Donald Driver breaks down during his retirement speech held in the Atrium at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver gave an emotional goodbye this morning in the Atrium at Lambeau Field in front of more than 1,000 people and tens of thousands who followed on television and online.

“The Receiver” will be refurbished to represent Donald Driver and the street that runs near the statue will be renamed Donald Driver Way.

Warm words, an awesome highlight video and the announcement that “The Receiver,” the statue that formerly sat in front of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and is now situated in front of Titletown Brewery, will be refurbished to represent Driver, were just a few of the high points from the program. In addition to the refurbishing of the statue, the street that runs by the statue will be renamed “Donald Driver Way.”

Gov. Scott Walker declared today, Wednesday, Feb. 6, as Donald Driver Day across the state of Wisconsin, a proclamation that only touches on the love that fans have showed Driver throughout his storied career.

Donald Driver holds his daughter while taking questions during his retirement speech today at Lambeau Field.

During his speech, Driver acknowledged many players, coaches and family members and thanked them profusely, but he concluded his thank you’s and speech by calling out his love for the fans.

“This day is not just for me, it’s for you,” Driver said in addressing the fan base. “I promised you all I would never wear another uniform, so today we make that official … I keep my loyalty to you. to retire in the green and gold.”

Larry McCarren opened the program by addressing the love he felt in the room and concluded the event by stressing even more than ever all that Driver had done for the fans through the years was reciprocated many times over by those who have loved and appreciated him.

This Associated Press photo shows rookie receiver, Donald Driver at a Packer’s mini-camp.

Today as the last song plays and the glare of the lights dim one last time on the football career of Donald Jerome Driver, we the fans get to celebrate and honor a man that we can call our own.  So often in sports we elevate the players to lofty heights only to see them fall from grace.  Yet today we get to look back on a 14-season career that ironically enough started with the number thirteen (just a hint of foreshadowing back in 1999)

In 1999, when Donald Driver was a seventh round pick out of Alcorn State, the Milwaukee Journal had him writing a rookie diary, detailing his thoughts and feelings about being in his first camp.  What amazed me as I read his entries was that neither time nor success has changed the man.

Donald Driver’s shoulder shake became a trademark for the Packers receiver.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

On Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, Donald wrote, “I came in today and I saw that my locker was moved. When I went back there, I saw all the names were gone. I was like, (his eyes widen), Oh my God, they cut me. Then I came back over here. And I had to look around and find out where my new locker was. I did, but when I went to one of the coaches outside and I said, hey this No. 80, that’s Derrick Mayes’ number. That’s not mine. And they were like, “No, that’s your new number.” And I was like, “So I made it?”

Yes Donald, you made it that day.

You began a journey that had you play with two MVP quarterbacks, go to numerous Pro Bowls, win a Super Bowl and became one of the greatest receivers in Packer history.

But even then you were setting yourself up to succeed, to be more than just a wideout, that was clearly evident when you wrote, “I was worried, I had butterflies, every day. But the thing was I knew I had to work hard and put it all in God’s hands, whatever was going to happen would happen. I knew I made the team, but you never know what can happen. That’s the thing that I had to keep focusing on. I had to keep practicing and do the things I can do best and then let everything else fall into place.”

You put your faith in God’s hands, practiced and worked hard and did what you could and look to where it brought you.  Fame, not the fame that goes hand-in-hand with guys like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, or even Chad Ochocinco.  You have a type of fame that was earned through hard work.  You endeared yourself to the Packers Nation because of  what you stood for and what you accomplished, not by selfish actions on and off the field.

This day is about you and what you have done over such an amazing career, but what was amazing was that from the first day you were drafted, it has always been about others; your family, your teammates, and your community.  In the same diary entry from sept. 5, 1999, you finished your thoughts by saying, “I’m happy. I can tell my fiancé, who is over in the hotel, that everything is over, you don’t have to sit at home, at school, worrying about “is my baby going to make the roster?” I’m here now. I feel like I did everything God wanted me to to make this team. Now we don’t have any worries. Now we can live the way we want to live.”

Donald Driver’s smile captivated everyone who has seen him flash it.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Well now today, you can tell your wife that though this chapter may be over, a new path has opened up.  Now you can live the way you want to live and do all the things that you want to do.  Nobody back in 1999 would ever have thought that the 213th pick in the NFL draft would become the number one receiver in Packer history, become a Super Bowl champion, a fan favorite and cross over into the national spotlight and win the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars.

Well, nobody except you.

Maybe you did not know it then but you clearly foretold your future back in that rookie year.  In an April 28, 1999, interview with the Milwaukee Journal’s Bud Lea you were quoted as saying, “ What really excites me is catching the ball and running to the end zone. Then I can dance. That’s what I want to do.”

The Dancing Champion, he knew it way back it 1999. Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty images

Yes Donald Jerome Driver, you can dance (as you have the trophy to prove it).  You have danced your way into our hearts and now that this song has ended, we will be there to celebrate with you.  We will celebrate a career that started out as a longshot in the eyes of many except you; a career that has allowed you to become so much more than a player, to become a role model, a community leader and an inspiration to thousands; a career of which others can only dream.

Today we will celebrate with you and for you because you deserve to see the love, respect and admiration that you have earned with your play on the field and your dedication to your fans and family off of it.

With the retirement of Donald Driver and the probability that Greg Jennings will leave the Packers via free agency, the Packers’ huddle will look different next season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Do you remember Sterling Sharpe? An incredibly gifted Green Bay Packer Wide Receiver, who at the peak of his career was forced retire because of a neck injury.

During Sharpe’s seven seasons sporting the Green and Gold he was on a pace to shatter all of Green Bay’s receiving records.

Sterling Sharpe Green Bay Packer Wide Receiver

When Sterling Sharpe’s career numbers are put beside Donald Drivers’ career numbers you can’t help but wonder what Sharpe would have done if he had Driver’s longevity.  Not only that, Sharpe played with Don Majkowski and Brett Favre, when Favre was still rounding into form. Can you imagine what Sharpe would have done if he had Favre for another seven years?

The intent of this comparison is not to undermine the achievements of Donald Driver on a day in which Packer nation is thanking him for his contributions.

Quite the opposite.

Donald Driver Green Bay Packer Wide Receiver Lambeau Leap

It is fixed on celebrating a man, Donald Driver, who went about his business as a Packer with class, dignity, and understanding that he was granted a gift. He was bestowed the athletic ability and body that enabled him to do things on the football field about which the common man could only marvel. He accepted this blessing with humbleness and a desire to use his clout to better those who celebrate him on Sundays.

Donald Driver’s career numbers and longevity are most impressive. They are however far from the greatest of all time. His career receiving stats most likely will not land him a spot in Canton, but sure to cement a spot in the Packers Hall of Fame.

When Sterling Sharpe retired from the Packers and the NFL he was not given a hero’s send off. There was not a Sterling Sharpe Day or a retirement ceremony in which fans braved the night through frigid temperatures to say one last goodbye. Sharpe did not take the time to make the connection with the fans and the community like Driver did. Maybe if he had more time or was a part of Super Bowl-winning teams things would have been different. It’s possible the ice around his persona would have thawed by the warmth of Packer victories.

Driver, by contrast, wholeheartedly embraced Packers Nation, Green Bay, and the state of Wisconsin. With a smile that could light up a coal mine he forged a connection with the community that will live on for generations. His work with Goodwill, a charity softball game, and time spent with kids at Children’s Hospital are among just a few ways he extended his presence outside the lines of the football field. Donald Driver’s legacy goes far beyond the numbers. He set the example of “The Packer Way.”

Nice job Donald Driver and thanks for the memories.

Donald Driver will officially retire at a celebration to be held at Lambeau Field Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Double-D, Quickie or just plain Donald – we’ve known Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver for 14 glorious years, but now it’s time to say goodbye.

Driver’s official retirement announcement and celebration takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 6, in the Atrium at Lambeau Field. The Packers have a big day planned and the place will no doubt be packed with the media and the 1,000 people who were lucky enough to snatch up free tickets distributed last week by the Packers.

Bittersweet will probably be the theme of the day. Driver, the Packers all-time leading receiver in catches and yards, will give a statement, answer questions and talk about his past, his present and his future.

We look forward to the day and if you would like to personally sign an Internet thank you card to Donald, Packers Everywhere, the site that focuses on Packers fans and more across the world, has offered a page where you can leave your email and a message for Donald.

If you can’t make tomorrow’s shindig at Lambeau, this is one way you can leave your final words to the man who we all hope stays intimately involved in the Packers organization.

It takes about a minute to complete the card, so hop on over and check it out.

We’re sure Donald will appreciate it.

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We all have a tear in the corner of our eyes, but are so happy that Donald Driver has been in our lives.
Joe Heller cartoon

Joe Heller, the staff cartoonist at the Green Bay Press Gazette, has been practicing his craft for years, with many of his drawings capturing the mood and air of all that is the Green Bay Packers.

But his drawing and use of language in his most recent release depicting Donald Driver and his decision to retire hit the proverbial nail on the head. Quoting Dr. Seuss in this rendition not only hits home for Packers fans, but for football fans and most importantly for all those who recognize and appreciate honesty, integrity and people of first class.

Donald Driver did it all … and always came through it with a smile.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

You don’t have to be a fan of the Green Bay Packers or of Donald Driver to understand and maybe smile a little bit when viewing Heller’s recent creation that was to hit the pages of newspapers across the state and nation this weekend. Heck, you might even be a fan of the Chicago Bears and like this one.

The sparkle in Driver’s eyes, his ever-present smile, his smoothly-shaven scalp – they all come to life in this depiction.

And yes, we are all happy he has retired as a Green Bay Packer. He is right by his decision and came to his end the right way, unlike others we have seen come and go.

Yes, for the past couple of decades we have had Brett Favre, we have had Aaron Rodgers, we have had LeRoy Butler, we have had Reggie White, we have had Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson.

But through it all, the one constant has been Donald Driver. His class and character have brought him to a new level among Packers Nation and it will be difficult for any player to unseat him.

We thank you, Donald, for everything you have done.

We will never forget you.

Love, peace and contentment to you.

We’re sure to see you around …

Donald Driver looks toward his future away from football.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Being a fan of the Green Bay Packers means more than rooting for your team.

It represents a deep connection to all things Green and Gold. It is about the relationships that we build with the men who battle on the frozen tundra every Sunday (and Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, too). One of our favorites has decided to call it a career.  Donald Driver, arguably, one of the greatest wide receivers to play for the Packers is doing something very few players ever do, finish with the team with which they began.

Twenty-fours hours after the initial announcement, many fans are on an emotional roller coaster – happy for the man, yet sad to see it end.  But as with anything in life there comes a time when all things end.  I have spent as much time as possible reading everything that I have seen about Donald Driver and there is no way for me to be impartial in my thoughts or words when I think back about what he has given Packers Nation and what we feel for him.

Vince would have had great things to say about Donald Driver.

So I decided that it would be better to find out what others have to say about Donald Driver retiring.  So I hooked up the  old Texas Instrument computer and routed it through my flux capacitor, via the 1967 olive green electric mixer I got at a yard sale and was able to reopen the worm hole in my basement.  I figured it was time to see what others have to say about Donald Driver.

My first stop was the office of one Vincent Thomas Lombardi.  I asked the Coach what he thought of Donald retiring and the career that he had.  Lombardi replied, “Teamwork is what Donald Driver was all about.  He did not play the game for individual glory.  He did it because he loved his team and his community.”

I then asked Coach Lombardi if he could give any advice  to Donald what would it be.  Coach then took a deep breath and looked across at his chalkboard littered with X’s and O’s and answered, “After the cheers have died down and the stadium is empty, after the headlines have been written and after you are back in the quiet of your room and the championship ring has been placed on the dresser and all the pomp and fanfare have faded, the enduring things that are left are the dedication to excellence, the dedication to victory, and the dedication to doing with our lives the very best we can to make the world a better place in which to live.  It is these things that I see Donald succeeding at.”

After thanking Coach Lombardi for his time, I decided that it would be interesting to get a more worldly view on our favorite receiver so I zapped over to the Shandong peninsula in northeastern China to speak with Master Kongfuzi (Confucius).

What would Confucius have said about Donald Driver?

I asked the Master what he thought about Donald Driver and he said, “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”  But was the time right for Driver to retire was a question that many people were wondering and I implored him for his wisdom.  Confucius said, “If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?”

Finally, the Great Master imparted these final thoughts about what waited for Donald, “The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns.”

So it was evident that two of the greatest minds, Lombardi and Confucius saw great things for Donald as he moves forward in his post-football career. But I needed  another perspective, one more in step with Donald the Dancer.  So I located the great Fred Astaire.

I asked him what he thought of Donald’s dancing and what the future might hold for him and he replied, “He was just simply wonderful, the way he danced on the field and off it.  He danced beautifully, learned beautifully.  He was very adept at whatever he did on the dance floor, really in fine form.  I would love to do a picture with him.”

No doubt, President Barack Obama would have to bring in a reference to the Chicago Bears when complimenting Donald Driver.

So I felt pretty good that those of the past saw Donald in the same light we saw him in but what about some of our contemporaries, what did they think about Donald retiring.  So I touched base with the Commander in Chief, President Obama.  I asked him what his feelings were about Donald ending his career and he said, “I’m just gonna come out and say it,” this hurts a little bit. This is a hard thing for a Bears fan to do. It doesn’t hurt as much as the NFC championship game hurt, but it still hurts to say I am going to miss that man, his play on the field and his dancing off of it.

Wanting to be partisan, I then sought out Rush Limbaugh for his thoughts and he had this to say about Donald, “Wouldn’t it be great if our country had standards as high as Donald Driver’s?” So it was obvious that Rush felt the love we all feel for Donald.

So I finished up my jaunt across time and space and returned home.  It was evident that Donald Driver is  more than a football player.  He is one of those rare types who transcends those boundaries that separate us as individuals.  He has worked for the greater good of the community and he has elevated those around him.

Really nothing more can be said about the man that has not already been written, except that when it came time to call it a career, he did not think about himself or his team.  Rather, he thought of the people that supported him and loved him and wanted to do it right for them.  He thought of us, the fans and for that we can only say, “Thank you.  Thank you for being Donald Driver, football player, dancer and our friend.”

This is a screen shot of the WBAY-TV website showing fans braving the cold to get tickets to the Donald Driver retirement celebration to be held Wednesday, Feb. 6.

A report by WBAY out of Green Bay this morning was inspiring.

Despite temperatures plummeting to minus-10 degrees and wind chills into the the minus-30 to minus-40-degree range, Green Bay Packers and specifically Donald Driver fans began lining up at 10 p.m. last night and have been arriving at Lambeau Field this morning to pick up free tickets for Driver’s formal announcement and celebration of his retirement set to be held Wednesday, Feb. 6.

There are 1,000 tickets being given away with a limit of four per person.

The tickets are limited and on a first, come-first, served basis.

Check out the site to see a quote from fans who have braved the cold to warm their hearts by saying goodbye to one of their favorite Packer players.

Here’s WBAY’s video from the site:

WBAY

Donald Driver prepares to jump into the stands following a touchdown.

Between now and Wednesday, Feb. 6, we here at Lombardiave.com will be focusing a lot of energy and love on Donald Driver and his 14 years as wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.

Yes, we know there is a Super Bowl to Be played, the Combine is on the horizon, there are a ton of mock drafts and free agency is around the corner, but when a player who has given 14 years to one team in these days of player movement and lack of loyalty, we won’t take it lightly.

Donald Driver has been a football player first and foremost, but he’s been more than that to Packers Nation. There was Brett Favre before and Aaron Rodgers now, but Driver’s smile and personna has drawn fans in by droves – and for good reason.

But it’s also been his personality and actions on the field that has helped build his legion of followers. From his shoulder shake to his television commercials, to his Lambeau Leaps, Driver has been a fun guy to follow.

So, without further adieu, I’ve scrounged Youtube for some Donald Driver highlights you may have never seen. As we prepare for the day when Donald takes the podium and says goodbye we honor his impact on our lives.

Enjoy.

Wilde found the Driver quote from a past story, but what Driver says is so Donald. It’s the reason Packers Nation has taken him into their collective psyche and made him as big as he deserves to be. Driver understands respect. That if you show respect of others, they will surely return the favor.

Take a peek at what Driver has to say in this quote. Let it sink in and then compare it to others who have gone before him and will come behind him. If only others could read and reflect on this we might be living in a better world.

Thanks to Jason for sharing this with us and thanks for Donald for his honesty and integrity …

Donald Driver heads downfield after catching a pass from Aaron Rodgers against Tampa Bay in 2011.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

“I would’ve never expected this in a million years. When I walked in here in 1999, I would’ve never expected to have the fan base that I have now,” Driver said at his annual charity softball game this summer. “I think you treat people like you want to be treated. I don’t put myself on a pedestal – they do. And when they put me on that pedestal, I bring myself back down to earth, knowing I’m just a normal human being. I think now they see that. I think not just the Packers fans see that and Packer Nation sees that, but the world sees that now: That I am a good guy, a great father, a great Christian man, and a great husband. And to me, that’s what I wanted to show the world.

“I want to stay in the community. When I leave here, I want to continue to have my stamp here. I think some players, they leave and they never come back. I’ve always wanted to come back and I’m going to continue to come back. My wife already said we’re keeping our house in Green Bay, so we’re not getting rid of that. We may rent it out to one of the players, but we’re going to keep it and we’re going to continue to support the community just like the community has supported me.”

We’ve posted this awesome video about Donald Driver by none other than Dale Decker before, but its relevance is that much more today.

He’s put together a piece here that will raise the goosebumps, make you smile, make you cry. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s well worth the few minutes it takes to see it. If you have, it’s well worth the time to watch it once again.