No, the Lions definitely don't qualify as one of my Most Favorite Things.

And don't get me started on the Do-Re-Mi tune.

I can hear William Clay Ford singing it....

Dough, so dear, so ever dear
Ray, my team shown Monday night
Me, that's Sir, to those I see
Far, so long since we've been right

Etc, etc........

Yep, The Sound of Music remains a classic. Great stuff.

The Lions remain a classic too. If one is into B movies.

Speaking of cult followings, the Lions could likely be compared to The Rocky Horror Picture Show in several ways.

Hmm. I'll get back to you on that. Working. It's a Wonderful Life.

Huh, another great movie that gave me another dumb idea. If nothing else, those Lions have a way of keeping the creative juices flowing during the holidays.