Monday, Jan 31, 2011

The upcoming match in Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers is a clash between two of the NFL's greatest fan bases. As a Packer fan, I respect Steelers fans more than any other opposing fan base in the NFL because they demonstrate what I feel is almost the appropriate level of respect for their squad. In fact, there is a huge gap between the #2 fan base in the NFL and the #3 fan base in terms of loyalty, dedication and team support. Steelers fans are simply in a different league than anyone else in the NFL.

Packer fans, however, are in a whole different universe.

Let me reiterate that I mean no disrespect to Steelers fans, it's just that Packer fans go that extra mile.

For example, the Steelers have the best individual owner of any team in the league. The Rooney's represent everything that's right not just with the NFL, but with being American. They're such upstanding people, in fact, that they made Dan Rooney the ambassador to Ireland! Were it not for the Packers, the Rooney's would be the best owners in the league.

But who is it who owns the Packers?

That's right…the fans! We actually bought the team! When another fan base goes that extra mile to buy their team, then we can have a discussion as to who has the best fans. Until then, the debate begins and ends with the Green Bay Packers.


I remember the day many years ago when the Packer organization decided to start issuing shares of stock in a fund-raising effort. People who read the fine print of the deal the Packers were offering kind of wrinkled their noses in disgust.

"Why would you buy non-transferable, non-appreciating, non-dividend paying shares?" they said. "You're just handing in your money for a worthless piece of paper."

Wrong! We were buying the Green Bay Packers. We now OWN that team; it's OURS! If you're still confused as to why you would make that deal it's because you simply don't understand fan loyalty the way Packers fans do. When you're offered a chance to buy your team, you take it! End of discussion.

The Green Bay Packers have been around longer than the NFL itself. They represent a different era, a time when players had to support themselves with full-time jobs during the week because they were only being paid peanuts as professional football players.

Green Bay is currently the smallest metropolitan area that fields an NFL football team, however there was a time when many smaller cities had teams. Decatur, Akron, Canton all had teams at one point. With time, those cities lost their squads. Green Bay never did.

Why?

Green Bay fans would never allow it.

Throughout nearly a hundred year history, fans of the Green Bay Packers have ensured the survival of their team through thick and thin. During that time, the Packers became the fundamental pillar of the whole NFL. To be a Packer Fan is to be a member of a sacred trust. We ensure the survival of not just the Packers, but the entire league! We built it! We were there from the beginning! In recent months, with a potential lockout looming, the players union asked for NFL teams to open their books. One team complied.

Which one?

You guessed it…the Green Bay Packers.

So yes Steelers fans, we respect you. Your terrible towels are magnificent (even if they are manufactured in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin), and we acknowledge that your fans understand the meaning of loyalty. It is a privilege to face you in the Super Bowl because we can acknowledge that your fans understand what it means to support a team.

But when it comes to the NFL's best fan base, the Green Bay Packers are the league's big cheese!

Go Pack Go!

Walter Rhein  wrote: