Pregnancy, Giving Birth, and the Green Bay Packers.

September 24, 2008.

Rant by Me: Wisconsinites Take Their Team Very Seriously.

When I moved to Wisconsin eight years ago, for employment, I already had a pretty good idea of how rabid the Green Bay Packers fans were. Or, I should say, I thought I knew how rabid the fans were. I’m not a huge follower of football, but understand the sport and watch it from time to time. I mostly grew up in L.A. so having a professional team to follow and support was always difficult, as one can imagine. I liked the 49er’s because growing up they were a winning organization and everybody loves a winner.

Green Bay has had some winning seasons too. Regardless, the fans stick with them through thick and thin. When you consider the Packers are the only fan-owned professional sports team in the U.S. it is not hard to understand why they seem to seep into everything around here. And I mean everything…

At first I chuckled at the cute little Packer flags attached to peoples car windows, which flap around so hard in the wind most of them are frayed to hell. Bigger laughter was drawn when I passed the occasional home with their garage door painted green and gold. Yes, big ole “G” slapped right in the middle. And the vanity plates! Who doesn’t have a customized licence plate in Wisconsin with some half-cocked Packer reference?

So, it was no surprise when my wife and I, who are expecting our last child very soon, went to see her OB (not to be mistaken for the QB) for a weekly pregnancy checkup - she is 37 weeks along, so she is there quite a bit - and found custom made Green Bay Packer stirrup covers for the labor table. I’m not kidding you, look…

In Full Battle Regalia

Packer Fans have no bounds!