Category: Green Bay Packers

Plan Your Travel Accordingly

Brian J. Noggle

If you’re going to the sold-out scrimmage at Lambeau Field tonight, be advised that WISN is reporting that:

  • Hotel rooms are booked as far away as Oshkosh.
  • Green Bay has begun closing some roads for safety’s sake.
  • As of 11:00 am, the tailgating has begun in the parking lots.

If you cannot make the game, rest assured it will be on television this evening.

For a scrimmage.

Well, not just a srimmage. A Packers scrimmage.

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Wrong Focus

Brian J. Noggle

In this generic Terminally-Ill-Child-Meets-Sports-Hero story, entitled Terminally ill child has a new friend in Favre, the writer focuses on Favre, but the real hero of the story is the private citizen who made it happen:

When Packers fan Tripp Hardin first read Christine’s letter on Jan. 4, he was instantly moved, but he knew that to get them to the game, he had to act quickly.

He knew that Favre occasionally looked at the message board and answered questions. But the game was less than a week away, and he figured the chances of Favre seeing the letter were “slim to none, with slim walking out the door.”

The Packers frequently allow visits from terminally ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, said Cathy Dworak, the team’s manager of community relations. But Christopher’s case was a direct appeal to Favre, so this was his call, not the Packers’.

“Brett decided he wanted to do it,” Dworak said.

Hardin, 45, a financial adviser in Kenosha, is a season ticket holder, and he gave his playoff tickets to the Foppianos. After a busy two days of phone calls to Christine, the Packers’ front office, and his father – who donated his frequent flier miles – Hardin had pulled it off.

This John Q gave up his own tickets and sprung for the flight for the kid and his mother from Texas to Green Bay. Favre? He just showed up and patted the kid on the head.

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Why Philosophers Don’t Do Math

Brian J. Noggle

So the rest of you probably covered this in the required college math classes that I dodged because I was an English/Philosophy major, but the Packers ended the season 10-6. Is that two games above five hundred or four games over five hundred?

One on hand, the Packers won four more games than they lost, so they were four games above the five hundred mark; however, on the other hand, if the Packers had lost two more games, they would have been at the five hundred mark. You see, we dithering philosophical types can see both sides of an equation, the right answer and the wrong answer, and they both look the same.

Honestly, the proper answer given by a graduate with a degree in philosophy is What do the people interviewing me for this tenure-track position want it to be?

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Associated Press: On the Other Side

Brian J. Noggle

More perfidy by the Associated Press:

After nearly costing Green Bay a crucial game with one of his familiar mistakes, Brett Favre rallied the Packers to victory – and the NFC North title – with one of his famous comebacks.

Crikey, the man is sporting and spots Minnesota a touchdown, and this is how an Associated Press writer characterizes it? Peh on you, you purplo journalist. Here in St. Louis, the Packer flag flew on Christmas, and the red bulb in the green-and-red set for the porch lights has already been replaced with the gold. Until February, we hope.

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Anointed

Brian J. Noggle

In 1973, my inlaws lived in Michigan and travelled to Florida on occasion to see my mother-in-law’s parents. As they passed through Wisconsin, they boarded a small plane for the final leg of their journey. An icon adored throughout upper Midwest boarded the plane with them: Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr.

As he passed my mother-in-law, already seated and holding her child in her arms, Bart Starr patted my future wife on the shoulder and said, “Pretty baby.”

Proving that he was a prophet as well, for she turned out more than pretty.

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Packer Flag Protocol Exception

Brian J. Noggle

As you all know, the Packer Flag Protocol is as follows:

  • Upon a day in which the Packers play, the flag shall be raised at sunrise;
  • If the Packers should lose the game, the flag will be lowered to half staff and shall be lowered, sadly, at sunset unless the game ends after sunset, in which case the flag shall be lowered immediately following the loss;
  • But when the Packers win the game, the flag shall fly through the night and shall be lowered at sunset of the following day.*

    * Unless the Packers defeat the hated mercenary Rams, in which case the flag shall for a week until the result of the next Packer game becomes known.

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The Deity Speaks?

Brian J. Noggle

It’s rumored at Powerline that Brett Favre has spoken:

UPDATE: Hah! It’s true what they say about Karl Rove. Dusty Tryggestad writes:

Actually, my mom recieved a recorded message from Brett Favre supporting Bush. Reference was made to today’s win vs the Redskins. I would imagine this is playing all over Wisconsin.

I think this could make the difference in Wisconsin. I mean, really.

St. Louisians, this is not the equivalent of an Ozzie Smith endorsement; this is Jack Buck and Kurt Warner (2000) telling you to vote for a candidate.

If true.

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Do the Math

Brian J. Noggle

The greatest Green Bay Packer quarterbacks were named Bart Starr and Brett Favre. That’s a B-r-hard consonant ending first name followed by a single syllable last name. Coincidence? Who is to say what divine kismet is involved? However, I would like to point out that Brad Smith fits.

Oh, yeah. Ms. Igert, a Mizzou fan and a Packer fan, is nodding in agreement.

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