A Green Bay Packers Thanksgiving
The author, speaking as a fan of the Green Bay Packers – gives us five reasons to give thanks today.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph
As Green Bay Packers fans, we have a lot for which to be thankful.
It may be difficult to truly accept that considering we are sitting at 5-5-1 for the season and most of the team is out with injuries, but seriously it could be a lot worse (we could be the Texans, Bucs or Vikings).
So as we all get ready to gather around the TV and watch the Pack take on the Detroit Lions and hopefully come away with a victory, there are five things that I, as a Packers fan am grateful for this Thanksgiving.
First of all, I am grateful that I remember the Packers of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. Before Brett Favre, Reggie White, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews. I remember what it was like to watch those games and wonder what it would be like to have a winning season and have good solid players.
I am grateful for those memories because it allows me to appreciate everything that has come since then. Two Super Bowl victories, countless division titles and more importantly, consistent winning.
Coach Bart Starr and quarterback Lynn Dickey during the lean years. Photo Credit: USA Today Sports Images
This year may not be all that we wanted and expected, but it could be a lot worse. So we should be grateful that this team has hung around and is still in a position to make a run at the playoffs. A lot of teams would be grateful just for the opportunity that we have.
Second, I am grateful that we have Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy leading the way with this team. We, as fans, may not always agree with every move and every play that is called, but the end results for the most part have been positive and are looking up, compared to where we could be. Without their direction things could have been and should have been a lot worse. Maybe if they would have done a few things differently we would not be where we are at now, but lesser management and coaching staffs would have crumbled with the loss of their star quarterback and defensive player.
Third, I am blessed to be able to call myself a fan of the greatest team to play the game. Yes, I know that is a biased statement with no factual evidence to support it. Yet I would argue that when you have 70,000 plus fans waiting in the cold to watch this team play each frigid, wintry, Sunday, that is dedication. Very few teams, if any, could dream of such support. We love our Pack no matter what, and it is that drive and undying support that places them and us above any other team or fan base!
Fourth, I am grateful that I have the ability to complain, criticize and demand that Dom Capers be removed as defensive coordinator or that this team has been awful.
Why am I grateful for that privilege?
Simply put, I have the right to freely speak my opinion. It may not be the popular opinion and it may ruffle many a feather but it is a right that many other people across this world do not have and for that I am grateful.
Thank you to our Military, past, present and future. Without your sacrifices, Thanksgiving would be just another day. Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
That leads me to the fifth thing for which I am gratefu … and that is all the men and women who are serving our country.
For without their sacrifice we would not be able to embrace the freedoms we have, celebrate the blessing bestowed upon us and indulge in the gluttony of Thanksgiving.
So to all the men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve this nation (and to their families who have given up so much), thank you for giving us the ability to enjoy this day.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Lombardiave.com and …
GO PACK GO!