This dad decided to troll his son in the most public and embarrassing way possible -- and he totally nailed it.
A mysterious billboard appeared in downtown Detroit last month announcing the 2014 football season. Featuring the downcast face of a man decked out in Lions gear, it was not the best advertisement for a team that frustrates even its most diehard fans.
Turns out, it's not just a joke at the Lions' expense, but a father messing with his kid. Steve Vlahakis purchased the billboard so he could put a larger-than-life picture of his son, 23-year-old Niko Vlahakis, on view -- just a couple blocks from Niko's work.
Niko first found out about it from a friend in Arizona who saw a photo of the billboard on Twitter.
"When I first saw it, I was shocked. After a long day at work and getting a beer, I turned the corner and was speechless," he told The Huffington Post. "I definitely needed another beer after that. ...Every day when I come to work I have to see myself."
He initially had no idea who put up the billboard. When he eventually called his dad, the elder Vlahakis burst out laughing.
Vlahakis' company Seaway Painting works with the billboard company, which gave him the idea for the prank. Though the close father-son pair, both of Northville, Mich., have played jokes on each other before, this is the most extreme. At least so far.
"This is just the beginning of the war of pranking," Niko said. "This is an epic dad prank. Prank of the year, for sure."
The moment shown on the billboard happened during one of the more depressing Lions games last season, just after Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a field goal, winning the Dec. 16 game for Baltimore, according to MLive. The younger Vlahakis saw the action from a front-row seat, where his misery was picked up by the cameras.
Vlahakis' dejected head-shake circulated as a GIF after the game, but he's not done with his team.
"I'll never give up on the Lions," he said. "I think this year they'll be able to turn it around."
Spoken like a true, unfortunate Lions fan.
