Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Post-Vikings, Etc.
While we were in Minneapolis last weekend, we did not attend the last Packers-Vikings game at the Metrodome. That place cannot be torn down fast enough for us. We did attend an exciting NCAA Division III game on Saturday afternoon. Football played by guys that just love the game and have no dreams of millions of dollars. We got home in time to fully enjoy the Packers’ victory on Sunday night in beautiful HD. One of our Viking-fan business clients gave us the above graphic today during a meeting. It’s worth a good chuckle or two.
And we didn’t know if anyone caught the new Campbell’s soup ads featuring Clay Matthews. If not, here’s one shown above.
Work has been all-consuming, in case you’ve been wondering about the lack of blog posts. Hopefully, we’ll be posting more soon. We’ll be at the Packers-Bears game on Monday night, so we’ll share that experience afterwards as well.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Sleep Like A Packer
Green Bay’s Radisson Hotel and Conference Center
While there are numerous things we could focus on these days (head injuries, cancer awareness, re-naming teams with “insensitive” names, etc.), we thought we’d do a post on where the Green Bay Packers stay the night before home games at Lambeau Field. Yes, that’s right. Even before home games, the team stays together for various reasons, not the least of which involves the ease of team meetings and making sure they know where everybody is 12 hours before game time. From the Packer Fan Tours site: “The Radisson Hotel and Conference Center is connected to the Oneida Casino with 88,000 square feet of gaming and bingo, and located across the street from the Green Bay Airport (Austin Straubel International Airport). It offers the ambiance and amenities of a first-class resort with the convenience of nearby big-city services and attractions. And with the team staying at the hotel, you might even bump into a Packers player or two the night before the big game.”
While there are numerous things we could focus on these days (head injuries, cancer awareness, re-naming teams with “insensitive” names, etc.), we thought we’d do a post on where the Green Bay Packers stay the night before home games at Lambeau Field. Yes, that’s right. Even before home games, the team stays together for various reasons, not the least of which involves the ease of team meetings and making sure they know where everybody is 12 hours before game time. From the Packer Fan Tours site: “The Radisson Hotel and Conference Center is connected to the Oneida Casino with 88,000 square feet of gaming and bingo, and located across the street from the Green Bay Airport (Austin Straubel International Airport). It offers the ambiance and amenities of a first-class resort with the convenience of nearby big-city services and attractions. And with the team staying at the hotel, you might even bump into a Packers player or two the night before the big game.”
2021 Update: For updated information on the Green Bay-Austin Straubel International Airport, please visit their WEBSITE.
A typical Radisson room.
We stayed at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee one time back in 1994 when the Packers stayed there before playing games at Milwaukee County Stadium. Sitting in the lobby on Sunday morning, we watched the players heading out to board the team buses, and got to say, “Good morning” to Reggie White. And we recall a young Brett Favre walking by in flip flops. We’re guessing things are bit tighter these days, security-wise, but you still might spot some players during a home game weekend stay at the Radisson. If you can get a room, that is.
We stayed at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee one time back in 1994 when the Packers stayed there before playing games at Milwaukee County Stadium. Sitting in the lobby on Sunday morning, we watched the players heading out to board the team buses, and got to say, “Good morning” to Reggie White. And we recall a young Brett Favre walking by in flip flops. We’re guessing things are bit tighter these days, security-wise, but you still might spot some players during a home game weekend stay at the Radisson. If you can get a room, that is.
We’re traveling to Minneapolis this weekend (ironically not for the Packers-Vikings game), and we’ll post anything we find up there that needs sharing.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Packers vs. Browns and More
It’s time for us to share the Packers-Browns experience from last Sunday afternoon. It was a 3:25 p.m. game start, so we did not have to leave before the crack of dawn as we would for a Noon game. Just north of Milwaukee, we passed this gentleman tooling along in his Green Bay “Packard,” which was in great shape.
Heading up Interstate 43 into northern Wisconsin.
In case you’ve never been to Wisconsin, or you don’t have an actual Autumn where you live, here’s a look at some late Fall colors along the way.
Fans are well into their pre-game rituals as we take a walk to the Packers Pro Shop.
This was the yearly “throwback” game, and there was plenty of retro merchandise in the Pro Shop.
Fans mill about the Lambeau Field Atrium hours before game time.
WTMJ’s Jeff Falconio does some early preparation for the pre-game show on the Packers Radio Network.
Another Atrium view.
Getting into the tailgating outside Lambeau.
As always, there is a small amount of visiting team fans that want to experience Lambeau once in their lifetime. We had four of them sitting behind us at the game, but they were nice, funny, and very vocal about how bad their team is.
The streets around Lambeau fill up early.
And so do the front, side, and back yards and empty lots.
Once inside, here’s the view as you go out to see the field.
Coming out of the tunnel.
Fans who don’t want to miss anything come out early to watch pre-game warm-ups.
The Packers are expecting rain, so the important stuff is under protective tarps or canopies.
Watching pre-game warm-ups.
The Cleveland Browns warming up on the field.
People who don‘t belong on the sideline are milling around the sideline.
Lambeau starts to fill up as the rain begins.
The game is underway in wet conditions, which prevented us from using the better camera equipment for the game.
The majority of the fans came prepared for a wet day. If not, it was a long day for them.
Watching from the Packerville, U.S.A. seats.
The Packer offense at work.
The fans enjoy the game in the rain.
The Packers attempt to score in our North End Zone.
Vertical view down the field.
The cheerleaders perform during a time out.
Cleveland comes down to attempt a score.
Doesn’t everyone bring a giant Johnny Jolly head to a Packer game?
The game is over.
The final score.
The official game program cover for the Cleveland game.
We forgot to share the official game program cover for the Detroit game...
... and also for the Redskins’ season opener.
We picked up another addition to the Packerville, U.S.A. reference library: Packers Pride: Green Bay Greats Share Their Favorite Memories. From Amazon.com: “For more than 90 years, the Green Bay Packers have been the model of excellence across the National Football League. Now, LeRoy Butler — a 12-year veteran and one of the most popular Packers ever to don the uniform — teams up with Rob Reischel to tell the stories of the Packers’ most memorable players and coaches, including Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Forrest Gregg, Jim Taylor, Herb Adderly, Willie Wood, James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Donald Driver to name but a few. Packers Pride looks at the favorite games, favorite moments, and behind-the-scenes stories of the men who played and coached for the team with 13 World Championships, more than any other team in football.”
The front and rear flaps.
The back cover.
Find your copy here.
Packers Pride: Green Bay Greats Share Their Favorite Memories
By LeRoy Butler, with Rob Reischel
Triumph Books (2013)
352 pages
Lastly, we picked up a clearance copy of the recent comic book based on Curly Lambeau and the birth of the Packers. That’s all for now. Thanks for visiting.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Packers vs. Browns Retro
We’re looking forward to Sunday’s game, and looking back as well. When we think of the Green Bay Packers vs. the Cleveland Browns, our mind goes back instantly to the 1965 NFL Championship game. On that cold, sloppy day — January 2, 1966 — the Packers bested the out-of-town challengers by a score of 23-12 at newly-named Lambeau Field. It was Vince Lombardi’s third title, and the first of three in a row. It was also Cleveland Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown’s last game in the league.
Here is the team that won that day. As we said, we’ll be there on Sunday to see the 2013 appearance of the Packers’ “throwback” uniforms. We’d rather see them feature Lombardi Era uniforms with the long sleeves as seen above. Since they’re playing Cleveland, why not wear 1965 “throwbacks” and have Cleveland do the same? But they don’t listen to us.
Sunday also marks our 100th Green Bay Packers game that we’ve attended. Through the years, this has meant games seen at Lambeau Field, Milwaukee County Stadium, and Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. We’ve never been to an away game (yet), but with family in Minneapolis, San Diego, Houston, and Phoenix, who knows? We’ve also never paid more than face value for tickets to a Packers game. Coverage of Sunday’s contest will follow early next week. Go Pack!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Packers and Browns in History
We’ve been neglecting the old blog here lately, but it’s not from a lack of interest. Rather, it is from a lack of time and the pressures of work and travel. We thought that you might enjoy this selection of historical photos from the Packers’ website depicting the Packers-Browns games through the years. We’re showing the Lombardi Era images here, but there are many from more modern times which can be seen here. The Green Bay Press-Gazette also has some great ’65 championship game galleries here, here, here, and here.
Also, if you’re lucky and live in the upper Midwest, you’ll be able to see the Packers-Browns game at 3:25 p.m. GBT this Sunday afternoon (the areas in green on the map above). Unfortunately, a large portion of the country will not see the game. Map courtesy of 506 Sports.
