When And Why

This

As for when, it was one day after church sitting on my mom’s knee and stealing sips out of her beer.

I really was not a sports fan as a kid. I was always a bit overweight and considered myself unathletic. My older brother, on the other hand, was a natural athlete — good at anything he tried. He loved all sports, but chose to play only golf in high school. In 1987, as a freshman at Bradley University, he died in an alcohol-related accident. It was shortly after his death that something changed in me. I became a fan of sports and began rooting for all the teams in my home state. Later, I took up golf as a way to feel a life-long connection to my brother.

My dad is from Milwaukee, but came down to Chicago for school and never quite made it back north. The first Packer memory I have actually isn’t even one of me being excited about anything, or at least I don’t remember it because of my excitement about the situation. It was when Chris Jacke nailed a game-winner, in I want to say 1993, and I got to see my dad and brother go ballistic and run outside to do a lap around our cottage cheering. Even though I was too young to really care, that’s the first time I really associated the Packers with family. 18 years or so later, the Packers won the Super Bowl, and when the final pass was tipped away to seal the win, we all ran outside, dove into the snow drift, and started doing celebratory snow angels.

The first time I remember really cheering for the Packers was in Super Bowl XXXII. I couldn’t tell you who Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, or even Don Majkowski were at the time (I was 10), I just loved watching Favre play in that game (plus, I was kind of annoyed of hearing about how Elway had yet to win a ring). Pretty much fell in love with the Packers and have followed them regularly since then.

Being a Texan, you’d figure I’d be a Cowboys fan, right? NO… not when you have to put up with their fans’ shit. Luckily, my dad was not one of them (he is freaking awesome; he roots for the Cowboys to lose every week, LOL). My one sister that does follow football was a Vikings fan… yeah (can’t blame her too much; there was talk of moving the team to San Antonio, where she lived).

been going to games for as long as i can remember, including one’s at old County Stadium.

F*%# I’m getting old…….

I’m from Fond du Lac, so it was probably just a matter of time. But it was hard to get excited about the Forrest Gregg/Randy Wright era. It wasn’t that they were losing, but Gregg especially just didn’t seem to be a good person (I mean, am I supposed to believe that he didn’t notice the writing on the hand-towel hanging from Charles Martin’s belt and perfectly understand exactly what was about to happen? What kind of a coach doesn’t do something about that?).

But, in ‘89, everything changed. The love grew all year, but I specifically and vividly remember I and my family literally dancing around in our living room after the “instant replay” game. That was it. Ever since then, there ain’t no river wide enough, ain’t no mountain high enough, etc., etc.

The Packers frickin’ rule. I feel sorry for anybody who doesn’t understand that fact.

Born when the Packers were preparing for the season on their way to SB 1 victory. Pretty much was weened on Packers football from birth! I was 7 months old when they won SB 1.

I had a board with all the team names on it. I closed my eyes and pointed to the board. Lo and behold, my finger was pointed at the Arizona Cardinals, but I said “fuck that” and picked the Packers instead. The rest is history.

I grew up in Appleton, WI. Honestly I don’t remember being a big football guy until I was closer to 10 so the Packers were some crazy religion until I was old enough to make a real decision (it was in the late 80s so before we had good teams).

My allegiance was strong around the time Favre and Reggie came up and only got bigger as the team finally looked good in the early 90s. In 1996, I moved to MN for college as a crazy, avid raving packer fan. I admit I was a little over the top in my first year there but I was constantly harrassed all year. But if you remember how that year ended, I had the last word! BOOYAH! I’ve been living in Twin Cities ever since (sans a brief summer in California and a 2 year stint in Chicago) and remained completely loyal to my team. I don’t really have even one Packer fan friend but it doesn’t bug me.

I am not a wild crazy packer fan now but I am a die hard. My wife is a Viking fan, my best friend is a Packer fan, and its kinda fun…the rivalry makes thing really interesting.

But not full blown the whole time. My dad became a fan in the early 40s so I heard all about it as a kid. I followed and cheered for the Packers with Dad, but also jumped on some bandwagons so I could cheer for a team that won, first the Steelers then the 49ers. But the Packers were always there also. Then Dad got a share of the Packers for a gift and that’s what finally won me over. Seeing how much that meant to him and how much he looked forward to the Meeting each Summer showed me what it meant. So around that time I went from not really having a team and rooting for the Packers and one of the dominant teams to being a full blown Packers fan.

…more older folk in here than I thought, and just think all us older guys “were put in our place” by a 16 year old “genius” just a short week ago! LOL

I remember watching Bart Starr in the Pro Bowl and thought the Stars on his shoulders were the coolest thing in the world… Made my Mom sew stars on a Red & White #15 Jersey…

Was so disappointed when we lost… In fact, if I remember correctly, Bart Starr didn’t get to play in the game… Can’t remember why though, I was only 4… The next year we won the 1st Super Bowl, and then the next year was the Ice Bowl, and our second Super Bowl…

My Dad loved Vince Lombardi. He was a HS FB Coach for 30 years, and the best coach I ever had, including college & overseas…

Been a Packer fan since 1965 and wouldn’t have it any other way!!

My dad is from the Indiana suburbs of Chicago and was a Bears fan most of his adult life, until the early 80s and then he didn’t watch football. Even when they won the Superbowl he didn’t really care. It wasn’t until Favre started playing that he watched football again. Because of that I’m pretty sure I would have been a fan of another team if he had played for them. My mom’s side of the family is from Manitowoc, (45 min from GB), so they are all die-hards, but I didn’t really watch much football with them. Plus my mom isn’t a football fan.

Tony Mandarich is a former football offensive lineman of the NFL. He was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1989, second overall behind quarterback Troy Aikman, and ahead of the third selection, running back Barry Sanders, the fourth selection, linebacker Derrick Thomas, and the fifth selection, cornerback Deion Sanders. Mandarich is the only player of those five not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I was born in Wisconsin. I don’t remember the very first game I watched, but being raised in a family that were die hard Packer fans was enough to draw me in. I still remember watching Sterling Sharpe and Leroy Butler play. Favre’s performances certainly drew my attention and got me more and more interested in the game, but I would argue that it was my family that made me a Packer fan more than anything. All the football parties and discussions. It was something special to be a part of. I still remember the very first Lambeau Leap by Leroy Butler! The memories are endless.

I read a Scholastic Book Services book that my brother had, called Bart Starr (and sub-titled, somewhere, ‘Bart the Cool’, which was what I remembered for a long time as the title), by John Devaney.

Back cover text:

“Bart the Cool…” Is what they call him: his coach, his teammates and his opponents. They know him as the calm, quick thinking quarterback of the Green Bay Packers – a quiet, courageous man, friendly, easy going and relaxed: a superstar.
But to know Bart Starr you must also know what it’s like to walk the streets in despair, ignored by your coach; to brood over three interceptions that cost your team a victory-and to know the joy of becoming a champion after years of bitterness and frustration.
All these things have happened to Bart Starr. Here you will learn how they happened, and how they forged a champion.

It’s a family thing for me. My dad was born and raised in Wisconsin, and was/is an avid Packer fan. I guess it just rubbed off on me. I think the first season I remember is the 1996 season.

First game I clearly remember watching was Super Bowl XXXI and I haven’t missed many games since.