My great-grandfather was one of the last living World War One vets in Wisconsin. Which means as a wee lad, I got to hear his stories about poison gas attacks! He'd chew tobacco -- Wisconsin grew its own tobacco, mainly by Norwegian farmers -- and spit the juice into a gas victim's open mouth. If they reacted, he knew they were alive. If they didn't, he was pretty sure they were dead. (You don't need poison gas to try this.) This letter from Fritz Schmidt captures some of his voice.
Which brings me to this:
Should there be a dissolution of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., the undivided profits and assets of the Green Bay Packers, Inc., shall go to the Sullivan-Wallen Post of the American Legion for the purpose of erecting a proper soldier's memorial, either by building, clubhouse, hospital or other charitable or educational program, the choice of which the directors of this corporation shall have advisory control.This clause in the Packers charter lasted from 1923 to 1997, after which the United States no longer participated in any foreign wars, making it unnecessary.
Basically, the Green Bay Packers existed for my great-grandfather's personal amusement. He was too stubborn to buy shares, though.
Oh yeah, the score: 34-0, against the Vikings, at Lambeau. Some teeth of mine have not seen sunlight for years until today. People say Belichick is cold to run up the score; but do you know what true coldness is? McCarthy putting in Aaron Rodgers as QB. (Who passed more yards than the Vikings' entire first half in two plays: 11.)
And that last touchdown. I picture the conversation in the Vikings locker room going something like this:
Griffin: That was a pick, man.
Sharper: I know.
Griffin: Coulda picked that right off.
Sharper: I know.
Griffin: Ain't no way Favre could have planned that.
Sharper: ...
Griffin: Could he?
Sharper: ...
Griffin: Could he?
Sharper: ... yes.
Griffin: ... aw, [deleted].
Comments