Why does Green Bay love the Packers so much? How can a town of just over 102,000 people consistently fill a stadium with over 72,000 seats? I don't know, exactly. But I can tell you - as a kid growing up in Titletown I learned how to throw a spiral with the best of them, I knew how to spell Majkowski in the early years of grade school, and I've been on the waiting list for season tickets since I was born. (And even though I live on the east coast now - I'll take 'em when my name's up!)
I don't know if it's something in the water, the fact that you can go for a jog in the summer and 'train' with a famous quarterback, or bump into a tight end at dinner. It might be that the color combination of green and gold is endearing, and it might just be that people in Green Bay are crazy for football!
Whatever it is...it kept me glued to the TV on Sunday night, spewing stats and game plays that I have no business knowing. I haven't lived in Green Bay in over 10 years, and yet I know exactly what the streets looked like at 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 6th. It's a great feeling and it's a great town, and I'm so happy that the Packers won!
Not to be outdone by my sports knowledge and abilities - my brother - an amazing Packer fan, was caught on camera celebrating Sunday night. Not only was he photographed wearing a cheesehead snuggie hanging out of a car, but this photograph ended up on some major websites! NBC, Sports Illustrated, and the official NFL website - just to name a few! Of course, he was on the local news - and will probably be recognized for a while (at least until he shaves his beard) as one of the biggest Packer fans in town! Here he is on the Sports Illustrated site:
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbh4vyDgM-o/TVNeywVukJI/AAAAAAAAAfk/JtRKcpV-FpY/s1600/Blog%2B1%2BScreen%2Bshot%2B2011-02-07%2Bat%2B2.16.49%2BPM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbh4vyDgM-o/TVNeywVukJI/AAAAAAAAAfk/JtRKcpV-FpY/s400/Blog%2B1%2BScreen%2Bshot%2B2011-02-07%2Bat%2B2.16.49%2BPM.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571901390049939602" /></a>
Now...not to be outdone by my brother, we set up Chip with a little sign...he takes himself very seriously as a dog and as a Packer fan.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6p-dEQRpP6A/TVNe-NRFDpI/AAAAAAAAAfs/hLmbwZBNQWo/s1600/Blog%2B2%2BChip%2B-%2BPack%2Bsmall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6p-dEQRpP6A/TVNe-NRFDpI/AAAAAAAAAfs/hLmbwZBNQWo/s320/Blog%2B2%2BChip%2B-%2BPack%2Bsmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571901586793631378" /></a>
What do the Packers do so well that makes people come out in the cold, year after year, more loyal than ever? They thank their friends, families and fans, they remember where they 'came from' (wherever that may be for each of them), and they're always happy to share the joy. They're so good at this, that yesterday - they thanked, remembered and shared their Lombardi trophy yesterday to a stadium full of fans - in negative degree weather!
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucq6rrQ2CkE/TVNfOfT6qpI/AAAAAAAAAf0/BXRJ9-1e_zk/s1600/Blog%2B3%2Bbilde.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucq6rrQ2CkE/TVNfOfT6qpI/AAAAAAAAAf0/BXRJ9-1e_zk/s320/Blog%2B3%2Bbilde.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571901866515278482" /></a>
Now you may hate sports, think that football is a bunch of man-children playing games, or get frustrated with the amount of time spent focused on athletes, but there is something to be learned about the way 'America's Team' runs their company. I may never sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, or perform for a sold-out stadium of people, but I can be thankful, remember where I come from, and share every joy that I experience with you; my friends, family and fans.
And until I reach that stadium performance...well, I'll just borrow a little promo help from my brother.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-grkn5S7IdoE/TVNfhes1GPI/AAAAAAAAAf8/z4BgZRrCIgw/s1600/Blog%2B4%2Bbetter%2Bfamous%2Bdave%2Bpdf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-grkn5S7IdoE/TVNfhes1GPI/AAAAAAAAAf8/z4BgZRrCIgw/s400/Blog%2B4%2Bbetter%2Bfamous%2Bdave%2Bpdf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571902192768850162" /></a>
Why does Green Bay love the Packers so much? How can a town of just over 102,000 people consistently fill a stadium with over 72,000 seats? I don't know, exactly. But I can tell you - as a kid growing up in Titletown I learned how to throw a spiral with the best of them, I knew how to spell Majkowski in the early years of grade school, and I've been on the waiting list for season tickets since I was born. (And even though I live on the east coast now - I'll take 'em when my name's up!)
I don't know if it's something in the water, the fact that you can go for a jog in the summer and 'train' with a famous quarterback, or bump into a tight end at dinner. It might be that the color combination of green and gold is endearing, and it might just be that people in Green Bay are crazy for football!
Whatever it is...it kept me glued to the TV on Sunday night, spewing stats and game plays that I have no business knowing. I haven't lived in Green Bay in over 10 years, and yet I know exactly what the streets looked like at 10 p.m. on Sunday, February 6th. It's a great feeling and it's a great town, and I'm so happy that the Packers won!
Not to be outdone by my sports knowledge and abilities - my brother - an amazing Packer fan, was caught on camera celebrating Sunday night. Not only was he photographed wearing a cheesehead snuggie hanging out of a car, but this photograph ended up on some major websites! NBC, Sports Illustrated, and the official NFL website - just to name a few! Of course, he was on the local news - and will probably be recognized for a while (at least until he shaves his beard) as one of the biggest Packer fans in town! Here he is on the Sports Illustrated site:
Now...not to be outdone by my brother, we set up Chip with a little sign...he takes himself very seriously as a dog and as a Packer fan.
What do the Packers do so well that makes people come out in the cold, year after year, more loyal than ever? They thank their friends, families and fans, they remember where they 'came from' (wherever that may be for each of them), and they're always happy to share the joy. They're so good at this, that yesterday - they thanked, remembered and shared their Lombardi trophy yesterday to a stadium full of fans - in negative degree weather!
Now you may hate sports, think that football is a bunch of man-children playing games, or get frustrated with the amount of time spent focused on athletes, but there is something to be learned about the way 'America's Team' runs their company. I may never sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, or perform for a sold-out stadium of people, but I can be thankful, remember where I come from, and share every joy that I experience with you; my friends, family and fans.
And until I reach that stadium performance...well, I'll just borrow a little promo help from my brother.
