WYANDOTTE, Mich. – A Wyandotte man might be head and shoulders above the competition regarding the biggest Lions fan in Metro Detroit.
When some people first meet Alex Papp, it’s hard for them to make eye contact initially because they’re so focused on what’s on each side of his head.
But he’s used to it.
“I just want them to know that it is real,” said Papp. “They’re not painted on.”
The Detroit Lions logo is tattooed on both sides of his head. He got them done in 2009.
“Very painful,” Papp said. “This one, I had a toothache. It took two hours on each side to do.”
He also has a Lions tattoo on his forearm that dates to 2003.
“I got this one, and four days later, they changed the logo,” Papp said. “They put the black outline on it.”
He got the body art when being a Lions fan was painful.
“I said I’m tired of painting up every weekend,” Papp, who used to be a Lions season ticket holder, said. “So, I started getting tattoos. Now I don’t have to paint up.”
Papp said many people questioned him why he would get Lions tattoos.
“When I got them, they were the worst team in football,” Papp said.
Papp said it’s finally paying off now.
“I am not going to cry about it,” Papp said. “I’m just on the edge of my seat, almost hyperventilating. It’s incredible.”
Papp said he’s considering more tattoos and replacing the Lions logo on his prosthetic leg.
“See, I’m a real fan,” Papp said pointing toward his prosthetic leg. “This is 2016.”