Deep Roots on The Frozen Tundra

In this week's Isthmus, Madison's alt-weekly newspaper, it is all about the Packers. The article and its various sidebars, diagrams, and other accoutrements, written by sports guy Jason Joyce, includes commentary by UW-Madison Scandinavian Studies professor James Leary.

Vince Lombardi & Jerry Kramer, 1962

Leary states that "our sense of place in Wisconsin" is represented, in a way, by the citizenry's deep and abiding love for the only publicly-owned team in the National Football League, The Pack.

Take a nostalgic trip to Packerville, why don'tcha.

There does seem to be a very deep relationship between the team and its fans. For good reason, I suppose. The team has been publicly owned since 1923.

Despite many ups and downs in the franchise history, those are some pretty deep roots. Sure, all home-state or city fans have a love for "their team."

As Leary says, "The root-for-the-home-team stance is a ubiquitous sports phenomenon." In Wisconsin, however, when fans say it's "our" team, they mean it.

Bubba

"...because we're from Wisconsin," Leary says, "we have a special relationship with our state and, by extension with our state's team."  No doubt.

I'm not a strident football fan, but it is fun to watch great athletes at any game. So for now, for this upcoming playoff game at GB takes on the NY Giants, I'll get on the wagon: Go, Pack, Go!