If you have never had the luxury of growing up and living where your favorite sports team was located then I'm sure you understand my pain. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am an Atlanta Falcons fan and have been for quite some time now, but I did not have the luxury of growing up in Atlanta and have the opportunity to watch the Falcons play at the Georgia Dome on Sundays. Instead, I was forced to live in the horribly perfect San Diego, California and endure the Chargers fans for the majority of my life. It wasn't too bad because outside of the Chargers few good years, they were never really a very good team, so it made it easy to live in San Diego.
Any true sports fan has an irrational hatred for another sports team whether they admit it or not. Growing up, I never really hated any other teams outside of the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Carolina Panthers, simply because of divisional rivalries. That changed January 15, 2011 as that was the day I vowed to hate the Green Bay Packers for the rest of my life. Let me tell you a little something about January 15, 2011; it was a great Saturday in sunny San Diego as I had been out schooling the neighborhood kids in basketball all day, hitting three pointer after three pointer, basically I ran the courts that day.
From the moment I woke up that morning, I knew it was definitely shaping up to be a great day, so I was excited to watch Atlanta play in the playoffs. That season, the Falcons were the team to beat, at 13-3 they were only second in the league to New England, so I wasn't too worried about Green Bay. The Falcons had home field advantage that game and the thing about the Falcons is they simply do not lose at home in the dome. Well that game evidently turned out to be the start of a deep hatred for the Packers as they traveled down to the Georgia Dome and throttled the Falcons 48-21. As Tramon Williams sprinted down the field for 70 yards after picking off Matt Ryan to end the first half, I knew right then and there that I hated the Packers. Sure I should've been more upset with Matt Ryan and the Falcons for playing so poorly in the playoffs, but that's too rational and this is an irrational hatred, remember. A combination of the crap I was given from friends and family for the loss, being angry with the Falcons, and Aaron Rodgers' smug smile, fueled the hatred.
At that point in life, I was just a junior in high school and knew nothing about the state of Wisconsin aside from the Packers playing there, but I was sure of one thing; I'd never have a desire to go to that god awful state where the Packers play. Oh the irony. Fast forward a year and a half later and there I am attending school in Wisconsin of all places.
It has not been easy living in Wisconsin and hating the Packers, it's far more difficult to be non-Packers fan in Wisconsin than it was to be a non-Chargers fan in San Diego. For one, the Packers are a pretty good team and when Aaron Rodgers is throwing game-winning or game-tying Hail Mary touchdowns for fun, it makes it hard if you're not a Packers fan because what can you say? I hate your team because Aaron Rodgers is so good? Nope, so it makes trash talking pretty difficult. Upon coming to Wisconsin, I did not think I would get along with Packers fans and wished nothing but failure for Green Bay. It all started off pretty well as we all remember the Fail Mary, when Russell Wilson heaved the ball to the end zone and even though the ball was clearly intercepted by M.D. Jennings, the replacement referees ultimately ruled it a catch by mediocre wide receiver, Golden Tate. That was a great night filled with gloating and happiness fueled by the tears of fans all across the state. Then there was December 12, 2012, or as it was referred to here in Wisconsin, Aaron Rodgers day, I have nothing against this at all, it was just something else that added to my irrational hatred.
The fans here aren't so bad though, in fact, they're pretty cool and friendly. I've done my best to continue my irrational hatred for the Packers during my years in Wisconsin, and although I hate the team, I can never say anything negative about the fans here. Not only are the fans pretty nice people, but they are also extremely loyal and I think the community and fans owning the team has something to do with that. During this past NFL season, I was able to attend my first Packers game at Lambeau Field, and boy was it an experience, Packers fans do tailgating the right way though, beer and brats is all you need. I cheered for the Kansas City Chiefs during the game and booed Aaron Rodgers every single time he touched the ball, yet not a single rude thing was said to me and one man even offered me a beer after booing Rodgers. I'm also pretty sure that Packer fans will travel anywhere for a game and make it their home stadium.
I may hold an irrational hatred for the Packers for the rest of my life, but when the Packers are playing you better believe I'll be at the nearest Packer party or tailgate, not for the game, but to enjoy all the good beer, cheese, and brats.
