The Ice Bowl

[Smidgeon]

With that in mind, I am very glad Mike Sherman was the GM/HC during the rebuilding of Lambeau. He was very, very much into tradition and history, and insisted that portions of the old players entrance tunnel be saved and installed in the relocated entrance so that today's players walk across the same concrete that the greats of the past walked across. I think he also saved some office doors (maybe Lombardi's?) and things like that to merge the old and new. Not everyone would have thought of those things.

At least Sherman as a GM wasn't a complete waste...

[mraynrand]

With that in mind, I am very glad Mike Sherman was the GM/HC during the rebuilding of Lambeau. He was very, very much into tradition and history, and insisted that portions of the old players entrance tunnel be saved and installed in the relocated entrance so that today's players walk across the same concrete that the greats of the past walked across. I think he also saved some office doors (maybe Lombardi's?) and things like that to merge the old and new. Not everyone would have thought of those things.

Sherman also saved a table for the employee break room:

[pbmax]

Was it concrete or bricks that were saved?

Because for some reason bricks evoke nostalgia. Concrete evokes beige.

Nothing says Mike Sherman more than concrete though.

[pbmax]

Sherman also saved a table for the employee break room:

My company and I do work with an Art and Design school and they have a collection of consumer designs from this era and others (appliances, stovetops, furniture, motorcycles).

If I saw this in a house I would think it foolish because I remember it being quaint and falling apart from my childhood. On display though its a mesmerizing collection of chrome and stainless steel.

Its also, unfortunately, in eery retro diner/restaurant in town.

[mraynrand]

Nothing says Mike Sherman more than concrete though.

LOL

But I get sentimental over a good span of rebar

[KYPack]

true story, the ice bowl set an all time record for attendance at a sporting event when 25 million people attended the game

i know this because i've met about 70 thousand of them, even though the stadium only held 30 some thousand back then

we all know at least 50 or 60 people who were "there"

There were slightly over 50,000 in Lambeau that day and I was one of 'em.

I went to all 3 games in Lambeau that end of the season. The Steeler game was the last regular season game and it sucked. Don Horn and Zeke were the QB's in the rain and bluster, a Packer loss. My uncle got me tickets for the Western division play-off btw the Rams and the Pack in Milwaukee. Little cold, little moist and I spent the day watching Forrest Gregg battle Deacon Jones in a clash of the
Titans. Gregg won as rookie HB Travis Wiilliams had a huge day in the Packer win.

The understanding was that my uncle would take his wife to the NFL Championship game the next Sunday. December 31 rolled around and at a little after 10, my uncle called. If I wanted to go to the game, be ready in 10 minutes. I was 17 and freaked out in my pre-game dressing. I had a cross between my hunting and skiing clothes, but I royally screwed up my coverage for hands AND feet. I had some pretty good ski gloves, but mittens should have been selected. Feet? a pair of Chuck Taylor converse all-stars and one pair of white socks. This would prove to be a major problem. We were in row 42 on the East side of the stadium about the Southern 40 yd line. It was real chilly at the start of the game, but not that hateful. Not much wind and pretty bright sun. It was cold then, but tolerable. Starr hit Dowler for a couple touchdowns, but the weather began to deteriorate. A couple Packer fumbles gave the Boys 10 pts so it was 14-10 at the half.

Half time was like nite and day. The sun was no longer shining on the fans as it got weaker and lower in the sky. The sky was this awful grey color and the cold set in. It seemed like the temp would fall another degree every 15 minutes or so. The ski gloves weren't hacking the program and the converse tennis and the thin socks weren't doing dick. I was in some severe pain, baby At the start of the 4th quarter, the Boys got a long touchdown pass from Dan Reeves to Lance Rentzel. 17 -14 Boys and I was a hurtin' unit. A guy next to me was feeding me Blackberry brandy from a fifth he had with him. The booze did yield slight pain support, but not much. My feet, toes, hands, and fingers were sceaming in pain. I could stand the pain, but all my digits didn't feel like they were even part of my body anymore. A guy came back to the seats and announced that had started fires down under the south end zone from construction material that was laying around. I made up my mind to go down there if another Packer drive failed. Another thing that was happening was the fog from people's breath was so thick, it was difficult to follow running plays on the East side of the stands. Another Packer drive failed and I made a bee-line under the stands to find the fires. There were several of 'em and I gathered around 'em, trying to get warm. I would put my feet and hand close to the burning wood as I could stand. The warming of the fire didn't relieve the pain, it unthawed the nerve sand actually was more painful that it was in the stands. I stayed with my warming task until a guy pointed out that both my shoes were on fire. I didn't give a shit, I wanted warm again.

Then there came a roar from the crowd above us. The Pack did something was the cry. this was like being in a damned war. I ran (as best I could) to the top of the aisle that lead into the stadium. The Packers were driving towards us. Donny Anderson caught two pretty good swing passes and we might finally have a shot at winning this sucker. Then Chuck Mercien carried a pass down to the 10 or so. the Pack then ran Mercien to the two on a give play. Donny Anderson ran a couple stabs to the goal and actually scored on the second one, but the refs waved it off. Then Starr made his famous sneak and all hell broke loose. The pain went way for a bit in all the hysteria. then it returned every bit as intense as it was during the ball game. No more burning wood piles for me, a car heater was what I wanted. We maxed up the heaters, but our toes and digits were hurtin' all the way home.

WE all sustained frostbite of some category or the other, but what the hell, we were all Wisconsinites, that's a winter thing. One other effect hit us on the way home. I probably had 2/3 of a bottle of booze in my belly. The drive home warned our bodies and that allowed the booze to do it's intoxicationg thing. After a half hour, we were smashed on the liquor, buzzing on the win, but in pain from the cold. Weird feeling, hope I never experience it again.

Wear warm stuff on hands and feet and take those little warming pads. A bunch of 'em. Slip some in your boots and gloves and keep extras.

Don't forget the blackberry brandy. An ice fishing staple.

[mraynrand]

Jesus, what a story. Fantastic. Blackberry Brandy and Wisconsin are just inseparable, aren't they?

The only people who might dress better than hunters and ice fishermen are paper boys. I recall one Sunday morning in 1979 delivering the Milwaukee Urinal in a -26F deep freeze, but I was moving fast, which is more like being a player on the field than a fan in the stands!

Burning Chuckie Taylors....Just awesome....

[bobblehead]

There were slightly over 50,000 in Lambeau that day and I was one of 'em.

...............
Don't forget the blackberry brandy. An ice fishing staple.

KY, 90% of the time I see a post this long and I skip it. Glad that I know you to be a guy who doesn't waste a lot of pixels. Thank you for this post.

[bobblehead]

Jesus, what a story. Fantastic. Blackberry Brandy and Wisconsin are just inseparable, aren't they?

The only people who might dress better than hunters and ice fishermen are paper boys. I recall one Sunday morning in 1979 delivering the Milwaukee Urinal in a -26F deep freeze, but I was moving fast, which is more like being a player on the field than a fan in the stands!

Burning Chuckie Taylors....Just awesome....

Yea, it brought back some hunting memories for me where I drove home and wouldn't even get out of the car when I got home because the car heater on my hands and feet were direct and better than going inside. Now days we have the little hand warmers, propane heaters and all the good stuff we never had growing up. Sometimes in a sick nostalgic twist I miss being frozen right to the core.

[woodbuck27]

I was in fact there, so add me to the list...wait, what year was I born?

If you were there the list of 'older' Packerrats amounts to what number?

I classify 'older' as anyone over 55 years of age.

KYPack is really old and then there's Patler really up there too and I'm coming along in age.

You too ... who knew!

[pbmax]

I have melted the rubber toes of my Chuck Taylors trying to dry them out next to a fire. Made for a great second tongue on my shoes as the rubber ran down the toes. But I have never set them on fire. My hats off to you.

[bobblehead]

If you were there the list of 'older' Packerrats amounts to what number?

I classify 'older' as anyone over 55 years of age.

KYPack is really old and then there's Patler really up there too and I'm coming along in age.

You too ... who knew!

I was joking Woody. I wasn't born yet in 1967. My comment was so absurd I thought you would pick up on it.

[woodbuck27]

There were slightly over 50,000 in Lambeau that day and I was one of 'em. ....

Edit of story for brevity (Please see 'the original', this thread post #21)

By the way... A fantastic tale by 'YOU' KY and with all the lieing we're aware of/or not, lately. Entirely and really believable.

I almost thought this was a story of my grandfather's reincarnated; except he'd be telling us about some wrestling match he attended; or a hunting or fishing story. That's a great compliment or respect I pay you KY .... Eldon Alonzo Bell was ALL ... A REAL MAN.


It's really difficult to find such today.

... Then Starr made his famous sneak and all hell broke loose. The pain went way for a bit in all the hysteria. then it returned every bit as intense as it was during the ball game. No more burning wood piles for me, a car heater was what I wanted. We maxed up the heaters, but our toes and digits were hurtin' all the way home.

WE all sustained frostbite of some category or the other, but what the hell, we were all Wisconsinites, that's a winter thing. One other effect hit us on the way home. I probably had 2/3 of a bottle of booze in my belly. The drive home warned our bodies and that allowed the booze to do it's intoxicationg thing. After a half hour, we were smashed on the liquor, buzzing on the win, but in pain from the cold. Weird feeling, hope I never experience it again.

Wear warm stuff on hands and feet and take those little warming pads. A bunch of 'em. Slip some in your boots and gloves and keep extras.

Don't forget the blackberry brandy. An ice fishing staple.

A question for you KY:

Did you ever father children?

GO PACKERS....GO PACK GO !

[woodbuck27]

I was joking Woody. I wasn't born yet in 1967. My comment was so absurd I thought you would pick up on it.

I'm just carrying on with you Mate.

You' need to acquire a tad more color before I'd seriously accuse you of degenerating into a man of many tales.

[woodbuck27]

I have melted the rubber toes of my Chuck Taylors trying to dry them out next to a fire. Made for a great second tongue on my shoes as the rubber ran down the toes. But I have never set them on fire. My hats off to you.

Chuck Taylor must have been pissed.

Wear your own boots.