Hamp has been at the heart of two improbable turnarounds: Building the Lions into a legitimate Super Bowl contender and quieting the narrative that her family was incapable of doing it.
When Shiela took over and made no changes, I thought "Same crap, different year". Boy, I am so glad I was 100% wrong! The stupidity that dogged the team for 50+ years has stopped. I like winning. I like Shiela's efforts to bring a winner to Detroit.
When she kept Sweet Pea and Bluto on board I said she had done something her old man couldn't do, run me off as a fan after 50 years. I took that year off, telling myself as long as tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber were running things I would find other ways to spend my Sundays. Then she brought Spielman on board and I said okay, maybe she understands the league cannot and will not help you improve your team. When Coach gave that first presser I was back. Biting kneecaps? My kind of guy. But she showed me she was different when she went out there and took those boos on Calvin Johnson day and when she gave that public vote of confidence in Holmes and Coach. Those were two things her father never would have done. Her guys are loyal to her, she's loyal to them, and she's involved without being overbearing. She took the heat with her team and when the day comes where she is handed that trophy she will have earned it.
Great article Justin, my guess is you'll be able to sit down with Sheila again in 2 to 3 years. Right now she may not want to distract from Brad and Dan. Incidentally if I recall correctly She hired D C before Brad and I doubt that hiring a H C first is done very often but she made it work
Ford Hamp. She hates losing and knows how to do something about it. The great football, every play, every quarter, every game can be traced back to her leadership. We don't play mediocre football; we don't lose two games in a row, we don't have bad players keep playing because of bad contracts, we don't reward bad coaching because it seems like loyalty, we don't make decisions blinded by ego, we don't get stuck in all the bad loops that kept this team from becoming a quality organization for so long. I'm buying a custom Jersey, 21, and wearing Ford Hamp name on the back of it to commemorate the turnaround and will have Chris Spielman's name sewn in just below the numbers: you could write a book on this turnaround Justin and you are just guy to do it. You need first two chapters about losing and terrible organizations getting their own way...just make the reader suffer through/feel the 55 years of futility prior to Hamps ownership.
I’ve been watching a show called Holmes on Homes. He completely fixes everything that is at the root of any problem. He will tear everything out regardless of how costly materials were in the first place. Mold, poor workmanship, substandard materials, are the similarities.
Love Sheila and love the job she’s doing. Solid leadership w/o a lot of fanfare or BS. Couldn’t ask for more. Great review of her first five years at the helm, too.
When Shiela took over and made no changes, I thought "Same crap, different year". Boy, I am so glad I was 100% wrong! The stupidity that dogged the team for 50+ years has stopped. I like winning. I like Shiela's efforts to bring a winner to Detroit.
Thank you, Shelia, for what you are doing for the Lions. You are an example of women everywhere. GO LIONS!!!! :-)
When she kept Sweet Pea and Bluto on board I said she had done something her old man couldn't do, run me off as a fan after 50 years. I took that year off, telling myself as long as tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber were running things I would find other ways to spend my Sundays. Then she brought Spielman on board and I said okay, maybe she understands the league cannot and will not help you improve your team. When Coach gave that first presser I was back. Biting kneecaps? My kind of guy. But she showed me she was different when she went out there and took those boos on Calvin Johnson day and when she gave that public vote of confidence in Holmes and Coach. Those were two things her father never would have done. Her guys are loyal to her, she's loyal to them, and she's involved without being overbearing. She took the heat with her team and when the day comes where she is handed that trophy she will have earned it.
Sheila Ford Hamp:
-Doesn't meddle
-Isn't cheap
-Rarely speaks to the media
That already puts her in the top quartile of NFL owners.
Add in the fact that she hired the best GM/coach combo in the franchise's modern history, makes her top 3 in my book.
I haven’t heard many apologize for booing her a few years.
GREAT article. And SHE(Ila’s) GREAT!
She, and her team, have redefined leadership and organizational structure in the NFL. And yes Sheila, we all feel part of the team.
Great article Justin, my guess is you'll be able to sit down with Sheila again in 2 to 3 years. Right now she may not want to distract from Brad and Dan. Incidentally if I recall correctly She hired D C before Brad and I doubt that hiring a H C first is done very often but she made it work
One of my favorite off-season reads so far. Fantastic article.
Thank you
Great Article. Thank you.
Ford Hamp. She hates losing and knows how to do something about it. The great football, every play, every quarter, every game can be traced back to her leadership. We don't play mediocre football; we don't lose two games in a row, we don't have bad players keep playing because of bad contracts, we don't reward bad coaching because it seems like loyalty, we don't make decisions blinded by ego, we don't get stuck in all the bad loops that kept this team from becoming a quality organization for so long. I'm buying a custom Jersey, 21, and wearing Ford Hamp name on the back of it to commemorate the turnaround and will have Chris Spielman's name sewn in just below the numbers: you could write a book on this turnaround Justin and you are just guy to do it. You need first two chapters about losing and terrible organizations getting their own way...just make the reader suffer through/feel the 55 years of futility prior to Hamps ownership.
One of my favorite articles you’ve written. Love this.
I’ve been watching a show called Holmes on Homes. He completely fixes everything that is at the root of any problem. He will tear everything out regardless of how costly materials were in the first place. Mold, poor workmanship, substandard materials, are the similarities.
Mrs. Hamp did exactly that.
You da best, Justin. My budget accounts for you before food and shelter...
Love Sheila and love the job she’s doing. Solid leadership w/o a lot of fanfare or BS. Couldn’t ask for more. Great review of her first five years at the helm, too.
An excellent piece. I’d dare saying it’s the journalistic highlight of the summer