The Making of a Green Bay Packers Fan

The Green Bay Packers were my first team and, now that I look back, the reason I became a sports fan, played football in high school, and eventually became a sports reporter/writer.

It all started one Sunday afternoon in 1965 (I think) when we were at my mother's parents' house. I was standing in the living room and asked my Grandfather what was the best team in football. He turned and pointed to the TV and said that one right there.

On the TV the Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers were playing the San Francisco 49'ers (I again think) and that moment began a love affair with a team that I have been honored to be associated with for the rest of my life.

Being from Carbondale, Illinois it would have been reasonable to become a St. Louis Cardinals fan or, heaven forbid, a Chicago Bears fan, since in the other sports I am a St. Louis baseball Cardinals fan (and not thankfully a Cubs fan), a St. Louis Blues fans and a New York Knick fan.

There is a story there about the Knicks. At that time there was no professional basketball team in St. Louis and being the home of the Southern Illinois University Salukis I found out that (at that time) every Saluki that went on to the NBA played for the Knicks (Walt Frazier, Mike Glenn) and so I chose the Knicks (and lately have suffered severely).

After enjoying the Lombardi years I have proved I am no fair weather fan of the Packers having suffered through Phil Bengston, Dan Devine, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, and Lindy Infanti. I was in the wilderness for a long, long, long time.

Then came the Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren years with Brett Favre. It has been an honor to be able to experience every game of the best quarterback of all time and a future Hall of Famer. However, Favre's efforts to "stick it" to the Packers are severely straining my love for him. If he signs with the Vikings I will have to "hate" him.

So now I am waiting to see if I relove Favre or hate him and it all began with my Grandfather's assessment of the best team at that time.

I found out that while the team on the field has not always been the best (that wildness we Packer Backers were in for a long time) the Green Bay Packers are the most storied team in any sport and I can't imagine having the same feeling for any other team. I am honored to be a Packer Backer.