Bleeding Green 'n Gold

If you know anything about me, you know I love football.  And I love my team, the Green Bay Packers.  They are the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team in the United States, and they pull it off in a town of barely over 100,000 people.  Their rich history dates back to the early days of town-team football in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  They currently own the NFL record for most league championships at 12: nine NFL Championships, and three titles during the Super Bowl era, in 1966, 1967, and 1996.

Photo by Jamie Sarkauskas

I've seen the Packers play, in person, on four occasions now.  I've seen them on the road in Miami and Jacksonville, and twice on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.  The first time at Lambeau was in September of 2001, against the Washington Redskins - the first Monday Night game after 9/11.  I went with my friend Rick, a diehard 'Skins fan.  The Green Bay faithful gave him a little ribbing, but treated him with courtesy and respect.  The feeling in the stadium that night was incredible - the American flags were flying, and my Packers were on fire - we smoked the 'Skins 37 - 0.  It was a great night (even for Rick).

Photo by Jamie Sarkauskas

The second time was this past weekend.  My Packers have been on the downside the last couple of years.  It's a rebuilding period - lots of rookies, a new head coach - but, thankfully, we still have our guy - Brett Favre - one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.  He may not be performing as well as he did in his glory years, but he's still the man, and I'd still take him over any other starting quarterback in the league.  He plays with a passion for the game, and is a fierce competitor to the core.

Photo by Jamie Sarkauskas

It only happened because my friend Jamie had two tickets to the game, and couldn't decide which of his two boys to take.  The boys flipped a coin, the youngest won, and in a fit of guilt and compassion, Jamie instructed his eldest son to get on eBay and acquire two more tickets - one for the eldest, and one for me.  So, come Sunday afternoon, there we all were in the stands on the north end of that historic stadium. It's a day I won't ever forget.

Jamie, if I haven't mentioned it before, is a talented photographer.  He has a great eye for composition, and is published in a photography textbook.  He's a professional.  As proof, I submit to you just a handful of his photos from that day.  His published works will be available soon on chiaroscurophoto.com.

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