Of all the heroes who made their way into Lambeau Field last night, our favorites were the earnest fellows whose sweatshirts flapped open in the cold night air.
We like the little guys in the green and gold jerseys, happy enough to sport them in Green Bay, brave enough to wear them on their home turf in Chicago.
My nephews, Ben and Sam, celebrated their seventh and ninth birthdays this weekend with a quick trip north and we were lucky enough to tailgate with them for a while.
They spent most of their pre-game time (three hours thanks to a punctual uncle!) running routes through accommodating tailgaters.
“I’m going to run deep and then slant toward you,” said Ben, a first grader who graciously allowed me to toss him a few.
The Packers set a few records in their big, blowout win Monday night against the Bears. Even the cheese-grater-wearing Chicago fans we sat next to had to hand it to Aaron Rodgers and his merry band of cohorts.
But I also like football at its purest level, the kind where little kids with big eyes and bigger dreams run routes through grills and around cars, again, and again and again.
Thanks to our beloved Packers and two charming nephews, we cheered on both kinds of players Monday night.
I can’t think of a more satisfactory evening under the Lambeau lights.
Go Pack Go!
