Packers vs Cards - meaningless game AAR

[boiga]

Because pbmax asked, I figured I'd write up a full bodied after action report of the week 17 Packers game.

I've been living in Tucson for the past couple of years after having grown up in Wisconsin. Having been cut off from all things Midwestern, my devotion to the Packers has grown to compensate, so when I learned that the Pack would be playing the last game of the season here I had to make the trip up to Phoenix to check it out.

My wife is foreign, so football makes absolutely no sense to her. She couldn't distinguish between NFL and kill the carrier. Making her sit down an watch games with me at home would only lead to irritation at the annoying beer commercials and confusion over why the QB is massaging the ass of the guy in front of him before each play. I'd more or less given up on making her a Packers fan.

Nevertheless, because I had driven her up to the Cardinals' stadium for a Gold Cup soccer match the previous summer, she agreed to accompany me to a Packers game out of fairness. So, on the day before our 5th anniversary we made the 2 hour drive up I-10 to the Flying Saucer in the Desert.

We had to walk from the most distant corner of the parking lot, wait about 15 minutes in the desert sun to get through security before we even got into the building. There was some gentle jibing between the different fan bases on the way in, but both were fairly cordial. Packers fans made up about 1/4th of the total crowd, so we didn't feel lonely.

We had to wait for the national anthem to finish before sitting down, and my wife was impressed by the quality of the singer at least. That was a good sign. We got to our seats right at the coin toss and then the game began with bang.

Our lower section corner seats were nearly ideal for this game because the Packers were aiming for our endzone the entire 1st quarter. We got close up views of the Ryan Grant scramble for a TD and the beautiful long bomb to Nelson. For the first time in her life, my wife actually understood things like down and distance and the importance of field position. She screamed when the Cardinals kick returner got sandwiched and up ended and was cheering along with the screaming of a 12 year old Pack fan two rows back (he'll be hoarse for days.)

I felt somewhat sorry for the Cardinals fans who were sitting next to us: a father and 11 year old girl or thereabouts. They had absolutely nothing to cheer for the entire first half. Even at the end of the second quarter when Leinart was finally moving the ball to midfield, he got intercepted by Bigby to end the half. They knew that this one didn't matter, but they were still peeved that their team laid down on them.

The emotional climax of the afternoon for us had to be the drive in the 3rd quarter. We were a little distracted for the first half of the drive by an annoying fat bald Cardinals fan who hadn't shut up or sat down the entire 1st half being escorted out by the police, but we got the best part of it when the drive reached our side of the field. Rodgers had been easily marching down the field to reach 1st and goal when our entire half of the stadium starting reverberating with GoPackGO! GoPackGO! Everyone was on their feet screaming during that absolutely gorgeously lofted fade to Finley right into our corner of the endzone. The packers fans went nuts and the Cardinals fans started leaving.

We left not to long after as well to beat most of the rush on our way to dinner in Tempe and then back Tucson. My wife was amazed that she actually enjoyed herself at a football game. I was amazed by how great Rodgers looked in real time and how dominant Finley can be. Really terrific experience all around.

Now we just have to hope next week goes the same way. There were still tickets available at cost from the Cardinals for residents of Arizona, so I picked up two and my father's flying down to Phoenix to join me for the game. If you guys would like, I'll do another AAR next week as well.

http://img02.imagefra.me/img/img02/2/1/4/t_13ct364km_062d709.jpg (http://imagefra.me/view.php?img=/2/1/4/f_13ct364km_062d709.jpg&srv=img02)


http://img38.imagefra.me/img/img38/2/1/4/t_13ct364jm_321a9e4.jpg (http://imagefra.me/view.php?img=/2/1/4/f_13ct364jm_321a9e4.jpg&srv=img38)

[gbgary]

great story!! loved the fact that your wife, a fan of real football, got caught up in american football. there's nothing like watching our Packers in person. don't know if you've ever been to Lambeau, being a wisconsinite doesn't guaranty that, but if you or anyone else has the chance then do it! you guys make a good looking couple by the way.

[cheesner]

Thanks! GF and daughter were sick so I didn't make it. We missed a great game.

Post more pictures next week. (just of your wife - she's a cutie!) :wink:

[pbmax]

Glad your wife enjoyed herself. And great photos, looks like you had phenomenal seats. I just hope next week is as enjoyable. :lol:

[Administrator]

Thanks for sharing this story. Would love to read about next week too!

[boiga]

Thanks for the feedback people.

I went to a great Packers/Ravens game back in the late 90's up in Lambeau. The University of Phoenix stadium doesn't compare, of course, but it's still a fine stadium. I just wish they served better beer (bud light doesn't really do it for me.) I have to admit that the seats are certainly more comfortable than the metal bleachers. (And there's no way I can get my tropic born wife to stick around Lambeau for three hours in January!)

Those seats were great for this game because we got lucky and were right in the action for three of the TD's. However, all I could see of C Wood's int was that everyone started running the other direction. And I couldn't tell what we were doing on defense because the Cards never got near the end zone in the 2nd quarter.

Next week my father and I will be in the upper level at around the 25 yard line. That should offer a more strategic view, if less personal. I'll send out some pics of that next monday.

I'm certainly hoping for a similar outcome though. Go Pack!

[channtheman]

I actually prefer to be higher up at football games as you said they provide a better strategic view of the game. I went to the Lions Thanksgiving game and had seats close to where you were and couldn't see half the game.

[sheepshead]

Nicely done! I have an original pennant that the image on your wifes shirt was taken from. (not that I was looking at your wifes chest or anything just the shirt)

[Fritz]

It sounds like, after the flowering of your wife's football awareness and your pleasure in that, the story may not have ended right at the end of the game there, Boiga.

Good for you.

And a fine account as well.

Of course, you do know that you have to go next week, right? Clearly you and your wife were the reason the Packers played so well and won, so you must go back next week, with your wife, and get seats as near to those you had as you can.

[Scott Campbell]

Great story! I enjoyed everything except the part where you had to go to a soccer game.

[woodbuck27]

Thanks boiga:

I liked this part:

The emotional climax of the afternoon for us had to be the drive in the 3rd quarter. We were a little distracted for the first half of the drive by an annoying fat bald Cardinals fan who hadn't shut up or sat down the entire 1st half being escorted out by the police, but we got the best part of it when the drive reached our side of the field. Rodgers had been easily marching down the field to reach 1st and goal when our entire half of the stadium starting reverberating with GoPackGO! GoPackGO! Everyone was on their feet screaming during that absolutely gorgeously lofted fade to Finley right into our corner of the endzone. The packers fans went nuts

You'll never forget that experience Packer fan.

Question on this note:

an annoying fat bald Cardinals fan who hadn't shut up or sat down the entire 1st half being escorted out by the police

Was he tossed because he was fat or because he was bald?

GO PACK GO!