Week 5, Bears
Da Bears Still Suck.
Talk about hype. The Packers vs. the Bears at Lambeau Field, under lights, in front of a nationally televised audience. I thought there was passion last week against the Vikings. I can say now that’s only because I hadn’t experienced this week yet. Oh what a difference 7 days can make.
First things first, night games rock. At some points whilst trying to enter I felt like I was there to see a rock concert not a football game. The place was literally going crazy. For everything I had seen so far this was my first Bears game (Chicago for the Aussies) my first night game and my first national TV game.
For those who don’t know, our Australian friends for the most part, here’s a little history on these stalwarts of the modern game:
The Bears, then named the “Decatur Staleys” joined the league in 1919, the Packers, known as the “Acme Packers” joined 2 years later in 1921. Since then they have played 174 games, including one in the post-season with the win loss record favouring Chicago 79-89-6. In one of the most storied rivalries in the history of pro-football there have been almost 6,000 points scored between the two teams and the turnstiles have clicked some 7.3 million times. Combined, they have 47 players in the Canton Pro-Football Hall of Fame and they have an incredible 23 NFL Championships between them. Of the 87 seasons between 1919 and 2006 either the Bears or the Packers have won the title once every 3.78 years. And some people think this is just a game of football?
Kelly and the boys were off to a friends house this afternoon on the shores of Green Bay, half an hour away from where we are staying. There were rolling fields, tons of toys and two little ones of the same ages to run around like crazy with. This meant that for a few hours before hand I was able to live in the moment, enjoy the afternoon and look forward to what I always knew would be one of the season’s highlights. jkhd kids dshgv kdashgjv dsakgv daskgv daskhgv daskgv daskhvg daskhvgdas kvgads hgdas hkgdsa khdasgv kladsgv dashvg daslhgv adsgv adsklhgv adslkg dakslg adkslg dksalg dasklg daklsg dalskg adklsg kladsg kdslg lkdsag kladsg dkasg kadslg kadsg . kwf qwg flwigf iewgf eifg eqifgewil fgqweifg qeigf iqewgf ;qeiwug eqig qeiug.
I was picked up by a friend, Nancy, with whom I was going to the game. After waiting 37 years to obtain her season tickets she now owns two seats in the 50th row. She is on the aisle and knows most of the people around her, including Richard, the beer guy. Richard was quite excited to have met “that guy from Australia” and shouted me a beer for my troubles. I began to wonder whether I should print an “I’m that guy from Australia” t-shirt to see what else would come my way. Then I figured that was a stupid idea and never thought of it again.
Nancy’s husband was unable to attend this week thanks to it being a night game and having to work early in the morning. This was extremely lucky for me as these tickets weren’t going cheap in the scalpers corner I can tell you.
Nancy and I floated around the car park for an hour or so before we went in. I didn’t really get a chance to tailgate at the 2 games before so I wanted to at least find my way around the lot and say hi to a few people.
In doing so, we were lucky enough to meet the Packalope. A 3 time finalist in the Packer Fan Hall of Fame judging and the only Packer Fan inducted into the Canton Pro Football Hall of Fame. This guy has been everywhere man and is recognised all the car park (and Green Bay) over. We also stopped by the “Brats for Brian” tailgate, kicked a stuffed bear on a rope and admired the Legends of Lambeau truck.
Certain sections of the public (non-male) volunteer their bras to the Legends truck as a way of lending their “support” to them. Whilst a novel idea and pleasing to the eye of those who don’t mind a cheap thrill, I thought asking the finer sex to show their “support” for our team whilst literally taking it from them was a classic one-liner that still has me smiling when I think about it.
So, on to the game. Like I said before, the place was absolutely buzzing. As the sun went down the excitement went up. The queue to get in was staggering. Unlike the Eagles or Chargers games previously we had to squeeze into lines some 100 people deep and shuffle for the best part of 15 minutes before we could enter. We went through the Oneida gate which, halfway up the stairs provided a magical view of the landscape, the lights and the parties below. The crowd of almost 71,000 was the second largest in the history of regular season games at Lambeau Field.
There was a give away this evening of “G-Force” t-shirts and white pom-poms. This held the crowd up a little but lent to the atmosphere as 1000’s of waiting voices, in the hollows of the stadium under-belly, started the infamous “Go Pack Go” chant. And to anyone who has been to the Metrodome in Minneapolis or the Telstra Dome in Melbourne for that matter let me tell you, this was loud. It’s so easy to get excited at Lambeau. It’s the Mecca of football in this country and if it’s not one thing that grabs you it’ll be another.
In the mess that was the entry I managed to lose my chaperone. Taking advantage of that fact I wandered around quietly soaking up the occasion. Again it was great just being there. A few wrong turns later, some deliberate, we were reunited in our seats and ready to witness the best part of our trip so far. No, not the cheesehead bra wearing girls but the game itself. Although, the cheese bras weren’t so bad. I showed kelly the picture as a hint as to what she might wear when we get to go together. Somehow, judging by the expression on her face I don’t think that’s quite what she had in mind.
Little did I know it before hand but the University of Wisconsin marching band was on hand this evening to kick it up a notch. Now regular visitors to this site will know that I do enjoy the odd marching band and this one, at least so far, takes the cake. Talk about energy. These guys performed like Ben in a Toy shop, high on Candy after spending the afternoon with Dora and Diego. (Parents will know what I mean by that). I don’t know how many 1000’s of people make up this band but it’s alot and their knee-raising, toe-pointing, body twirling march is something worth seeing in the flesh. I’m sorry Ashwaubenon High School, these guys are the real deal. I could’ve sat there and watched them all-night long.
The game itself didn’t disappoint either. If the first 7 ½ minutes was anything to go by then the Bears were in for an absolute shellacking. Brett was awesome. The receivers caught balls like trawlers catch fish and DeShawyne Wynn ran like he had something to prove to every journalist that ever said we didn’t have a running game.
Unfortunately for us the game went something like the next 7 ½ minutes. Lost opportunities, missed points and turnovers enough to see James Jones warm the bench until injuries forced him back into the game. We amassed 341 yards in the first half to Chicago’s 122. This is massive to those unfamiliar with statistical advantages and saw us take a 17-7 lead into the break. By the end of the game though we had been beaten. Sure the stats still said we were the better team, in almost every category but the scoreboard didn’t so let’s just put this down as the one that got away.
It was funny in fact. Though never actually out of the game until the last pass I sat, elbows on my knees, hands holding up my face for most of the second half. You could just see it coming.
The unfortunate part, aside from the fact that we lost the game and our undefeated record, was that the infamous 5th quarter put on by the UW band didn’t quite have the same appeal. I loved it but we lost so it was one of those sweet but sour moments.
I look forward to next week where Kelly will join me for the first time. Seeing the Green Bay vs Chicago rivalry was great. Seeing any game with my wife and sharing in all the good times will be better.
