By Matthew St. Amand, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Essex County abounds with sports fans, and no wonder. From the profusion of local sports teams in the region to the professional American teams competing just across the border, Essex County residents have their pick of the leagues to follow. Few sports fans, however, have had the opportunity to connect with their favourite team as LaSalle resident, Rob Campana, has.
The Detroit Lions, who have been derided for decades for their losing record, are enjoying a Renaissance. For all of the new fans jumping onto the Lions’ bandwagon, Rob Campana is not among them.
“I have been a Detroit Lions fan since I was a young teenager and I’m now sixty-two years old,” Rob explains. “The first Lions game I attended was in 1974 at Old Tiger Stadium, where they used to play before the Pontiac Silverdome was built.”
Rob grew up in Windsor and attended Herman high school. A guy from his neighbourhood, known as Danny J., was hired by the Detroit Lions in the late 1970s to be their assistant equipment manager.
“It was through Danny J. that I connected with the Lions, as a teenager, and helped at their training camps,” Rob remembers. “It was in 1977/78. I would set up for practices, did laundry, cleaned up the locker room and even lived in the Oakland University dorms with the team during training camp.”
He continues: “As time went on, they asked me to photograph plays on the field. It didn’t seem like a big deal, and I got to travel with the team. I’d be up in the press box taking pictures, just after the snap, and the coach would look at them trying to decipher what the opposing team was trying to do.”
What was it like hanging out, and even traveling, with his favourite team?
“It was a dream come true,” Rob says. “One player I really connected with was Al ‘Bubba’ Baker,” Rob says. “One day, I asked if he would come to Windsor and play basketball with me and my friends. He said yes. So, he had dinner with my family and afterward, Al came to Herman high school with me to play basketball.”
Another Detroit Lions player with whom Rob felt a special connection was legendary running back Barry Sanders.
“We had a nice relationship,” Rob says. “Barry didn’t think he was anything special. He treated me like I was just another guy. He was very unassuming. That’s why he’s my favourite. After you watch that video [the new documentary about Sanders titled Bye Bye Barry], you realize that there will never be anyone else like him.”
Rob remembers being at a Michigan shopping mall with some Lions players, including Sanders.
“Barry went up to a group of kids, who didn’t recognize him, and pointed out his teammates, who were huge guys you couldn’t help but notice,” Rob says. “Barry said to the kids: ‘Those guys play for the Detroit Lions!’ And the kids ran over to meet them and get autographs having no idea it was Barry Sanders who sent them over.”
During the many years of his association with the Detroit Lions, Rob collected game jerseys, discarded shoes, and was photographed innumerable times with his heroes and friends on the team. Rob calls his furnished basement of his home the “Lions Den.” On one wall is a life-size image of Barry Sanders running with the ball. There is a framed autographed jersey from #54 Chris Spielman on a wall, and one of Barry Sanders’ autographed jerseys, as well. A glass cabinet houses replica football helmets signed by Dan Marino and Jim Brown among other NFL legends. Rob even has an old box of Wheaties breakfast cereal featuring Barry Sanders on the front.
Rob shrugs at the suggestion that he is a “super fan.”
“My connection to the Lions is very special,” he says. “My family and I still go to every home game.”
When the LaSalle Post photographer stepped close to a Detroit Lions rug near the TV, Rob said: “If you step on that, you have to do pushups!”
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