^The above video seemed as good as any to attach to this blog. If you have access to HBO, or access to someone that is willing to give you their access to HBO, watch the Lombardi HBO Sports documentary. EXCELLENT stuff. Prepare to cry some man-tears because it puts you in a glass case of emotion by the end of it. But it is highly recommended.
Anyhow, today in history, August 11th, 1919, The Green Bay Packer Football Club was born. It was founded by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun. Calhoun doesn’t ever really get much press as an important figure in Packer history, the stadium isn’t named after him and there isn’t a massive statue in front of said stadium honoring him, but he was equally important on this day 101 years ago. His background as a sports editor at the Green Bay Press Gazette helped the promotional element of those early Packer seasons immensely. But in the annals of history, he is largely forgotten by most casual Packer fans. So I think that would make him the Garfunkel of the duo? Or would he be the Simon? You know what? He’s the Andrew Ridgeley to Curly Lambeau’s George Michael. Who’s Andrew Ridgeley? Exactly.
Another fun fact: One of the main reasons that the Packers exist is because Curly Lambeau suffered a serious bout of tonsillitis while playing football at Notre Dame in 1918. He loved football, was playing for Knute Rockne at the time (ever heard of him?), and was preparing for another season for the Irish when it hit. It forced him back home to Green Bay to get them removed, and he never returned to school. BUT, wanting to still play football, he decided to start a local team. Bingo bango: The Packers are born*.
So I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that if Curly Lambeau wouldn’t have randomly gotten tonsillitis in 1918, he probably stays at Notre Dame, and the Packers might never come to be. Which means people in our state wouldn’t have grown up on the Packers, and the Sunday tradition of tailgating and watching the games would never have happened. No Lambeau Field, no Bang on the Drum, no G-Force, no irrational calls to sports radio after games. None of it! The domino effect is too horrible to think about.
So let’s take a moment today to thank whatever higher power you believe in for seeing fit to make Curly Lambeau’s tonsils a mess in 1918, allowing us the tradition of Packer football Sunday’s. Which will certainly go on as planned in 2020, with no interruptions.
*Did I make that whole story up? Is it actually true? Does it sound true enough to believe? It’s up to you!
PS: It is also Hulk Hogan’s birthday today. CUE THE MUSIC:
All due respect to Francis Scott Key, but this is the most American song of all time, and should be played after the Anthem after every American gold medal in any Olympic competition.
