Count Your Blessings

Brett Favre has postponed this year’s meeting at Lambeau with Bart Starr and Aaron Rodgers because Bart Starr’s health is still in question and Brett doesn’t want to visit without him. This one brettkidsmall statement forced me to pause and consider two things:

1. How great it is to be a Packers fan

2. How great Packers fans are

How great to be a Packers fan

real12thmanPackers fans are truly blessed… spoiled really. How many teams’ fans can go into a season expecting to reach the playoffs and come out of it disappointed if they don’t make the Super Bowl? Really, stop and think about it. Of the 32 teams in this league, only 3 or four could even say they have had spots and stretches where they expected to reach the playoffs/Super Bowl several years in a row. The Packers have had the Lambeau Era, the Lombardi Era, and now the Favre Era that has bled straight into the Rodgers Era. Packers fans timeline is in Epochs while other teams work in seasons. The Packers have three-peated championships – twice. And now, we expect to see a time when Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers walk out on the field and wave to the crowd together in the same time and place. EPIC.

So to Bart Starr, “Get well soon sir, you are a legend and a gentleman.” To Brett Favre, “We will trybart to be patient as we await your return to Lambeau where you belong. You have done the right thing by not coming until Bart Starr can accompany you.” And to Aaron Rodgers, the current torch-bearer for the Green Bay Packers, “Enjoy a moment with the two legends you will someday join in Canton as the Trifecta of NFL quarterbacks. And until then, we wish you health and victory each day from now until the day many years from now when you turn over the torch to someone new.”

How great are Packers fans?

amanda2Packers fans are not just fanatical, they are also compassionate, fun-loving, and intelligent. The BEST fans on the planet! Packers fans are held together by the bond of pride in the Green Bay Packers that knows no geographical, cultural, or social boundary.

A Packers fan in some faraway state, who could not see the game would find an immediate friend in ANY other Packers fan she found. How many Packers fans who live outside Wisconsin have made a friend or had a friendly chat just because they saw someone in a Packers jacket or cap and said, “Go Pack!” as they walked by. Many such conversations that I have had have led to friendships.

Packers fans are the best and as this season progresses, let’s all remember to be thankful for the bond that we all have in this great team of ours. And while you’re at it, feel free to drop down to the comments below and list your favorite Packer, the one who made you a Packers fan or who you most loved to watch.

GO PACK!!!


Comments

Count Your Blessings — 57 Comments

  1. I’m a Packer fan because my father raised us that way! He l o v e d them and so do I! He passed away in 2001 but my sister took his ashes to a game in Green Bay later that year!

    My favorite player from the 60s is Ray Nitschke and current fave is Clay Matthews.

    It is true about greeting folks sporting Packer colors, makes me HappyHappyHappy to see and I just have to comment!

    GoPACKGO!!!

  2. My favorite player has always been Brett favre his love and passion for the game was just the best out of any qb. He was definetly a franchise quarterback that wouldn’t come out of the game and played all the time and played for the love of the game and from his heart. Loved him and love our pacers go pack go. One day I hope to see a game from the best stadium ever! One day when I can afford it.

  3. Im a Packers fan in Seahawks country! I have an everyday reminder to how great it is to be a Packers fan when i have to see phony Seahawk fans all day. Seriously try holding a football conversation with them. Anything over two years ago doesn’t exist.

    Go Pack!

  4. From our borders “up north Hey” to our Bears fans border to the south, our Mississippi and our Lake Michigan borders, we are the best fans and have the best team because of our spirit.

  5. Agreed. There is a sportsbar inTucson Az that the wife and I frequent on game day when we are there. Having never met anyone, you sit at the Packer table, and after names and cities are exchanged, your new family goes nuts for 3 hours. We have never been greeted with hostility by other teams fans. Only a humble respect. Pretty special indeed.

  6. I became a Packer fan when I was 12 and the Packers won the SB in 96 then went back the next year. I was a kid in Washington state and just then decided to be a fan of the Packers. Never been to Wisconsin. Was born in MI. But to this day I’ve rooted for my team and I love it.

  7. I actually grew up a Raiders fan,but got tired of Al Davis’s antics in the early 90s. So I went shopping, literally SHOPPING, for a new team to root for. The relationship the Packers have with their fans is 2nd to none and I’m just glad be a part of it (even if I got a late start) . GO PACK GO!!!!

  8. I have always been a packer fan from Mexico, I have followed the pack since the early 80’s seeing Lin Dickey and all the entertaining offense that was! I was lucky enough to watch all the Favre era (he’s my favorite player ever) and now the Rodgers Era (hehe my third favorite player ever) very proud to be a part of the green and gold nation here in Mexico. By the way my second favorite is a tie between Reggie Ehite and Leroy buttler!!

  9. We love the Packers my son so much he owns a piece of them he has to Tats for them one is Go Packs Go and Packers. I like that they are owned by the city and not a bunch of money hungry guys. I just love our Packers even in California!

  10. Packer fan living in the heart of niner country. But I show my love for the packers every chance I get. It’s wonderful how often I run into a stranger who shares the same passion for the green and gold.
    There is no better fan out there than a Packer fan. The respectfulness, the love for the history of the game, the expectations to be great, and the incredibly electric (yet always pleasant) atmosphere of Lambeau.
    The good ol “go pack go” and the universal arm pump is all it takes to make my day 10x better. Which happens more often then you’d think!
    Favorite player had to be DD. The way he played the game, the grin he always wore, and his unbelievable story will always hold strong in my heart.
    I love my packers and I’m proud to wear my colors, no matter where I reside. We are a well traveled fan base and there’s no better feeling that seeing another packer fan.
    Go PACK Go

  11. I have been a Packer fan since Vince came to town. I grew up in Wisconsin now live in Viking land and get a lot static. My favorite players over the years have been Bart Star, Jim Taylor, Gale Gillingham, Bret Favre, Donald Driver, And of course Mr. Rodgers and his entire neighborhood of receivers. Bought stock for myself and grandson. This has always been a exciting team to watch even in the down years with this year is looking great.

    do

  12. My old fave has to be Jim Taylor! I wasn’t around then, but the light in my Dad’s eye when he talks about him made me want to find out more. Now my 14 yo son aspires to be him

  13. I am a die hard Packer fan because of Reggie White. He was a great player and great man. I started out wearing a Packer Angel costume to the games, but over 15 years I have over 45 Hand made Packer costumes all made by my sister, I have Packer Snow white, Dorothy of wizard of OZ Packer Mickey and Minie mouse etc. I go up to the opposing fans and say welcome to Lambeau. I have met people from all over the world and they have said, that we are the best fans ever and will be back. Yes we are blessed.

  14. Now in Texas to be with our first grandchild but lived in Wisconsin for 70 years. Nothing like a Friday Night Fish Fry and Sunday Packer game with the family going crazy at a Bart Starr pass. Have had so many favorite players, but Brett Favre gave you the best show. He was a kid who just loved to play. The game after his Dad died is my fondest memory. I cheered and cried the entire game.

  15. I have been a Packers fan since I was a child. I was raised in a Giants family and I never liked them and the Packers were the first team I watched beat them. It’s been 20 years now and I’m still a loyal Packers fan. My favorite current player is Eddie Lacy!! He’s been such a great asset to the team and he’s a joy to watch!!

    Much love to all the Packers Fans and Players from your New York Fan!!!

  16. When I was 8 yrs old my dad was watching the bears game and they were playing the packers and he said for me to pick a team to root for anxd i asked him gwhp he was rooting for and he saud bears and so i told him i wantex the green/yellow team and i have been a fan since then that year was 1967

  17. Being in the military, I always know that no matter where I am stationed in the world I will always find a Packer fan and become friends. From Washington State, to the Middle East and Germany I have never not run into another fan of the Pack.

  18. I am brazilian, here, the NFL transmission on ESPN are just getting started. The sport need sometime for the people here learn it and begin to appreciate it. I’m still learning about the football´s rules, positions and strategy but I can already say that I LOVE the Packers!!!
    I started following the NFL this year at the Week 1, and well, wasn’t the best start but since that game against the Seattle Seahawks I felt something for the team with the guys wearing Green and Gold hehe.
    The day that I realized I had found the team that would have my support on NFL I was at home doing absolutely nothing when I started rolling the channels of TV and randomly I stopped at ESPN, (back then I didn’t knew the days of the week that have NFL) the broadcasting of a NFL match was getting started and the broadcaster said that there was an old rivalry between those two teams, I thought “Hey this might be interesting”. It was Green Bay Packers (“Ohh the Green and Gold team that I watched on the other day!” my thoughts) x Chicago Bears, Week 4. I suddenly started screaming with every play that the Packers where doing. It was just fantastic I never thought that one day I was going to feel this amount of adrenaline with a football game (here we call American Football) and that was so much fun! I enjoyed every single moment of the match!
    The match ended up 38 Packs x 17 Bears and that gave me an immeasurable feeling of happiness.
    Another moment that my heart beat fast for the Packers was two weeks later from that Bears game.
    The match was Green Bay Packers X Miami Dolphins, Week 6. Man, that match was breathtaking!!
    Sorry about the poor English, I’m still learning the language and maybe one day, I can travel to Wisconsin and watch a Packs match direct from the Lambeau Field! That’s one of my dreams right now! I already bought an green Jersey from the almighty Aaron Rodgers (My favorite NFL player) when the time comes!
    Thanks for letting me share my experience so far and my feelings about the Packs!
    GO PACKS!!

  19. I was born in Milwaukee so have been a Packers fan all my life my favorite book when I was a kid was Instant Replay An the jersey I wear has 64 on it so that will tell you my Favorite all time Packer it’s the biggest snub in all of sports he’s not in the HOF Go Pack Go!!!!

  20. I’m a Wisconsin girl living in San Antonio, TX. We have a fan club and gather at a local bar to watch games. We have a lot of fun. I was able to take my 13 year old son home last weekend for the game against the Panthers. We had a wonderful time. We also go home during the summer for training camp. The only team with such a fun family-friendly experience. So proud of my green and gold heritage!

  21. Bart Starr is the favorite here. My husband and I worked at his Rawhide boys ranch and spoke with him many times. He is truly a southern gentleman with his heart in the right place – using his fame and fortune to make this world a better place.

  22. My Dad took me to his mother’s (Grandma’s) house every Sunday to watch games during the Lombardi era as I was growing up and they were being covered on TV. It was just around the corner in Wisconsin Dells.

    My favorite Packer would be difficult to choose between Ray Nitschke (who was the guest speaker at our 8th grade end of year basketball celebration), Bart Starr, James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Reggie White, Brett Favre, and Vince Lombardi. I’m probably a bit partial to Brett for the way he played like a kid. And I’d have to give honorable mentions to Don Majkowski, Lynn Dickey, Henry Jordan, Paul Hornung, Herb Adderley, and Jim Taylor.

    Proud to say I’ve raised 2 daughters who are also huge Packers fans. I moved to Australia in 2002 and inherited a son, who’s become a huge fan as well. We chat on Facebook every game, and occasionally fight over who gets to be the Packers on Madden games (all in fun, and he usually lets me win). His favorite would be between Eddie Lacy (who he met along with Morgan Burnett during a trip to watch several Packers games last winter), Brett Favre, and Charles Woodson. He and Eddie follow each other on Twitter.

    Very proud of our team and how they remain humble. I’ve met several Pack fans in Australia, and all around the USA. We are indeed fortunate for our players and fan base. Go Pack go! :)

  23. We moved from lower Mich. in 1973 and were surprised to find that most Yoopers were Packer fans. Didn’t take long to discover why. We visited Green Bay with some friends from Maine during early practice one year. After the kids followed the team to the locker rooms and subsequently were able to get a few autographs, we returned to our car to find we were locked out. Went to the office to call AAA and asked if Bart Starr (the coach at the time) was still there. Being told he wasn’t, we returned to the car to wait. Big parking lot, only car in it. Shortly, we saw Bart coming out to get in his car. The boys and I ran up, hoping to get an autograph, but Bart got in his car and backed up. We thought he was leaving, and understood (but disappointed) so headed back to the others. Instead of leaving, however, Bart drove toward us and asked if we were o.k. I had my camera ready, hoping to get a shot of him in his car, but he asked if we wanted a picture. Of course, we sure did. He got out of the car, asked the boys where they were from, made a very diplomatic comment about not having a lot of time as the team was going to watch film clips shortly, and proceeded to be unhurried as we took out pics. Out of state visitors, he was as gracious to us as he would have been to his best friend. I was hooked. He is a real class act. That plus the fact that the Pack is a home owned team and will never leave Wisconsin, plus the dedication of their fans, plus the likes of Reggie, the Donald, Brett, Leroy, and so many others,and now Aaron and his whole team of great players, how can anyone be other than a Packer fan. Go Pack!

  24. i grew up in WI during the Lombardi days. Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, and Paul Horning will always be my favorites. I remember racing home from church and lining up all of the TV trays around the set so we’d all be ready for kick off- even my 80+ year old grandmother was front and center! There will never be anything as beautiful as the “Packer Sweep” of those days. My Dad attended the infamous Ice Bowl!!

  25. I’ve been a Packers fan since I was in second grade and the Packers won super bowl I, I guess I jumped on the bandwagon and never got off. My favorite players are Bart Starr, Aaron Rogers and John Kuhn. Kuhn because we went to the same small college in Pennsylvania, even though many years passed between my time and his. We also grew up in the same county, it’s nice to have a hometown boy on “my” team.

  26. Born and raised green and gold. Shareholder. 9-jersey owner. 2-time Lambeau game attendee. Fave player? Can’t say but fave thing about being a cheesehead? The G-Force! Nothing like my fellow Packer Backers…THAT is what puts this team head and shoulders above the rest and why the rest of the league just can’t hang. Die-hard, world-wide, Lombardi-ized people in the stands and everywhere on the planet. All hail the legends, the newcomers, and the ones yet to come. But remember these colors are earned and this is the black and blue division. Cheer hard, Leap far, and never give up.

  27. Lot’s of Packer Fans here in Nebraska, but I’m the only life-long Packer Fan with a Toyota TUNDRA in “Packer Green” with personalized plates that say FROZEN!

    Grew up with Bart Starr as QB- sure hope he can make it a three-some!

  28. I have been a Packer fan for over 20 years and proud of it! Living here in northern California, in nine country you gotta know your team! So much flack out here its crazy but I know a lot about my team and I’m a true fan no doubt! Never been to GB but soon I will! I have seen me play in San fransisco in the Brett Favre Era and we smashed em! Everything I own is packers! It is true when I see a packer fan out here I always comment! And always nice people too! I would have to say my favorite 3 players are Reggie white, Donald Driver and Rogers no doubt! Hard to pick one! Go Pack Go! See ya in the playoffs!

  29. How about James Lofton. Speaking of Epochs, Lofton gave us something to cheer for during the ‘Dark Age’ of Packers football.

  30. born and raised in Illinois with a family of Bear fans. Never could understand as the Packers are the much better team. My favorite player is Donald Driver. Love his outlook on life. Also was able to buy one share of stock at the last sale a few years ago. the exciting part was when I opened the package, the issue date of the stock was my birthday! Go Pack Go!!!

  31. I became a Packer fan back in 1968 after reading a book about Vince Lombardi and the Pack for a 9th grade book report. Now I am a shareholder and love my Packers. Go Pack Go!!

  32. When I was in the third grade back in 1967 I read the Bart Starr book and have been a loyal backer ever since. I also am a part owner and also bought a share of stock for both my children and my granddaughter Go pack go

  33. How is it possible to have a favorite packer? Do preseason packers count? The one I’ll pick,Kirk Baumgartner. Bet some locals remember.

  34. Brett Favre as QB. I was in 8th Grade living in Oklahoma. I had some friends who liked the Packers in some of my classes. I watched one game and became an immediate fan! I still am, years later. I think Aaron Rodgers is the best! Go PACKS!!!! I live in Arkansas now, that’s my home State. I love the Razorbacks, as well! I will be a Packers and Razorbacks fan for life!

  35. My favorite packer would be the whole packer nation. We are truly the greatest family backing the greatest sports team ever. I live in west Texas where everyone is cowboys fans, and everyone else with taste is packers. My one and only bucket list in life is a game in the snow at Lambeau field. Love you all. Go pack Go

  36. Reading about Reggie White reminded me of an encounter in 1996 at Lambeau Field. My husband and I stopped after practice to catch any players coming out of the stadium and hopefully get some autographs. I stayed in the car with our daughters, age 2 and 6 months, while my husband waited for players to come out. Mr. White was nice enough to stop and when invited to come over to the car to say hi to us, he did! I’ll never forget what my two-year old (already a Packer fan) said after Reggie winked at her. “Mom, Reggie White smiled at me with his eye!” He is missed. My daughter is still a die-hard Packer fan at age 20, just like her mom, dad and grandfather.

  37. My Mom’s father was from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and my father was from New Jersey. There wasn’t much they agreed on, but the immortality of Vince Lombardi and greatness of the Packers made the list. As a result I grew up the only Packer fan I knew in Oregon in the 70s and 80s amid Seahawks and even the dreaded Bear and 49ers fans. I remember clearly being mad at Holmgren when he didn’t give Majic Man his starting job back and stuck with that wild eyed Favre kid, but it only took a few games to see the wisdom of that decision.
    I now have the honor of being a shareholder, and love knowing that unlike any other team I will always know where the Packers will call home. Walking into Lambeau for my first shareholders meeting was an experience I wish my dad and grandfather had survived to share, but I’ll always have those Sunday afternoons with them watching the Pack to look back on.

  38. I would have to say Chester Marcole isone of my favorite players, for his game winning kicks, especially against the Bears at Lambeau. I have been a Packer fan all my life, as we only ever had one TV and Sunday’s were either spent watching football, or listening to it on the radio if the game was blacked out. I will admit that there was a time I was a 49ers fan because I was a huge Joe Montana and Steve Young fan, but will always be a true Packer fan.

  39. I became a Packers fan as a little girl.My favorite color is green so when My Dad asked me what team I like and I said the Green Bay Packers. Well we live in Eagles land and he said well the Eagles where green too and I told him but their name doesn’t say green. I have always stayed a Packers fan. My favorite player was Reggie White. He was a great man and a great player. I watched him with my Dad when he was with the Eagles and was very excited when he came to the Packers. I’ve always like Brett Farve too. Go Packers!

  40. When I was seven years old and just begining my journey as a football fant family made a relocation move from New York to New Jersey and not having yet formed an alliance with any team yet. I was surrounded by my new peers who by virtue of the Packers victory in SB II paraded around in their jerseys and helmets

  41. As a result I found myself a young bandnagoneer. That was 47 years ago and to this day I still bleed Packer green and gold. The deep rich history of the team fron it’s inception as the Acme Packers to the uncontested champiomships, the number of hall of fame players amd yes THE best fanbase of any team im any sport

  42. puts them in a league and class unrivaled anywhere GO PACK GO I’m omly stopping my post now because of technical difficulties with my big thumbs and the tiny keypad I’m using there is more I’d love to post nut the phone is drivimge nuts.I’m proud of my team and am gearing up for the Lombard trophy to return to it’s rightful home this year

  43. I am lucky enough to have a Green Bay Packer from my hometown. I was raised in a Redskins household, but when I was in elementary school in third grade, #53 George Koonce(of the 1996 & 1997 SuperBowl teams), came to speak to my class and sign autographs. This was back in 1991. I had grown up loving football(my dad raised his daughter right!)so started watching the Packers play…The next year Brett Favre became the starter, but by then, I was already a diehard cheesehead! I’m actually still lucky enough to have kept in touch with George Koonce 23 years later! He goes to show that once a Packer, you’re always a Packer!I’m proud to be a Cheesehead and will be one til the day I die!

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