Now that I'm sober.... Yesterday I went to the Packer Tailgate Party with my husband and brother-in-law. All the proceeds from this went to a local charity. Ticket price was $25, which included typical tailgate food aka hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, turkey brats, Italian sausage and chips. Drinks too... cans of pop and bottles of root beer and water. Two drink tickets for each person 21+ for beers on tap. Beers were $2 if you didn't have a drink ticket, but I was in no danger of running out. The guys I was with gave me theirs, and some randon guy gave me his. The Packer personnel there were the former president Bob Harlan, new president Mark Murphy, and players Brandon Jackson (RB), Jason Spitz (G) and James Jones (WR). There was the intro and a Q&A session. Every one of these guys seemed adamant that Aaron Rogers was their QB, maybe to the point where they don't want Farve back. If you're following the saga, you probably already know that. We happened to get a table closest to where the TV station was set up, and at 6:20 James Jones went aside to have an interview. Front row seats for me! As Jones was heading back to the stage to continue in the Q&A, I waved to him and he waved back. After the Q&A the players grabbed a slingshot to send shirts into the crowd. Spitz was pulling the shot, with Jones and Jackson on either side. After they sent the first one, Jones found me in the crowd, and directed the guys to try to get me. Miss after miss, Jones took control from Spitz and tried again with no luck, so he grabbed a shirt and threw to me... over my head to the table behind me. A couple more (failed) attempts with the slingshot and they were out of shirts. It was so cool to know he was trying to hit me every time. It was now time for the autograph session, so once the line went down some we got in it. When I got up there, I said to Jones, "I was wide open!" He replied, "You didn't get one? Even when I threw to you?" I told him no, he over shot me, and he said he owes me one... I told him, "It's all good, I know you were trying to get me; I'll just look for you when I go to Fan Fest." He said OK! Bob Harlan is very respected in Packer circles, and such a nice guy. Steve has a commemorative Packer football that has dates of Packer achievements of the Harlan era, and had him alone sign it. After the autograph session, the guys all came out for a Meet & Greet. It was fun to watch Jones toss a football with kids... I got a picture with each of the guys... Before any of you give me crap for being a Packer fan, let me state right now that I am NOT. Notice I had no Packer stuff on, nor do I own any. I am a fan of football as a whole. I am a Bears fan when asked, but I am just as passionate about a game between the Cardinals and Browns as I am about a game involving the Bears or Packers. I just love football. Any game, any time. Steve is a big time Packers fan, as is his family. I just go along for the ride... in this case, the beer! But as a football fan, it sure was cool to meet James Jones like that, and to know he was trying to get me a shirt! He sure was coming out at the end of last season. Now I'm really looking forward to Fan Fest. Not that I expect anything from Jones, like he'd even remember, but I'm excited for cool new memories. There's going to be a reception with players on the Friday afternoon, immediately after will be a practice session just for us attendees. The Sunday will be an intra-squad game, to which I have great seats in the lower section on the 20-yard line. Wooooooo! Are you ready for some football?!?
Hey fellow WI-ite, those are fantastic pics, I work 2 blocks away from Lambeau and being huge Packer fan, always good to see pics from home up on the site!! Tina
Tina: Thanks! Yeah, I do love when we go to Green Bay. Just the history of it all is awesome! I did the stadium and Hall of Fame tour a couple years back. I know there's some football fans around on this site, so I figured it would be cool to share pics. Dennis: Not sure where the G-men were... For the record I was really for them in the Super Bowl.... and I was wearing my Tiki Barber jersey for it. That's the only jersey or football anything I have, a Tiki jersey. Just sucks that he wasn't there for it, but that was his choice I guess... but then he bailed on FOX News. :roll: Fletch: I was excited for the tailgate party when I realized Jones would be there. I remembered who he was as soon as I read his name. I remember the end of last season he was really coming on... and like you I think he's gonna break out this year!
Thanks, Greta! I have no more Florida trips or cruises to look forward to, and still don't see Cancun in the immediate future, so I'm trying to keep myself hyped anything cool that may happen.... so I'll post reports and pics.... and you're welcome!! Next I am going to Wisconsin Dells for a few days, either leaving tomorrow or Sunday...
There's are pics on the Packers website (in their photo gallery) from the party, one of which is of my husband and his brother with the new prez Mark Murphy. (The photog must have taken his at the same time I took mine. I didn't know until this morning when my BIL called to tell us about the pic.)
