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
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Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago
Yeah, he really dropped the ball. His age is clearly catching up with him.
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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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Mucky Tundra (20h) : *CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP*
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Who?
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (2-Apr) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
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