It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in our little corner of section 117 at Lambeau Field Monday night. We had everything before us, and then we had nothing before us.
The best of times ended with 12:38 remaining in the first quarter when our invincible quarterback broke his collarbone, a news bulletin brought to us by the deliriously happy and socially connected Bear fan sitting to our left. Such is the bizarro news media world in which we live, where our gate keepers chug brewskis and live tweet with their sources.
We enjoyed that Bear fan and his merry band of revelers. Though he attributed his vast NFL knowledge to gambling, “I’m an avid Fantasy Football player, man, I know what I’m talking about,” he did cite some impressive stats. We liked bantering with him and with his quieter buddies, who paid nearly a thousand dollars for three tickets to the game.
The worst of times began with the obnoxious Bear fan (it’s not redundant, trust me) seated just to our right. By far the foulest fan we’ve encountered in the 20 years we’ve sat in those seats, he slurred, twerked, grabbed, fell, panted and boasted about the size of body parts no one else cared to discuss. I’m sure the button he proudly wore, “Suck my Ditka” was not sanctioned by any legendary coach or tight end I know.
Here’s how karma works in NFL stadiums: Charming Bear fan (see there, I said that) to our left got to celebrate a momentous win for his beloved Bears right on the hallowed though still bench seats at Lambeau. Obnoxious Bear fan (again, not redundant) to our right found himself awkwardly escorted from the stadium by two security guards midway through the third quarter.
Like I said, the best of times and the worst of times, the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness.
We’ve had some Dickensian times here in Packerland, where our roster is running thinner than Oliver Twist’s gruel. But we’ve always been a rally team — remember in 1995 when Reggie White suffered a season ending injury, healed himself and we won the NFC Central division? Or the next year when Antonio Freeman broke his arm, played with a cast and we won the Super Bowl?
Let’s pray our 2013 season of darkness lasts just this one game and the spring of hope returns in time for the playoffs.
Go Pack Go!
