I don't know how many Panther fans made the trip to Green Bay. But even if they don't like the game, they can't complain about the atmosphere. The best fans in the NFL fill the bleachers at Lambeau Field and the bars, restaurants and igloos around it.
There are several qualities about Packer fans I admire. They care, and they don't care who knows it. The percentage of G (for Green Bay) stickers to residents is as high in Green Bay as the percentage of G (for Georgia) stickers is in Athens. Maybe Green Bay's percentage is higher after Georgia's loss Saturday to Georgia Tech.
Packer fans don't hate because you come from a different city or cheer for a different team. Although they desperately want their team to win, they also want to have a good time, and they don't mind if you have one, too. At some of the massive sports bars near the stadium, they'll offer you a seat at one of their crowded tables. And as much as they want to talk about their team, they want to ask about yours.
Lambeau, even the retooled edition, is still the rare stadium you don't enter right away. You stand outside, your layers of clothing keeping you warm, and admire it. You think of all that has gone on there. And then you think, and I'm going in.
So Green Bay fans are No. 1. I'd rank Pittsburgh's a clear No. 2. Third? I don't know. There are several contenders, but none of them break from the pack the way fans of the Packers and Steelers do.
On TV, when DeAngelo Williams threw the game-winning ball to some Panthers fans, the Packers fans behind them very clearly leaned in and spiked it to the ground... not terribly sporting.
Posted by: george | December 01, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Its good to see Steve Smith has turned to wrestling instead of cold cock punches on unsuspected players now. At least he made a half decent circus catch and earned a little of those millions he is overpaid although routinely youth players in Pop Warner, Middle School and High School make catches all day long like this and much better without fanfare or self adulation. We hear Vince McMahon at WWE who grew up in Moore County NC (Pinehurst)and was an offense lineman for Moore County HS in the early 60s before taking over the family wrestling business, may be interested in hiring SmittyBoy as a since he loves the limelight and pumping his chest and now turned into a wrestler.
Posted by: CutThatMuster | December 01, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Yeh, my wife and I are still mad over that fully decked out Packers fan forcing his way into the Panthers fans seating from behind and slamming the winning ball back down onto the field!
I hope someone can figure out who the fans were and get them a signed ball (especially if a kid was involved). Was really a cruel thing to do to ANY fan no matter the game situation.
Posted by: John | December 01, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I was at the game. Lambeau is truly an incredible place to be and the fans were as described - great people. I did meet a group of Carolina fans that were on the front row. After the game one had a game ball - I didn't see the incident described but maybe it did have a happy ending after all.
Posted by: Richard Sterling | December 01, 2008 at 05:23 PM