Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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Grand Chute The scene was set for Donald Driver to save the day with a clutch play.

His Green Bay offensive teammates had rallied from a 35-23 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning. With sunshine giving way to a wicked storm and pitcher Nick Barnett walking one batter after another, the score had closed to a 35-35 tie with two outs.

With his wife, kids and half the crowd ducking for cover, Driver stepped up to the plate, squinted through the rain, swung for the fences . . . and popped out to the infield.

"A pop-out? We could have won," receiver James Jones said. "We've been giving him a hard time."

Indeed, Aaron Kampman pinched the fly-out in his glove to end the Driver's softball game for charity Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium to make it a draw.

"I was over there signing autographs when they told me I had to take the last hit," Driver said. "So there was a lot of pressure on me. But hey, we ended up with a tie. I'm OK with that."

Maybe the best news of the day - besides the fact that the players and fans donated their time and money for good causes - was that millions of dollars in talent on the field got off it without injury. The Packers' organized team activities practices wrap up this week before mandatory minicamp next week.

But for any diehard Packers fan who wanted to get a closeup of his favorite player, this easygoing affair did not disappoint.

Players signed autographs and there was even an appearance by safety Nick Collins, who has been absent from voluntary workouts lately. He tossed complimentary bags of snacks - by the box full - into the stands.

This annual softball game, which was started by former quarterback Brett Favre, is under Driver's command for a second year and it's his biggest fund-raiser. Driver has always been very active in the community, with a charity golf outing next week in Milwaukee, another this summer in Houston, three football camps and a dance in the fall, said Brian Lammi of Lammi Sports Management.

Although attendance was noticeably down - 4,580 compared with almost 6,000 last year, said Lammi, and 7,000-plus when Favre had it - the donations are still significant, benefitting groups like Special Olympics, Goodwill and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

"The economy may be keeping people from coming but we really appreciate the crowd that's here," said Driver's wife, Betina. "It's a nice turnout. We didn't expect this many. Fans love coming out so, of course, we wanted to keep it going and it helps out the foundation, too, so we're honored to take it over."

Through his own foundation, Driver also gives out $1,000 scholarships to top students from financially strapped families. The Donald Driver Foundation has also paid the rent and utility bills for 43 previously homeless families in Houston, Milwaukee, Green Bay and other Wisconsin communities, Lammi said.

Another event organizer, Nate Reilly, said Jimmy Krueger of Mesquite, Texas, won the eBay roster spot auction open to the top bidding fan. The auction jumped from $1,900 to $2,400 in the final 30 seconds before the bidding closed.

"All the players came out to support this and that really does show the unity we have," Driver said. "And then the fan support was amazing."



Driver - Choker
UserPostedImage
Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
Yeah, he really dropped the ball. His age is clearly catching up with him.
UserPostedImage
Blank402
15 years ago
Maybe Nick Collins will stick around for OTAs
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Stevetarded
15 years ago
Matt Flynn hit 9 RBI's maybe he can translate that into 9 preseason TDs
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Rockmolder
15 years ago
35-35? Is that a normal softball score?

Anyway, great that he kept it going. I wonder who will take it over when Driver retires or if he'll just keep it himself.
4PackGirl
15 years ago
i was wondering the same thing, rock. and i am also happy he kept it going - it's a great charity event from what i hear.
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Zero2Cool (21h) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (29-Apr) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (29-Apr) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (29-Apr) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
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Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
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