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Cheeseheads, Tailgating, and the Lambeau Leap

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Cheeseheads, Tailgating, and the Lambeau Leap Wisconsin Cheeseheads, Robert T. Teske long and celebrated history has Tailgating, and enhanced the aura of tradition surround­ ing the team, supported the creation of popular heroes which still capture the the Lambeau Leap: imagination of football enthusiasts The Green Bay Packers and everywhere, and continued to generate a rich body of "Packerlore." Wisconsin Folklife As important as tradition in winning a place for the Packers in the hearts of have been a fan of the Green Bay Packers all my life. Wisconsin fans is the team's understand­ ing of, and appreciation for, its commu­ IWhen I was growing up in Milwaukee during the late nity. As the only franchise in the United '50s and early '60s, my brothers and I could hardly wait for States which is publicly owned, the Packers enjoy a unique affiliation with Sunday afternoon telecasts of Packers games to end so the smallest market in professional that we could rush outside to imitate the heroics of Paul sports. During a recent public offering, thousands of Packer fans snapped up Hornung and Jim Taylor, Bart Starr and Ray Nitschke. stock in the organization - despite the fact that the $200 shares will never Throughout high school, I joined mil­ Philadelphia, Detroit, and Washington, appreciate in value. People simply want­ lions of other Wisconsin residents in D.C., before returning to Wisconsin in ed to be able to say they owned a part of cheering the team on to several NFL 1985, I remained a committed Packers the team. Following the Packers' 1997 championships during the "Glory Years" fan - and so did literally millions of conference championship victory over under legendary head coach Vince others. Why such loyalty? Why such dedi­ the Carolina Panthers, thousands of fans Lombardi. As a college freshman, I cation and commitment? The answers to paid $10 each for pieces of "frozen tun­ picked the lock of my proctor's door to these questions lie, I think, in the success dra" stripped from Lambeau Field. The watch "The Pack" trounce the Kansas of the Green Bay Packers in appealing to fact that all the proceeds from the sale of City Chiefs in Super Bowl I. The follow­ Wisconsin's appreciation for tradition, the turf were donated by the Packers to ing year, I viewed the Packers' Super community, and celebration. local charities further enhanced the Bowl II victory over the Oakland Raiders When it comes to professional athletics organization's ties to the community. on an ancient black-and-white television in Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers Other symbols of the Packers' connec­ that made 250-pound linemen look as embody tradition. For more than 75 tion to their hometown are somewhat tall and thin as the Celtics' front court. years, half the history of the state itself, less quantifiable, but no less important. Little did I know then that almost 30 the Packers have been a vital part of Take, for example, the now-famous years would pass before the Packers Wisconsin life. While other professional "Lambeau leap." By hurling himself would return to the Super Bowl, that a sports franchises found their way to headlong into the stands after scoring a generation of Packer fans would have to Milwaukee, neither the Braves, their suc­ touchdown, each jubilant Packer shares suffer through humiliating losses to the cessors the Brewers, nor the Bucks - his moment of triumph with the commu­ likes of the Chicago Bears and the hated despite world championships in their nity which cheers him on every week. Dallas Cowboys before reaching the pin­ respective sports - have ever command­ The fact that this form of end-zone cele­ nacle again, that my own son would be a ed the same fan support. Dedication and bration has never drawn a penalty flag senior in college before the Green and commitment among fans take time to seems to suggest that even officials rec­ Gold would reclaim the Lombardi grow and develop, identification with a ognize it as a sign of solidarity with foot­ Trophy. Yet, throughout this long team and pride in association require ball's most dedicated fans. drought, during which I moved to stability as much as success. Each new game, each new season in the Packers' 14 SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL 1998 Wisconsin "St. Vince" and "Title Towel Man" are among the characters tailgating at Lam beau Field in Green Bay. Photo by Andy Kraushaar The community which cheers the despite having their own professional ularly hold "Green and Gold Days" Green Bay Packers actually extends teams, typically have one or more bars before big games, and merchants offer throughout Wisconsin and well beyond. designated as gathering places for area Packer specials, like a free sack of bagels The Packers organization reserves tickets Packer fans. Only the Fighting Irish of for every Packer sack. The Archive of for Milwaukee season-ticket holders at Notre Dame also seem to draw the sup­ Folk Culture at the Library of Congress designated games each year in Green port of fans so widely distributed around has received cassette tape recordings doc­ Bay, thus maintaining intense fan loyalty the country. umenting over 45 Packer songs and song I (and encouraging some of the largest In addition to building a formidable parodies in a wide variety of styles rang­ traffic jams imaginable on Sunday tradition and cultivating the support of a ing from polkas to pop (see page 16). mornings along I-43 from Milwaukee to broad-based community, the Green Bay None of these spin-offs, however, can Green Bay). At games in Tampa Bay, Packers have long been the occasion for, quite compare with the central Packer many "snowbirds" who have permanent­ and center of, Wisconsin celebrations. celebration, the one which engulfs ly fled Wisconsin's long, hard winters During the last few years, Packer celebra­ Lambeau Field during every Packer gather with loyal fans who follow the tions have expanded to fill virtually every home game. In much the same way that team from Wisconsin to generate a available time slot from the opening of Cheese Days in Monroe give local dairy crowd of some 30,000 "Packer backers." preseason in July till the last second ticks families a cause to celebrate and Cities like San Francisco and San Diego, off the clock during the Super Bowl in Syttende Mai in Stoughton encourages late January. Schools and businesses reg- 1998 SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL 15 Wisconsin antlered "Packalope" and the blessed "Scatter My Ashes" By John Harmon Shardik "St. Vince." Occasionally, the University of Wisconsin Marching Band will add its Just let me hear that Lam beau cheer postgame concert, known as the Fifth To set my spirit free Quarter, to the conclusion of a Packer Scatter my ashes in Lam beau Field game, thus combining two long-standing That's where I want to be. state athletic traditions. After the game, more tailgating or a trip to the local tav­ In the fall I count the days 'til Sunday rolls ern to review the highlights may well be around, in order. Cuz that's the day the Packers play - the With their victory over the New only game in town. England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, the I haven't missed a game in years; some say Green Bay Packers demonstrated that - I've paid my dues, as bumper stickers had proclaimed hope­ But in my soul I'm green and gold. I'll be fully, but prematurely, for years - "The there win or lose. Pack Is Back." With their second consec­ utive appearance in football's grand And when I die, don't nobody cry finale in Super Bowl XXXII, the team has And no pine box for me. shown that it ranks among the NFL's Just scatter my ashes in Lam beau Field, best. Whether such good fortune contin­ And I can rest peacefully. It is a tradition for Packers players to borrow bikes ues for Green Bay or not, the Packers from local kids to ride from the locker room to the will remain near and dear to the hearts Through the years I've shed some tears, I ain't practice field each day of preseason training camp. of all Wisconsin residents because of the ashamed to say. Photo courtesy Green Bay Area Visitors team's abiding appreciation for tradition, Through thick and thin, I've always been and Convention Bureau community, and celebration. behind them all the way. And Lam beau Field is home-sweet-home to members of the Norwegian ethnic com­ Suggested Reading die-hard fans like me. munity to get together, so, too, do Packer Cameron, Steve. Brett Favre: Huck Finn Grows Up. There's no place like home, they say, no place games give those attending - and even Indianapolis: Masters Press, 1996. I'd rather be .... those watching the game at home - an Favre, Brett. Favre: For the Record. New York: Doubleday, Courtesy Hillfield Publishing opportunity to enjoy themselves. 1997. Packer fans typically arrive hours Green Bay Packers Yearbook. Green Bay, 1997. before game time to take part in a form Kramer, Jerry. Instant Replay. New York: World of revelry widely known as tailgating. At Publishing, 1968. the minimum, the pregame celebration __.Distant Replay. New York: G.P. Putnam, 1985. usually involves cooking bratwurst on Lombardi, Vince. Run to Daylight. New York: Grosset and charcoal grills set up in the Lambeau Dunlap, 1963. Field parking lot, and washing down the Schaap, Dick. Green Bay Replay: The Packers' Return to sauerkraut -covered sausages with large Glory. New York: Avon Books, 1997. quantities of another venerable Wisconsin product, beer.
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