Party With the Pack!

As the song goes, I love my Green Bay Packers.  Have ever since my father got me into watching the games way back when Don "Majik" Majkowski was the quarterback.  (From 1987 to 1992)

Ten years later, Green Bay went to New Orleans to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.  The Packers scored first, and never looked back, defeating the Patriots 35-21, and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back home to Green Bay.


Yesterday (June 7th, 2012) six of those champion Packers were in Eagle River, WI for a charity event put on by Angel On My Shoulder, and sponsored by WRJO, the oldies station out of Eagle River.

I really wanted to go to the event, not only to meet the players, but also to benefit the charity, but I recently lost my job and wasn't going to be able to afford the $20 ticket plus purchase something there to have the guys sign.  Fortunately the station was giving away pairs of tickets for the party, which featured Gilbert Brown (NT, #93), Dorsey Levens (RB, #25), Craig Newsome (CB, #21), William Henderson, (RB, FB, #33), Marco Rivera (Guard, #62) and Santana Dotson (DE, #71).

The sign on the front of the Penalty Box (behind the open glass door, hence the glare)

I called in Tuesday night, when Mike Wolf was giving away the last set of tickets for that day.  I was the fourth caller, and won the pair of tickets!  All I had to do was tell them at the Penalty Box Pub & Grill that I had tickets waiting that I won from the station.  Unfortunately I didn't have anyone to go with me, so there was an extra ticket available for someone else to use.

Thursday afternoon I got ready to head up, putting on a hooded long-sleeve Packer t-shirt, my Packers necklace and earrings.  I left at quarter to 4, and got into Eagle River just before 5.  I drove down to the hockey arena, which is where they were having us park, then walked down the side of Highway 70 to the Penalty Box.  I had thought they were providing a courtesy shuttle to the parade, which was starting in downtown Eagle River, but they weren't.  So I drove into town (cranking the radio and putting my windows down when "Bang the Drum All Day," the song played after every Packers touchdown, came on) found a place to park, and walked down Wall Street.  I spotted the WRJO truck, and went down to talk to my friend (and former coworker) Amy Linnett.

They were going to be leading the parade, pulling a pontoon boat with the Packers on it.  The parade started at the old train depot and went all the way to the Penalty Box; I shot some video of the parade while it was in town (Unfortunately my batteries died right in the middle of the parade, and the quality is shot), then got in my car and drove back to the arena to park.  I just got out of my car as the Packers went by.

Pontoon full of Packers (William Henderson and Gilbert Brown in back, Dorsey Levens and Craig Newsome up front)

There was a fantastic fan car in the parade; the driver was wearing a Packers uniform with the late Reggie White's number on it.  He had on pads and wore a Packers hard hat.  I found out later from someone at the party that he had a trunk full of custom Packers license plates - he gets one every year for that car.

Fan car in parade

The helmet at the top of the flag pole

The white plates from the letter G

Once I got back to the Penalty Box I got in line for supper - you had your choice of brats, hot dogs or hamburgers, a bag of chips and a beverage, all of which was included in the price of your ticket.  The food was prepared by the Northland Pines High School football team, and provided by Trig's of Eagle River, the local grocery store and another sponsor.

After I ate I hung out with Amy for a while, until they started the line to purchase memorabilia.  They had ball caps for $20, individual pictures of the players for $10 apiece, a mini football helmet (in a square plastic display box) for $30 and a large collage picture of the guys in uniform on a black background with the words "Super Bowl XXXI Champions" in silver and a picture of the Lombardi Trophy for $50.  I opted for the cap.

Dorsey, William and Marco on top, Santana, Gilbert and Craig on the bill (L-R)

After I bought the cap I hung around outside for a while until the line started for autographs.  Once inside the bar I saw a table filled with autographed memorabilia that was up for silent auction - the least anything started for was $50!  So I just stayed in line.  One of the large-screen TVs was showing the game, but I was talking with man and his young son who were in line behind me, and only caught a few minutes of the fourth quarter.

They had the players in a back room, and they let people through in small groups; we weren't allowed to take pictures inside (although some people were doing so anyway) because they wanted to keep the line moving.

Around 8 o'clock the guys came outside, and someone gave them silver markers to sign the side of the pontoon boat.  Then they milled around a while, expecting to get picked up for the ride back to the hotel.  Someone came up to Santana while I was talking to him and said that Gilbert was going to make introductions, and then do a short live auction.  Santana put his arm around my waist and said "I don't need introductions, do I?  You know who I am, right?"  I laughed as we headed back towards the bar, and he said "I'm Santana!"  I jokingly replied "Not the singer, the better one!"

After Gilbert did the introductions, he auctioned off a few signed items - the first was a full-size helmet autographed by 20 players and personnel, including Brett Favre and the general manager at the time, Ron Wolf.  Bidding quickly climbed to $1,700!  At that point Gilbert said they had to get on to the next item, but they actually had two signed helmets, so both the active bidders got one for that price.

A couple more items were auctioned, and then I was able to get some pictures with the guys.  I missed out on Dorsey and Craig, however - they'd gone back into the bar after Gilbert had done the introductions, and I didn't want to bother them.

Me and Marco Rivera

Sandwiched between Santana Dotson (left) and Gilbert Brown (known as The Gravedigger)

Me & William Henderson

William thanked the crowd for coming out to support Angel On My Shoulder, and encouraged everyone to go the golf outing today (Friday the 8th).  He also thanked Angel On My Shoulder founder Lolly Rose for all her hard work, and Gilbert said "She's the bravest woman...to ride in that boat with six big black guys.  Oh, and Marco."  Marco was at the back of the crowd during the auction, and from time to time Gilbert would say "Everyone yell 'Hi Marco!'" and the crowd would turn and yell "Hi Marco!"

The Green Bay Packers, whether former or current players, are a fantastic group of guys.  They're very community-minded, and all of them take part in charity events all over the state.  Current WR Donald Driver (the champion of this year's Dancing With the Stars!) took underprivileged kids in three different cities in the Fox Valley Christmas shopping last winter, and just had a charity softball game this past weekend.  Gilbert started a group for young kids who are interested in car racing.  And several Packers, including William and Marco, recently did a Tailgate Tour around the southern part of the state, stopping in schools to give talks on bullying, and sports-related injuries, and meeting with military veterans in the Tomah VA medical center.

I talked with a couple from Minnesota as we headed back to our vehicles - the wife couldn't get over how terrific the Packers were, and the obvious love they had for their fans.  "We don't have anything like that back home," she lamented.  "Our guys (Minnesota Vikings) do charity stuff, but nothing like this."

Is it any wonder I love my Green Bay Packers?