Pontiac, MI, police and Silverdome security "will be
out in force" on Thursday "not tolerating the drunken
diversions that plagued" past Lions games, according to
Manny Lopez of the DETROIT NEWS. Lions spokesperson Mike
Murray said that increased police presence and ending beer
sales at halftime have "nearly eliminated fights and unruly
behavior, but a strong presence is still necessary." Police
officers will patrol parking lots, including satellite lots,
before Thursday's game and violators can be fined $500 under
a city ordinance banning open alcohol containers. Lopez
reports that Lions officials "have not ruled out the
possibility of conducting court in the Silverdome" like the
Eagles did this past Sunday (DETROIT NEWS, 11/26).
YO, BLOCKHEAD: MI residents Jim Waring and Nate Parsons
have invented the Blockhead, an 18-ounce "sports war
bonnet," featuring the Lions' team colors, that resembles an
engine block, according to Bill Halls of the DETROIT NEWS.
The foam hats, nine inches high, 15 inches wide and 14
inches long, sell for $20. Parsons: "What made the
Cheesehead successful? Wisconsin dairy products. Detroit
is known as the Motor City. So we thought the engine block
would fit." Parsons and Waring plan to sell Blockheads at
Thursday game, and if the hats sell, the partners, who have
invested $20,000 in the project, plan to open a small
factory for mass production (DETROIT NEWS, 11/26).
