This is about the day I almost died… and the day that I too became a Packers fan.
It was a cold December day many years ago. I was in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I was in a family restaurant that was within a stone’s throw of that famous stadium.
The joint was filled with a hungry and talkative lunch crowd. The place was loud with conversations, tinkling of silverware against the flatware, and waitresses buzzing around the tables busy as bees.
The guy across the table said, “So, who’s your favorite football team?”
I remember I had just picked up a french fry and before I popped it into my mouth, I said “The Niners.”
The whole place got absolutely silent. I heard the dropping of a fork on a plate and in the distance a dog barked. Angrily.
You see, that’s Green Bay. By and large, that’s Wisconsin. They love the Packers. No other team has a Home Town like the Packers. No one.
I got two chews on that fry before I quickly said “After the Packers of course.”
Large bearded men sat back down and the waitresses started waiting again. Conversations picked back up and the angel of death turned and walked away from me.
I learned an important lesson then. If you don’t like the Packers – just STFU. I spent a lot of time in Wisconsin, Especially around Appleton, Osh Kosh, and a Rhinelander. But I will always remember that day in Green Bay.  I learned to love the Packers too.