Week 14 vs Raiders
Tell me, is it wrong to feel sorry for the opposition? OK, to clarify, I didn’t actually feel sorry for Oakland today but to be honest, I almost did. Not because we beat them and not because they’re now 4 and 9 for the season. My sorrow came from the heart of one warm blooded person to another. Well 53 of them anyway.
Having come from a climate similar to that in California I couldn’t, not even in my heart of hearts, figure how these guys were going to come into Lambeau on a cold December afternoon and compete, let alone come close. Do you think they even gave themselves a chance?
I know how cold I was at some points and that was with my layers on. These convertible driving, sunglass wearing, beach loving, sunbakers didn’t have a hope right from the start.
As I mentioned in my earlier post it’s Kelly’s birthday today and it was with a heavy heart I even made it to the game. She doesn’t believe me by the way but it’s true. You all know by now that Kelly’s not the biggest football fan so asking her to sit in a cold, wet, quite possibly snowy stadium wasn’t even worth bothering with so I didn’t. (She did have Packers PJ’s on so maybe there’s a conversion attempt in there after all.)
What I did do though was try for 4 weeks prior to find some inside seats that we could enjoy together. It was all to no avail. Regardless of whom I emailed, spoke to, or left messages for the whole attempt was completely in vain.
Thanks to the early morning celebrations Robbo and I left at about a quarter to 11 and parked just after the hour. Whilst there wasn’t a whole lot of time up our sleeves we did manage to get down and meet the Gulf Coast Relief Crew for a very short but sweet tailgate. These guys, including a friend of mine Pete D’Amico, have done some great things to help the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina down south and deserve all of the kudos that should be coming their way.
They have raised money, lifted spirits and done all they can to help the people that need it more than anybody. On the menu at their little celebration this morning were a few “southern styled” offerings that I hadn’t tried before. Cajun styled beans, pork pull burgers and my new favourite food, crawfish. These suckers are the single most tastiest food I have experienced so far. Thanks to us arriving late half of Pete’s crew had headed to the game already. That was fine by me ‘cause it meant I didn’t need to be shy around the 2 buckets of sweetness begging me to take more.
After gorging on what I hope will soon be available in Sydney I began to collect my things as Antonio Freeman happened to walk by. Pete, having spent some time with him the previous night called him over for a photo and autograph which I was very lucky to receive. Talk about a nice guy. He was very cool.
At that we were off to the stadium. We were running late for the game thanks to the Mississippi feast we had enjoyed but boy was it worth it. Plus we had to stop off for a pic with the “Rrrrraiders Boys.....and you think i’m crazy? Robbo and I found our seats not long into the first quarter and this is where my first taste of Green Bay football in December began.
Because of the bleacher styled seating and the layers of clothing worn (except for this guy), seats 7 and 8 in our row were already being sat in. After being told there was no room we made it clear to our new friends that room would be made and sure enough, it was. Packed in like sardines with my shoulders lurching forward and barely half of my bottom on the seat I smiled at the recollections of everybody telling me what football at Lambeau in December would be like.....They were right.
Not only was there barely enough room for our limbs to move without elbowing the person beside us, the ground was wet, it was covered in ice and leftover snow from last weeks storm had settled in for the day underneath us. Ah, the Frozen Tundra, how football in Wisconsin was meant to be.
Thank you to Kathy for the tickets by the way. It’s too bad Tyler couldn’t make it. Here’s hoping you’re both up to it on Dec. 30 vs Detroit.
The funny thing about the cold I found today, (18F / -8C at kickoff) was that I couldn’t feel it the way were squashed in shoulder to shoulder. At least until halftime that was. The Raiders scored with 26 seconds to go in the 2nd and with that at least a quarter of the people on the aisle side of our seats left to take their halftime break. This left us open to the elements and all of a sudden it was bone chilling cold. Never did I think I would appreciate the body warmth of another man like I did today.
At the half Rob and I went to visit a couple of people that I knew were in the stadium. Brian from Milwaukee (above) and Dave from De Pere (left). I had been recognised by alot of people as “that Aussie guy” and chatted to all but Brian, Dave and I had history so we hung out with them for the most part.
Whilst enjoying my chin wag with Brian the unforgettable happened. It started to snow, right before my eyes. It was awesome. I was hoping for inches and inches of the stuff but alas, it was gone as quick as it came. Neither Rob or Brian could believe how quickly I turned from regular human being to giddy little schoolgirl.
After wandering the stadium for a bit I was so cold that I succumbed to the temperature and pulled out my “Toastie Toes” feet warmers. Their insertion was followed by a trip to the concourse for a hot chocolate and then it was back to my seat to rub up against my “human heater” neighbours again.
I was back just in time to see Brett throw 80 yards to Greg “you know who” Jennings to take the score to 24 – 7 and the game was tied up from there.
As I left the stadium, we won 38 – 7 by the way, I thought about what today actually meant to me. You see, you can probably tell by the lack of football commentary on this post, today was about way more than football. I felt it today. The aura, the atmosphere, the cold of Green Bay. Today was Packers football.
I wore a t-shirt to Week 1 against Philadelphia and sweated in my jeans in Week 3 against San Diego. Week 5 against Chicago, even at night was stifling and Week 6 versus the Redskins was wet not cold. Week 10 against Minnesota was OK, Week 11 vs Carolina was cool but nothing so far has compared to today.
Today I had recollections of the Ice Bowl, the famous names and the way things used to be. I truly saw Lambeau as a fortress for the first time. What a stadium, what a rush, what a place for away teams to visit. I saw fans dressed in so much gear they were waddling as opposed to walking. Today, at least so far, has been THE day.
I liken being at Lambeau in the cold to being at the beach in the heat. Pretty obvious huh? Seriously though you can enjoy the beach on a cool day. Before coming here Ben and I had spent many a day rugged up on the sand building castles and digging holes. Just like you can have a blast at Lambeau in the heat. Fact is though if you’re at the beach you want the sun and if you’re here in Green Bay you want the snow. That’s that.
Today, that’s exactly what I got and as always I am very thankful for it. Go Pack.
In History Class today:
The Packers won their division for the 15th time since 1936. Most recently they won the North in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Brett made his 250th consecutive start, a record among quarterbacks and only the second person to do so in the history of the game. He trails only Jim Marshall of Minnesota with 270.
