Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are one of the oldest teams of The National Football League.

The absolute oldest franchise in the NFL (whether you want to believe it or not) is in Arizona, having begun as The Morgan Athletic Club in 1899, later becoming The Normals and eventually called The Racine Cardinals (after a local street in Chicago). Green Bay's first team was actually organized in 1919, choosing the name "Packers" due to The Indian Packing Company (a local meat packing plant) having provided money for equipment, and allowing the team to use the company field for practices.

The absolute oldest rivalry in the NFL belongs to that which Green Bay has shared with The Chicago Bears. Originally called "The Decatur Staleys" (after original owner A.E. Staley, similarly to how the original Cleveland Browns earned their name), the Bears' franchise was established in 1920--the same year as the American Professional Football Conference's innauguration, and two years prior to it being renamed The National Football League. In the 80+ years since, The Packers & Bears have faced-off twice almost every single season, adding up to 160+ meetings after the turn o'the century. Historical facts & figures such as this and a whole lot more can be found via The NFL's History Pages.

My own history with football started circa 1980, when I was 11 years old. After staying overnight at my father's found me getting caught up in a Rams game that Sunday morning alongside Dad, as we watched his favorite team with enthusiasm...only to see them let him down by losing a close game, I suddenly found myself thirsting for the sport in contrast to not having not been interested in football at all before then. That morning led to many a Sunday of tuning into--and rooting for--The Rams as they played (and often lost) for Los Angeles.

Being an L.A. fan first & foremost when it comes to sports, it seemed a natural thing to root for The Rams (regardless of their winless ways) as soon as I got into football... similar to rooting for The Dodgers upon getting into baseball. However, when it comes to following sports, I only do so through a "professional vein"...meaning: I don't have time for college sport, local high school events, etc. So in regards to USC fans, or those rooting for UCLA (as my father did) and their annual face-off, I really can not give a shit. Deal with it.

I'd only been into the NFL for two or three seasons by the time
Al Davis brought his Raiders down from Oakland to represent
Los Angeles in the AFC. I liked this idea, for it not only gave
L.A. a second NFL team (to match New York with it's Giants &
Jets), but also provided us with a better shot at winning a
SuperBowl. While The Rams finally got L.A. to a SuperBowl
at the end of the 1979 season via the NFC (only to lose at the
hands of Pittsburgh's "dynasty" Steelers), The Raiders had
already won it for Oakland twice. And sure enough, by the
end o'their second season in southern California, The Raiders
went all the way for L.A., beating The Washington Redskins in
SuperBowl XVIII by a score of 38-9.

Aside from The Raiders winning 1984's SuperBowl, both they
& The Rams provided many memorable moments for L.A. fans
through the '80s. Eric Dickerson ran amok for The Rams as
Marcus Allen (and Bo Jackson, for a while) did for The Raiders.
The Rams enjoyed some good records and terrific seasons
with help from the likes of quarterback Jim Everett, wide-outs
Henry Ellard and Willie "Flipper" Anderson...even starting with
a 7-0 record in 1985. The Raiders had several high profile
players in addition to those mentioned, above--including both
Jim Plunkett & Howie Long--doin' their thang on either side
o'the ball. Some seasons were good; others were great. But
too many left a lot to be desired by the time the 1990s rolled
around. And suddenly, after the '94 season, both teams had
left Los Angeles...with The Rams finding a new home out in
St. Louis, and The Raiders returning to their original home up in Oakland.

Los Angeles still holds the dubious honor of having been the only city to ever lose two NFL teams in the same off-season. Even as the second largest television market in The League, L.A. has continued to be without an NFL team for nearly a decade's time.

When we lost the Rams & Raiders, I was heavily involved with a weekend nightlife that caused for me to sleep in--and sleep through--most Sundays; so it was not like I suffered major withdrawals being in a city suddenly without an NFL team. Those teams I'd never seen play live (due to overpriced tickets) and had hardly watched on T.V. in recent years (due to underachieving records) had become like ungrateful bastard stepchildren to me in how they left my city for greener pastures (i.e., more money) elsewhere. So rather than feel a sense of loss, I felt bitterness. Over time, I've been able to justify the Raiders' return to Oakland--their original home--after a dozen-year absence; but still am unable to forgive the Rams for abandoning L.A. (their home for nearly 50 years) and the state of California. Had they returned to Cleveland (where the Rams originally started, and a city on the verge of losing their team to Baltimore), it might have been a different story. But, no; it was all Georgia Frontiere--the golddigging bitch that she is--looking for the best deal, the most money and any city that would gladly kiss her wrinkled ass where L.A. had failed to do so after suffering through so many seasons without hopes for a SuperBowl.

And wouldn't you know it: five seasons after moving, the Rams win a SuperBowl for St. Louis. Goddamn that geriatric bitch and her ungrateful franchise. Well...at least they lost to the New England Patriots two years after that. Heh.

So in 1995, being an NFL fan who was suddenly without a home team to root for, I basically took my time through that entire season to think about which should be the next team for me to become a fan of. As a teenager in 1985, I'd become a bandwagon fan o'the Chicago Bears. It was hard not to like a franchise that started its season 12-0, was 15-1 by the end o'the season, had charismatic characters on their squad such as Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, William "The Refrigerator" Perry and coach Mike Ditka; not to mention a legendary running back in the late, great, Walter Payton. But after '85, while reaching the playoffs a few times, The Bears were never quite the same team; never had an equal amount of potential; and soon lacked all the luster they once had.

By the 1995 playoffs, however, one team in
The Bears' division had caught my attention:
The Green Bay Packers. This was not only
a playoff contender, but was also one of the
oldest and most storied franchises ever to
exist in NFL annals. By the end o'the 1995
season, Brett Favre had been established as
The Pack Quarterback, having just finished
his second season as their leader. What's
more, I found out he is a 1969 Libra just like
me...which meant something. Beyond that,
they had players whom were voluntarily
taking pay cuts or reduced salaries to play in
Green Bay--literally forsaking more money
offered by other teams to play in front of what
is arguably the greatest fan base of any NFL
franchise. Players like future Hall o'Famer
Reggie White had incentives written into their
contracts, dictating how they could earn extra
money by making a certain number of great
plays...like pass tips, interceptions or sacking
quarterbacks. I'd enthusiastically read all of
this--among other noteworthy items--and was
most impressed. It didn't take me long to
decide what team I'd be rooting for when the
following season started; and as of the
beginning of 1996, I was a fullfledged
Green Bay Packers fan.

Even though I rooted for The Bears to earn
Chicago its first SuperBowl victory in early
1986, and was ecstatic about The Raiders
finally bringing a Vince Lombardi trophy to
Los Angeles, for the most part I've considered
myself unlucky when rooting for a team to go
all the way. Granted, they've often reached
the playoffs for me, but it has been all too rare
an occurence when they win a SuperBowl.

Although it has been really difficult for me to
determine why Fate chose to favor me at that
particular time, I still see myself as damn lucky
to have become a Packer backer before the
beginning of the very season that would see
them reach the SuperBowl and win it. This
wasn't something I'd expected, but naturally
hoped for; and felt so thoroughly rewarded
when it happened. And it was more than
enough to retain me as a Green Bay fan ever since.

Some have asked me why I did not choose to back a closer team--perhaps one here in California. The Raiders I've already discussed, above; and even though The Chargers may leave San Diego some day to become an L.A. team once again (as they were in their innaugural year for the AFL in 1960 before moving south), it was hard to root for a club that has sucked ass in more years than not, and couldn't even win a SuperBowl once it got there. (Besides, they are not Los Angeles' team yet!) Finally...ugh; there are The San Francisco 49ers. Three simple reasons exist as to why I would never consider that so-called team, and they are:

#1. I shall forever hate those Gay Bay Fudgepackers for all the seasons they gave L.A.'s Rams a hard time, eliminated 'em from the playoffs or kept them out merely by being in the same division...similar to how I'll always hate the Broncos for all the difficulty those Denver Donkeys caused L.A.'s Raiders--and more importantly, for getting their first SuperBowl victory at Green Bay's expense. John Elway's first SuperBowl ring should have come the following year, at The Atlanta Falcons' expense.

#2. I have never been gay--nor am I now. The day I begin rooting for a fuckin' Frisco team will be right after having chosen to start suckin' dick, scooping shit out of a guy's ass each night with my own tongue and adopt It's Raining Men as my new theme song. I.E. NEVER!

#3. Finally, there is the whole bandwagon issue. Just because The Frisco Faggots won a shitload of SuperBowls back in the 1980s doesn't mean I'm gonna try jumpin' onto The Butt-Lovin' Bandwagon, start wearing an Owens jersey or look to meet Garcia in the locker room after a game with hopes he gives great head.

Bottom line: 49ers are for fags. They represent a city where homosexuality is as big as The Golden Gate Bridge in what's called "Land Of The Queer, Home Of The Gay." And if anyone likes to root for them because they feel "it's hip to be queer," then have at it; but don't expect me to start wearin' pink, add a lisp to my speech and daintily follow your limp-wristed lead. It won't happen. And with all that said, I cordially invite any & all 49er fans whom are offended in reading this to voice their protests by calling the Abuse Hotline at: 1 (800) EAT-SHIT !!

As each new NFL season comes and goes, I am pleased & proud to remain a fan of
The Green Bay Packers.

GO, PACK; GO!!

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