There are more Green Bay Packers fans in this country than fanatics of any other team. At least that’s what Nebraska Cornhuskers QB Taylor Martinez told me a few days ago. Although I’m not sure what metric he’s using. Or if he’s even right. He says the Huskers are #2 behind the Packers. Sounds believable to me.
But I recommend all Packer Backers check out the beautifully illustrated new book, Sports Illustrated Green Bay Packers: Green, Gold and Glory with an introduction by Bill Syken. He’s also Editor of the book released today!
Drawing from a collection of stories and images from the Sports Illustrated archive, many never before pubished, the book takes readers back to the early years of the NFL’s smallest market franchise with the most influential fans. The Indian Packing Company has no idea what they were starting when they made their $500 investment.
NFL Training Camps are now open, so there’s no better time to browse through this colorful and large coffee table book. I enjoyed the picture of Aaron Rodgers standing on the giant Packers logo in the Packers locker room.
Apparently, they don’t have that absurd Blackhawks locker room superstition. As a part owner of the team, I was happy to get my hands on an advance copy. All Packers shareholders will enjoy this tome. Packers history is on display here with co-founder Earl “Curly” Lambeau, who after wheeling and dealing in the 1920s, selling pieces of the team to the townspeople in order to keep football alive on the Fox River, finally saw his efforts realized with the championships of the ’30s.
Then the era of Titletown begins with the Packers dynasty of Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Willie Wood and Ray Nitschke, who won five titles in seven seasons under Vince Lombardi’s direction.
“Lombardi: there’s magic in the very mention of the name. It speaks of duels in the snow on cold November nights.”
From Brett Favre and Reggie White to Packers champions such as Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews, Jr., Sports Illustrated Green Bay Packers reminds us all why they call it Titletown, U.S.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, a Fox Sports affiliate. He is also an analyst for 95.7 The Fan, and writes on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows his Twitter account (@PaulMBanks).