A Frivolous Thread: Football (v. 2.0)

[LCMS87]

<snip>
Perhaps the residents of Green Bay and Wisconsin will go for footing the bill for Lambeau II.  But I don't think fans, even of historic franchises (Bears, Packers, Chiefs, Cubs, Cardinals, etc) can ever be assured that their favorite sports team won't one day hold them hostage for a new stadium and when that public referendum goes down to ballot box defeat, won't exercise some clause in the lease agreement and take off for greener dollars elsewhere. 
<snip>

You have to remember that the Green Bay Packers are unique.  The team is publicly held.  There is no individual "owner." 

As to footing the bill for Lambeau II, the Packers upgraded the stadium significantly in the last decade or two.  They funded it with the sale of stock in the team, though those shares provide no voting rights and cannot be sold, only inherited or gifted.  The proceeds of the sale could only be used for the stadium upgrades.  As I recall the stock sold out quickly, with the result that some people wanting shares were unable to purchase them.

I write as the father of a proud NFL team owner.  (Very few people can say that unless their offspring are Packers fans.)  While I don't disagree with many of the points you made, the Packers' fans are insulated from the sorts of difficulties you identify.

[Donald_Kirchner]

Uh oh...here we go.   

[Jeremy Loesch]

I realize the Packers are publicly held and sell shares of stock, but I don't know the ins and outs of what that means. 

Jeremy

[Donald_Kirchner]

I realize the Packers are publicly held and sell shares of stock, but I don't know the ins and outs of what that means. 

Jeremy

It means that Steve Bohler owns the Packers.   

[MaddogLutheran]

Now serving in KC, it's hard not to follow the Chiefs.  They have a fervent fanbase, an exciting team at the present, are an historic AFL franchise, now a stalwart in the NFL.  They have a wonderful stadium that is not that close to downtown KC.  The franchise and fans want to host a Super Bowl like Indy, Minny, Detroit have done.  But a Super Bowl is never coming to KC because the only hotel close to the stadium is a Comfort Inn, a Drury Inn, and I think a Holiday Inn Express. 

Actually, a Superbowl is never coming to KC (for the forseeable future) because of Andy Reid.  <mic drop>

Perhaps all that winning under Andy Reid is starting to get to you.  I just want you to know I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk to someone.  After all, I have much experience in dealing with the national media ridicule for having been part of the mob which ran him out of Philadelphia, ungrateful about all the winning he gave us--except in NFC championship games and the Superbowl.

Doug Pederson > Andy Reid 

Sterling Spatz

[LCMS87]

I realize the Packers are publicly held and sell shares of stock, but I don't know the ins and outs of what that means. 

Jeremy

Among other things, there's no all-powerful owner who can insist he's going to take his team to a bigger market with greater potential for profit.  That's not to say everything will always be rosy, but some of the sorts of opportunities for mischief that you enumerated earlier are mitigated.

[LCMS87]

<snip>

Doug Pederson > Andy Reid 

Sterling Spatz

"Of course," my son would say, "Pederson was a Packer."

[Jeremy Loesch]

Now serving in KC, it's hard not to follow the Chiefs.  They have a fervent fanbase, an exciting team at the present, are an historic AFL franchise, now a stalwart in the NFL.  They have a wonderful stadium that is not that close to downtown KC.  The franchise and fans want to host a Super Bowl like Indy, Minny, Detroit have done.  But a Super Bowl is never coming to KC because the only hotel close to the stadium is a Comfort Inn, a Drury Inn, and I think a Holiday Inn Express. 

Actually, a Superbowl is never coming to KC (for the forseeable future) because of Andy Reid.  <mic drop>

Perhaps all that winning under Andy Reid is starting to get to you.  I just want you to know I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk to someone.  After all, I have much experience in dealing with the national media ridicule for having been part of the mob which ran him out of Philadelphia, ungrateful about all the winning he gave us--except in NFC championship games and the Superbowl.

Doug Pederson > Andy Reid 

Sterling Spatz

I didn't include that I have been warning my Chiefs fan church members that this whole thing will not end well for them.  I was in Delaware from 2005-2014, showing up right after the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, then through the McNabb-Owens fight, the end of the Reid era, the Chip Kelly debacle.  I kind of think the handwriting is on the wall at Arrowhead already. 

Jeremy

[MaddogLutheran]

Now serving in KC, it's hard not to follow the Chiefs.  They have a fervent fanbase, an exciting team at the present, are an historic AFL franchise, now a stalwart in the NFL.  They have a wonderful stadium that is not that close to downtown KC.  The franchise and fans want to host a Super Bowl like Indy, Minny, Detroit have done.  But a Super Bowl is never coming to KC because the only hotel close to the stadium is a Comfort Inn, a Drury Inn, and I think a Holiday Inn Express. 

Actually, a Superbowl is never coming to KC (for the forseeable future) because of Andy Reid.  <mic drop>

Perhaps all that winning under Andy Reid is starting to get to you.  I just want you to know I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk to someone.  After all, I have much experience in dealing with the national media ridicule for having been part of the mob which ran him out of Philadelphia, ungrateful about all the winning he gave us--except in NFC championship games and the Superbowl.

Doug Pederson > Andy Reid 

Sterling Spatz

I didn't include that I have been warning my Chiefs fan church members that this whole thing will not end well for them.  I was in Delaware from 2005-2014, showing up right after the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, then through the McNabb-Owens fight, the end of the Reid era, the Chip Kelly debacle.  I kind of think the handwriting is on the wall at Arrowhead already. 

Jeremy

I apologize for forgetting that we've had this Philadelphia sports conversation here before.  I was more anxious to get in my Andy Reid dig than remember that.  Mea culpa  I hope you are able to comfort your flock.  Been meaning to check out the KC newspapers online to see first hand, but I've heard that the locals have transitioned to stages 3 & 4 at the minimum.  I did see he started his last post-game press conference with the injury reports, as always.  Probably no explanation about how having a double digit lead and the NFL's best running back, he managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.  No explanation other than needing to do a better job next time.   

Much like Joe Jurevicius is still running down the sideline at the last game at Veterans Stadium, Stefon Diggs will forever be doing that in the mind's eye of Saints fans.  At least they have a Lombardi trophy to comfort them.

I have no great illusions of Philadelphia grandeur this year, being without the pride of North Dakota under center.  It's all house money at this point.  I think the Vegas line making the visiting Vikings the favorite is appropriate, even as it is used as motivation in the Eagles locker room (again).

Sterling Spatz

[Jeremy Loesch]

The Andy Reid press conference 

People here still haven't caught on to the great ways he manages to say absolutely nothing.  And it is some dark days for all KC sports.  People are ready to move on to Patrick Mahomes.  Think Cleveland would like Alex Smith?  Though Smith doesn't deserve to go to Cleveland.  And there is the impending sense that the Royals are about to repeat the previous era of miserable baseball and the perpetual hope of minor leaguers reaching their potential.  At least they have one championship, unlike the team on the other side of Pennsylvania.  Poor Pittsburgh. 

Jeremy

[Norman Teigen]

CBS Minnesota had a story from Saturday's Minnesota Miracle:  Our Lady of Lourdes RC posted this: "If you made any promises during the last ten seconds  Sunday Masses are at 8:30 am, 11:00 am, and 7:00 pm."

The post generated 1,000 reactions within 24 hours and was shared about 2,500 times. Father Dan Griffith is a Packers fan but the church reports that he did wish the Vikings well before the game on Sunday.

[Donald_Kirchner]

Something I wrote on FB back in 2015. After last Sunday, I hope the Vikes don't fall into that mode.

January 19, 2015:

No Schadenfreude toward the Packers here; we've been there, too many times.

I think a rabid GB fan put it best. He always disliked Belichick for running up the score. He's changed his mind. Especially in playoff/championship games, never take your foot off the pedal! The 4th interception showed it best when the GB guy intercepted and curled up, probably not wanting to fumble. They were trying to run out the clock, i.e., playing to not lose rather than playing to win. The GB fan said that everyone is griping about the missed catch on the onside kick, but it never should have come to that if they'd been playing to win.

That said, the Hawks' comeback was amazing. One has to admire Wilson. Four interceptions, and the camera was on him all the time on the sidelines. But he never gave up and kept pressing ahead. Ran it in himself and rallied the troops. Those last passes were perfect. What a pro!

Never take your foot off the pedal. It was GB's to lose, and they did.

[Dave Benke]

Something I wrote on FB back in 2015. After last Sunday, I hope the Vikes don't fall into that mode.

January 19, 2015:

No Schadenfreude toward the Packers here; we've been there, too many times.

I think a rabid GB fan put it best. He always disliked Belichick for running up the score. He's changed his mind. Especially in playoff/championship games, never take your foot off the pedal! The 4th interception showed it best when the GB guy intercepted and curled up, probably not wanting to fumble. They were trying to run out the clock, i.e., playing to not lose rather than playing to win. The GB fan said that everyone is griping about the missed catch on the onside kick, but it never should have come to that if they'd been playing to win.

That said, the Hawks' comeback was amazing. One has to admire Wilson. Four interceptions, and the camera was on him all the time on the sidelines. But he never gave up and kept pressing ahead. Ran it in himself and rallied the troops. Those last passes were perfect. What a pro!

Never take your foot off the pedal. It was GB's to lose, and they did.

Your prophetic words were heard and enacted by the Philadelphia Eagles, talons out for the entire game.  Yipes.  I thought it would be a tight one.  There's that pedal, there's that foot. 

Dave Benke

[Donald_Kirchner]

Something I wrote on FB back in 2015. After last Sunday, I hope the Vikes don't fall into that mode.

January 19, 2015:

No Schadenfreude toward the Packers here; we've been there, too many times.

I think a rabid GB fan put it best. He always disliked Belichick for running up the score. He's changed his mind. Especially in playoff/championship games, never take your foot off the pedal! The 4th interception showed it best when the GB guy intercepted and curled up, probably not wanting to fumble. They were trying to run out the clock, i.e., playing to not lose rather than playing to win. The GB fan said that everyone is griping about the missed catch on the onside kick, but it never should have come to that if they'd been playing to win.

That said, the Hawks' comeback was amazing. One has to admire Wilson. Four interceptions, and the camera was on him all the time on the sidelines. But he never gave up and kept pressing ahead. Ran it in himself and rallied the troops. Those last passes were perfect. What a pro!

Never take your foot off the pedal. It was GB's to lose, and they did.

Your prophetic words were heard and enacted by the Philadelphia Eagles, talons out for the entire game.  Yipes.  I thought it would be a tight one.  There's that pedal, there's that foot. 

Dave Benke

Indeed. I was traveling back from a hospital call in Fargo and turned it off toward the end of the second quarter.   

Reminds me of the one about the Minnesotan who wanted Vikings players for his pall bearers, so that he could be let down one last time.

[Norman Teigen]

Well, that's a tired old joke, Pastor.  The Vikings had a great season but it is not a surprise to me, as a regular attendee of games at US Bank Stadium, that the team had limitations.  The schedule was not the most difficult.  The team's play in the last four games was uninspiring.  It was a miracle to prevail over New Orleans.  I was not dumb-founded by the loss but was surprised at how thorough it was.  Now the Super Bowl is at hand and special training for ushers begins this week.