Since it is Thanksgiving, today's Thursday Ten will focus on athletes/events/things in Wisconsin sports we're most thankful for.
10. Ted Thompson
The old Silver Fox....HA, FOOLED YOU! You should have seen your face, you were so pissed.
Alright, here's the real list
10. George Petak
Without former State Senator Petak changing his vote, there would have been no funding for, thus no Miller Park. Changing his vote cost Petak his position, as only a year later he would be removed from office, losing a recall election because of his decision. The five county tax was extremely unpopular at the time, but it got Milwaukee a beautiful new stadium. Thankfully, Petak was on hand earlier this fall when the Brewers played their first playoff game in 26 years, and first in the Park he's largely responsible for. Thank you Senator Petak.
9. The 1982 Milwaukee Brewers
Is there a more beloved team in any city, any spot that DIDN'T win a championship? Harvey's Wallbangers were a very easy group to root for, the were full of character, played hard, and they were good. Not even the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers squads comes close to this group in the hearts of Wisconsin sports fans.
8. Jump Around
Arguably the coolest thing going in all of college sports. Madison itself has carved out a nice niche as one of the better game day experiences. From all the tailgating offered at the bars on Regent St., the masses of pedestrians just taking over the street, the "octabong" and other insane ammounts of alcohol consumption going on, the fifth quarter, and jump around. It remains one of the coolest sights in all of sports.
7. Jersey T-Shirts
How cool are these things and why did it take so long for these to come around? More importantly, why don't you see as many NFL jersey t's as you do MLB? Perfect for the fairweather fan, and even better for the die-hard, jersey T's define tempered support. The fairweather fan can pick up a that Sabathia t knowing full well it won't come out of the dresser next year, while the die hard can pluck down 20 bucks on a Brian Shouse t, just to show how invested they are in the team. You're not doing that if your only option is authentic or replica jerseys.
6. Opening Day Fest
It's almost become a holiday itself. Wisconsin just seems to turn this event into something of epic proportions. Even in the mid 90's when the Brewers were just awful, opening day was always packed. The lots are always full, the stadium usually is, and everyone is drunk. People without tickets go just to tailgate and get in on the festivities. There are some cities where people don't even do that for playoff games. God I love it.
5. Tailgating
Nuff said. You don't realize just how awesome it is and how seriously Wisconsin takes their tailgating. What would you rather do, tailgate with your buddies, tossing back beers, mowing down brats and playing cornhole, beer pong, flip cup and numerous other games, or....oh god, I don't even want to think about the other options.
4. Lambeau Field
An experience to this day, Lambeau is the jewel of the NFL. Each football fan needs to make a pilgrimage there once, just as each baseball fan owes it to themselves to get out to Fenway and Wrigley before they're gone. I can still vividly remember my first trip to Lambeau as a young buck, and even to this day the experience doesn't wear off.
3. Reggie White Coming to Green Bay
You hear it so many times, but it couldn't be any more true, Reggie White signing with the Packers forever changed the landscape of the NFL in the free agency era. The biggest belief was that free agency would only create a rich-get-richer mentality in the NFL and allow large market clubs or teams run by owners with big pockets to pick off the lesser teams talent and add to theirs. That all changed in 1993.
It was widely considered that White would sign with the San Francisco 49ers, but in White's infamous words, god told him to go to Green Bay. White's signing with the Packers opened the door for both african-american and marquee free agents to sign with or heavily consider going to Green Bay, something unheard of only years earlier.
The Minister of Defense was everything the Packers thought they were getting and more. On September 18, 2005 - just nine months after his untimely death - White became just the 5th Packer in the organization's prestigous history to have his jersey retired. If there were a Packers Mount Rushmore, the Minister of Defense is definitely on it.
2. CC Sabathia
Sabathia gave younger Brewer fans, fans my age, their first taste of the playoffs. While everyone 30 and over has the 1982 Brewers, fans under 30 have CC Sabathia. Not the 2008 Brewers, but CC Sabathia.
The guy was just ridiculous in his time in Milwaukee, a real magician on the mound. The fans took to this guy and loved him immediately. Sabathia was everything Milwaukee expected they were getting and more. 2008 will always be remembered as the Summer of Sabathia.
1. Brett Favre
Don't get our pro-organization/Thompson stance wrong, I speak for both Todd and myself when I say we were the biggest Brett Favre fans in the world. I still am, I just wish things would have gone differently.
The things Favre did on the field and for this city...we'll never see that again. No athlete will ever be as highly revered as Favre was/is in Wisconsin. For all the memories, MVP awards, crazy Brett Favre highlight plays, playoff runs, Super Bowl appearances and the Lombardi trophy Brett brought back here, I am eternally thankful.
3 comments:
Love the post. Especially how you were able to efficiently demonstrate how the informed football fans that actually understand the game can back the current administration and still appreciate the goodness that was Uncle Brett.
I nominate Tony Romo as Burlington now gets to see the likes of Jessica Simpson at least once a year.
Todd is also thankful he lives in the same city as Fall Out Boy's drummer.
Justin-excellent post as always. I agree with everything. The Reggie White signing would probably be 1a to Brett's 1 to me though. And it made me think of the salary cap as well. I think that has to make the last as well because without it, the Packers wouldn't be able to compete now or back then.
Also, I have to say that I think the Lombardi teams are probably more beloved as a whole across the state than the Harvey Wallbangers, but you and Todd know a lot more about that stuff than I do. It's just crazy how much attention, and therefore money, a guy like Jerry Kramer can still generate to this day just because he was on those teams. And he's only one example.
But all in all, awesome post, I love this 10 pack stuff.
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