Abandoned books and/or movies #4-- more information about false memory #2?

Black and Honolulu Blue: In the Trenches of the NFL by Keith Dorney

In 1979, the Detroit Lions went 2-14, tying them for the worst record in the NFL that year. 1980 was a much better year for Detroit - during the offseason they drafted Billy Sims and started off the season 5-1. In the middle of this, veteran defensive back Jimmy "Spiderman" Allen recorded and released his own version of the popular song "Another One Bites the Dust," in which he explained how the Lions were going to defeat all their opponents. The lyrics included such statements as, "Come and watch the Detroit Lions that no one seems to beat," and "Last year's team was 2 and 14, but this is the year for New Orleans" (ie, Super Bowl XV, played in New Orleans). The song was a fan favorite in the Detroit area.

Despite the fact that Detroit finished the season 9-7, tying for first in the NFC Central Division and just barely missing the playoffs, the Lions were ridiculed for years to come because of Allen's song. According to Keith Dorney:

• That stupid song was rubbed into our faces time and time again and was played by our opponent's band after every away loss we suffered for years to come. How humiliating it was to hear Bamp, bamp, bamp. Another one bites the dust! as we walked off the field after a loss. (page 37)

Click here to find a link to the song. It is at the bottom of the article, before the comments section.

Click here to find out more about false memory #2?.

False memories #2?: Detroit Lions versus St. Louis Cardinals

What I remember: It was December 1980. Ronald Reagan had just been elected president in a landslide over Jimmy Carter.

My father took me to see the football Cardinals play the Detroit Lions. I don't remember anything about the game. The Big Red won, though, and the pep band played Another One Bites the Dust, which was popular at the time.

On the car ride home, as we pulled up to the house, the same song came on the radio, this time in the more commonly-heard original version by Queen.

What actually happened: The Cardinals beat the Lions, 24-23. Cardinals quarterback Jim Hart threw for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Roy Green ran a punt return back in the 4th quarter for the winning score. The Big Red defense held Lions running back Billy Sims (pictured above) to only 43 yards. The Cardinals raised their record to 5-9, and the Lions fell to 7-7.

Below: Roy Green returning some sort of a kick

Below: Somewhere a high school band is playing "Another One Bites the Dust"