True Football Grit

Oh glorious day. I know this is a blog about the White House and politics, but as a lifelong Green Bay Packer fan, it doesn't get any better than this. America's team is bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to where it belongs. In case you were in a cave last night without access to the outside world, the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Superbowl XLV, 31-25.

For a team that lost 2 of its field captains during the game, 15 players during the season (6 of whom were starters including their running back, tight end, captain on defense, etc.), it is amazing that this team came out on top. In order just to get there, Green Bay had to win its last two regular season games, had to win three playoff games...on the road. True football grit. By the end of the game and because of injuries, the Packers had to play special teams players in their secondary and as per usual, they rose to the occasion. Because of injuries throughout the season, the the Packers were loaded with free agent, waiver wire pick ups forced into starting roles. Didn't matter--they had the grit and determination to finish the job.

The hardware is coming back home to Green Bay--where it belongs. 13 NFL championships. 4 Superbowl victories. Not bad for a sports franchise from a city of just over 100,000 people. People live and die Packers football in Green Bay and the entire state of Wisconsin. We are die hard fans. We are not fair weather fans. It is a town where they take their football team so seriously, they schedule funerals around Packer games otherwise no one would show up. For all of us who stuck with the team through the bleak years of the 70s and 80s and survived the Favre retirement soap opera of three years ago, this championship is for you. Oh glorious day.