Hello Wisconsin: Saying Goodbye to the 2020 Season

A look ahead at the Super Bowl, and a look back at the 2020 season.

With the Super Bowl this weekend, the 2020 season is very close to officially being behind us.

While it ended in misery, there’s still a whole lot to remember about this year.

Aaron Rodgers playing like a football god once again.

The Matt LaFleur offense clicking in its second year.

The emergence of Rashan Gary, Robert Tonyan, Darnell Savage, Krys Barnes and other exciting, up-and-coming contributors.

The ridiculousness of Zoom press conferences and player availability.

The wild, entertaining ride that is Marquez Valdez-Scantling.

Jaire Alexander locking down top receivers week after week.

Watching Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams work their magic for probably the last time in a Green Bay uniform.

Finally hearing fans back in the stadium in the last couple games after a season of silence.

Watching a team that genuinely seemed to love being around each other and love playing the game.

This was my favorite Packer season in a long time. Probably since the 2013 season. An odd choice, I know, but that season, with Aaron Rodgers knocked out for much of the second half with a broken collar bone, I think Packer fans got a much-needed dose of what life without an elite quarterback is like. We got to see Eddie Lacy bowling over defenses, Matt Flynn working his weird, random voodoo on the Cowboys, a team that entered the playoffs playing with house money after a miracle victory in Chicago… 

It wasn’t a particularly great team, and they never had a prayer at getting past Seattle if they made it that far, but I remember at the time thinking that the circumstances of that season were so unique that it would always stick out as one of the most memorable ones of the decade.

This season sticks out for the characters, the players’ relationships, and the joy of having great football in Green Bay during a time when a pandemic was eliminating most of the other sources of joy in my life. I also was able to enter it with a very unique perspective. The circumstances surrounding the season made it so that I truly did not take a single week of the season for granted.

It sucks that the season ended the way it did, but damn if I wouldn’t take it over most other seasons this team has had recently.

The Super Bowl buzz is lacking

This is not the first time in recent memory a team that knocked the Packers out of the playoffs will be participating in the Super Bowl. Not even close.

But this is the first time I’ve ever really felt like there was little to no buzz leading up to the game. Here we are, just three days away from the biggest American sports event of the year, and it’s just… meh.

There will be twentysome thousand people at the game, making it far and away the lowest attended Super Bowl of all time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisers are pulling out due to the optics of spending big on advertising during said pandemic. There are no Super Bowl parties (or at least there sure as hell shouldn’t be). The Weeknd as the headliner for the halftime show is probably the least interesting headlining act of the last couple decades.

And of course, it’s yet another Super Bowl featuring Tom Brady.

Normally even if I’m not particularly excited for the game, there’s at least the atmosphere and the parties to look forward to. This year there’s none of that. It feels like we’re heading for a very anticlimactic end to the season.

I’ll be watching the game, but I’ll miss the camaraderie, the drinks, the mountains of food, and the general joy and buzz that usually surrounds it. 

Just one more thing the pandemic has ruined.

Wisconsin Beer of the Week

I promised last week I’d be featuring some new breweries in here that I haven’t already discussed, and here’s one that those of you in the Madison area might be familiar with.

I made a beer run last Friday to my local Woodman’s, which has a fantastic craft beer selection in its liquor store, especially from Wisconsin breweries. I picked up a six pack of this Bock’s of Chocolate doppelbock by Vintage Brewing Company, and I have to say, it goes down mighty fine.

I’m relatively familiar with Vintage. They took over what was, when I lived in Madison, the old J.T. Whitney’s Brew Pub, and turned it into their own brewhouse and restaurant. The owners had already opened a successful little bar and grill right next to campus at UW called Vintage Spirits and Grill. It was one of my favorite stops once I was of bargoing age as a UW student, because it was lower key than a lot of the noisy bars and clubs, and had a solid beer list. I still frequent the bar when I make my return visits to Madison, and it helps that it’s right next door to Ian’s Pizza.

So the owners expanded into brewing in this facility on Madison’s west side, and Vintage Brewing Company was born. They make some pretty solid stuff; I don’t find a ton of their beers in Milwaukee, but the ones we get have always been pretty good.

I’m a big fan of the doppelbock style for its maltiness and overall body, and Vintage’s twist using cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, chocolate malt and vanilla beans makes it extra smooth and sweet (but not sickly sweet, this is a well-balanced brew). Perfect for chilly winter days.

At 7.2 percent, it’s not going to knock you off your feet, but it’s got just enough alcohol to keep you feelin’ cozy if you have a couple of em. 

If you’re in the Madison area, I strongly encourage supporting Vintage, either at their brewpub or at their campus bar! Support your local breweries!

Talks of legacy in Super Bowl LV

I don’t really have any patience for talks of Tom Brady’s legacy surrounding this Super Bowl. There’s not really anything Brady can do to cement his legacy any further in NFL history. No matter the outcome of this game, or any other game for the rest of his career, he’s pretty firmly planted right among the very best to ever play the game, with a very strong argument for the greatest of all time (if you believe in arguing about those sorts of things).

However, there is a chance for the legacies of a couple Chiefs to grow significantly, those being Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.

The Chiefs winning the Super Bowl last year made Andy Reid a Hall of Famer. Full stop. He had all the regular season accomplishments already, and is already one of the winningest coaches in league history. Getting a ring on his finger basically guaranteed him a spot in Canton.

But a second ring? In a row? At the start of his third decade as a head coach in the league? For his second team, with which he’s never had a losing record? As he continues climbing the ranks of the winningest coaches of all time?

Suddenly within two years, the discourse shifts from “Is Andy Reid a Hall of Famer” to “Where does Andy Reid sit among the game’s all-time great coaches.”

Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes has a chance to be a two-time Super Bowl winner at a younger age than any quarterback in NFL history. This is a man with a 10-year mega contract, an MVP award, a ring, a Super Bowl MVP and all kinds of time to shatter records, aided by the addition of another regular season game beginning next year. 

Getting two rings so early in his career will remove a whole lot of the potential pressure he’ll face later on in his career when it inevitably becomes difficult to keep the same caliber roster surrounding him, or when Reid decides to step away from the game of football. It puts him on course to be remembered as one of the game’s all-time greats himself, so long as he stays healthy. 

Yes, winning is a team accomplishment. But there’s no question that championships add to a player’s (or coach’s) legacy, and Reid and Mahomes both have a whole lot to gain in that regard this weekend.

The great defensive coordinator hunt of 2021 is on

Since the last edition of this column, the Packers officially informed the sports world they would not be re-signing Mike Pettine to a new contract for the 2021 season, and have cast a wide net in their search for his eventual replacement.

Twitter has all kinds of favorites, including (predictably) Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.

I’m not going to pretend to have any particularly keen insight into who would be the best fit for the coordinator position. When we start talking about guys who are position coaches at other teams, all I can do is go off what the real experts say about them. As far as I’m concerned, if Matt LaFleur thinks a guy is good, that’s good enough for me.

It will be interesting, though, to see what kind of route LaFleur ends up going. This is an important staff pick. Pettine was the one significant holdover left from the Mike McCarthy era, so this is another chance for LaFleur to put his stamp on the team.

Does he go with a rising star, or someone with coordinator experience already on their resume? Does he go with someone who has a similar defensive approach as Pettine, or does the style of defense the Packers play look completely different in 2021?

Personally I like the idea of giving the job to someone fresh, but what do I know? My only hope is that one of LaFleur’s interview questions is, “So, just how often do you plan on calling a three man rush?” Anyone who entertains the idea should be immediately disqualified, or like, thrown out a window.

SNOOOOOOOOOOOW

Holy moly did we ever get dumped on here in the Milwaukee area!

We’re currently dealing with the most snow accumulation we’ve had since the Snowpocalypse of 2011. We got a good foot here, with winds creating some pretty large drifts, and that was on top of another six inches we’d already had just days before that. We’re due to get another couple inches here today as well.

I gotta say, as much as I hate having to shovel out my driveway and sidewalk, there’s something pretty refreshing and exciting about seeing SO MUCH snow everywhere. It’s been a few years since we really had a lot of accumulation, and last year we barely got anything. My toddler and I went out and made his very first snowman, and he was getting frustrated because he could barely walk due to how deep it was. It was great.

There’s a lot that I hate about winter, even being a lifelong Wisconsinite, but every now and then the right snowfall can really warm my heart.

Super Bowl LV Prediction

So, who wins between the Chiefs and the Bucs?

Honestly probably the Bucs, because given the timeline we’ve been on over the last year I’m pretty sure God hates us all and wants us to suffer.

But being serious, this is definitely an intriguing matchup. These two teams met earlier this year. Kansas City survived the game in Tampa with a 27-24 victory. They had a late 27-10 lead, but the Bucs scored 14 4th-quarter points to at least make it competitive. 

In that game, the Chiefs were able to get out to a fast 17-0 start. Such a fast start will be crucial for winning the game, because with the caliber of defense they have, the Bucs with a lead can be dangerous. 

All season long it’s felt like the Chiefs have barely had to put together a full-strength performance to win games. Very rarely have they felt like the invincible defending champs many expected them to be. But, they’ve just kept winning games over and over, which is all you can really ask for.

I think the biggest difference in this game is the coaching matchup. Bruce Arians is a fine coach, but he’s not in Andy Reid’s league. Not even close. Reid is absolutely lethal coming off a bye week, and he’s had two long weeks to prepare for a team he’s already beat once this season. 

That difference is huge to me. In an equal coaching matchup, I could see this game playing out many different ways, because I think talent wise they’re pretty equally matched (though the talent is distributed in different areas of the roster). 

Give me the Chiefs winning a 27-20 ballgame.

Thanks for a great season

I’m not entirely sure what the focus of this column will be in the endless drudgery off the offseason. I might shelve it entirely until the 2021 season starts up, or I might explore other Packers-related topics that don’t have an in-season focus. 

Whatever awaits (I’ll figure it out in the coming days), I just wanted to thank everyone who reads this jumbled mess of words every week, who leaves comments and who shares all over the web. I really enjoy being a part of the CheeseheadTV crew and this season, my third on the writing staff here, has been far and away my favorite yet.

Sucks that we’re once again watching a Super Bowl without the Green Bay Packers, but as always, we’re here for Packer fans 365 days a year. 

Can’t wait to see which quarterback we take in the first round this year! ;)

 

 

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.

__________________________

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Comments (26)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
NickPerry's picture

February 04, 2021 at 06:29 am

Thanks for a great season of content Tim, I've really enjoyed them. The last 10 or 11 months have been just horrible and people like yourself along with all the other writers here at CHTV give me a break, even if for only a few minutes, of the nightmare that is COVID 19.

For the first time I can remember, I could I could give a damn about this years SB. Losing that NFCCG with all the "What If's" that game had in it for the Packers is a big reason for it. I honestly BELIEVED the Packers would be playing in SB 55, especially after the Tennessee game and the remaining games that followed. The other is Tom Brady. Hopefully Nance and Romo don't continue the obvious "Man Crushes" that both Aikman and especially Joe Buck had/have for TB. He's 43, he's great, but he wasn't the best on the field in the NFCCG, he just had Kevin King opposite of him.

Now, just WHO will be the Packers new DC and then on to the draft!

GO PACK GO!

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Bearmeat's picture

February 04, 2021 at 07:33 am

Thanks, Tim. I've enjoyed your posts all year.

As to the Super Bowl on Sunday? I ain't watching it. I have no more time for Tom Brady in my life. I lived in GA in 2016, so I watched that Super Bowl with some Falcons fan friends - solely to support them. But I have not otherwise watched a Tom Brady Super Bowl since 2014, and I won't stop now.

So over him. So over the media coverage of him. He's been a mediocre player since 2017, and was a poor QB until 2007. Yet, somehow, this will be his 10th Super Bowl. Barf.

I'll watch week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. That will be my next live Football.

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stockholder's picture

February 04, 2021 at 07:34 am

I'm just glad they had a season. I'll take KC.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 04, 2021 at 08:03 am

The other day I was listening to the Mike Heller Show and he had Jeff Potrykus on. Potrykus covers Wisconsin football and basketball for those that don't know. But he was asking him his thoughts on Jim Leonhard becoming the Packers next DC. Since he has covered the Badgers he is a good source for knowledge about Leonhard. He thought he would be a good fit.

One of the biggest takeaways I got was he said he doesn't cover them but he was talking to someone else that does, and that person believes that LaFleur already pretty much knows who he is going to hire. I just found that part interesting.

If that was the case, I would assume it would be someone that he has had ties to in the past.

It will be interesting to see who he hires.

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dobber's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:53 am

I think, in the end, the Packers will pick a guy with a background in odd-man fronts. In the end, 3-4 teams put OLBs at de facto DE positions so often, and they play nickel so much, that there's really not a huge difference. After two straight seasons at 13-3 and the notion that a new coach will make a difference in the unit's performance, a complete retool of scheme and--as a result--defensive personnel would only say that this team is already rebuilding.

The question with Leonhard has really been that any DC move in the college ranks is a parallel move for him, and he'd rather stay at home at UW--that's been his public stance. The Packers are the home team for him, too, though, and even though he'll likely get calls about running his own high-end college program in a year or two, this might be the job he'll leave Madison for (if it's offered). I'm not worried that he's a Capers/Pettine protege (or has worked closely with the defensive staff in GB)...just about all the 3-4 coaches come from the same 2-3 trees. He already has a relationship with the Packers.

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 10:22 am

I sure hope MLF gives serious consideration to Jim Leonhard (Lionheart) as defensive coordinator (although I'd hate to see him leave the Badgers).
It seems Leonhard with the Badgers has been both innovative and inspiring with his players, with a good measure of aggressiveness without recklessness.
I'm wondering how Leonhard is tied to Capers or Pettine?
In any case, my concern with Pettine may not have to do so much with overall strategy as with a strong tendency to conservatism, as well as a lack of timely adjustments within the game. Also, I wonder if the players were well-coached as to their assignments.
It seems Leonhard would lead a more dashing and daring defense for the Packers that invigorates our players, while not going overboard -- and still being solid in all the other aspects of his job.
Plus, wasn't Leonhard an undrafted and overachieving pro of recent times who would likely be highly relatable to our players of today?
If all this is pretty much true, and he's enthusiastic about making the move, let's go get this guy!!!

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albert999's picture

February 04, 2021 at 08:14 am

I think Tom Brady is gonna get KCeeeeed
Go Chiefs

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Hematite's picture

February 04, 2021 at 08:38 am

Not much interest in this Super Bowl here in Upper Michigan.
I haven't seen a board or even heard anyone mention one.
I believe that the bars being closed for so long is the reason for that.
I'll probably watch it but with no skin in the game I won't be all that interested.

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:35 am

It's always hard for me to get excited about the Super Bowl without the Packers in it, but this year's game is really a downer -- so much so, that I'll probably just go in the back yard and throw my Nerf football at various trees and other imaginary receivers.
Last year, at least I could root for the Chiefs a little as a team from the heartland that hadn't won a Super Bowl in a half-century, and with former Packers assistant coach Andy Reid attempting to finally get his first ring as a head coach after having so many good teams in the past that fell short. Now I'm starting to dislike the Chiefs, as often happens with me in regard to top teams.
A couple of years earlier, I could root for the Eagles somewhat as a team that hadn't won a championship since before the first of the Super Bowls, in 1960 against the Packers in the second season of the Lombardi Era. Also, I had lived most of my elementary school years in a suburb of Philly, and became a pretty big fan of the home team, while always maintaining my Packers allegiance as primary. (My dad, who grew up on the north side of Milwaukee near Hampton and Sherman (I think it was), tended to be surprised at my tenacious loyalty and enduring passion to the Packers through the years, and it's sort of a mystery even to me.)
Also about the Eagles game, it was kind of fun to root against the evil Patriots featuring Tom Brady; but at this point rooting against Brady has lost some of its luster, especially now that he is with Tampa Bay.
I was actually happy when Brady and the Patriots upset the Rams in the Super Bowl way back when, but since then he has not only become a little too perfect, but has been more or less tied to the cheating reputation of the Patriots.
It could be said that my opinion of Tom Brady has been deflated, especially after he seemed to be rather uncooperative, if not obstructive, in the investigation into taking the air out of footballs. (I'd be glad to hear his side of the story at present, but it would have to be substantial and in earnest for me to change my mind.)
In general, I'm skeptical about questionable things that aren't properly investigated thoroughly by independent sources, and we're told it's all okay anyway, or it's hoped we'll just forget about it. That seems to be happening a lot these days to we the peons, as average Americans, being treated as a rabble of ugly rubes (even by people at this site).
Finally, while I do have some appreciation of Brady, the best of all time is Bart Starr. Starr won three championships in a row; five in seven years; and was 9-1 in the playoffs for his career. His passing stats in the playoffs are off the charts, but most of all he found ways to win while doing things the right way.
The experts tell us it's all about winning, but then the vast majority of them seem to overlook Bart Starr. I'm becoming more and more distrustful of experts these days. Knowledge isn't necessarily wisdom.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:43 am

My favorite season is the one that GB won the SB, 2010-2011, and where the HC wasn't afraid to use his rookie RB Stark's, who not only got them into the SB, but undoubtedly helped them win it. Unlike the HC a week ago where the big tree trunk legged rookie, Dillion, was made a stump on the sideline when he should have been used and help make the team a winner or at worst, an SB participant.

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 05:55 pm

Somewhat agree, Taryn, although I think football history shows the Packers were running out of running backs in 2010-2011 to the point where the use of Starks was almost unavoidable.
He was outstanding in those playoffs, however, and without him we probably don't even make it to the Super Bowl.
As for the Packers this past season, we already had two healthy veteran backs of noted contributions to the team over time, and as recently as the prior playoff game against the Rams.
However, with Jones out of the game against the Bucs with injury, and Williams largely thwarted on the ground, I think most of us would have liked to have seen -- if only in retrospect -- at least one rumble by Dillon on first-and-goal from the 8-yard-line.
That may possibly include our head coach, MLF. In the heat of the moment, for whatever reasons, it didn't happen.
As a matter of perspective, my final "however" is the astoundingly excellent record of MLF as head coach in leading us to two seasons of 13 wins in the regular season plus a playoff victory.
As these were his first two seasons as head coach of the Packers (or for any other team in the NFL) -- and from what I can gather about him -- we can be hopeful MLF learns his lessons well, and will continue the the team mostly on its upward trajectory.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 07:36 pm

The record that MLF has achieved, and I also applaud, will no doubt always be the fallback fact whenever he fails to achieve the ultimate win, as just proven by you. Can he, will he learn from mistakes, we can only hope until he proves it true? Until then, he wins a lot of games, but he hasn't won or participated in the Game.

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dobber's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:51 am

Kansas City's OL is beat up, and is gimpy at the tackle positions. Their defense is no better than the Packers'. They're going to get whooped on Sunday.

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murf7777's picture

February 04, 2021 at 10:04 am

Regarding the DC, I'm not sure about the abilities of others and will have to trust Mlf's judgement. So far, Matt has done a great job and can only hope he continues with great success. I do know something about Jim Leonard thou. I've talked to him a few times as he sits next to me at the Men's BB games. He is genuine man, no nonsense, smart and an excellent communicator. Doesn't need to be said but he's excelled at whatever he's done. What most of us know about him is that he was a walk-on and a 3 time All-American in college. Not sure anybody else has ever accomplished such a feat.

Listed a 5'8", probably more like 5'7 He managed to play 10 seasons with 6 NFL teams. Such experience would provide him an array of different Defensive coaches to learn from. What worked and didn't, etc... He has shown to be one of the top DC in College and was offered positions in the past three years from multiple SEC teams, including DC at Alabama. I can only assume that he is a great teacher and motivator of men.

He runs a 3-4 variation so the changes to the D wouldn't have to be much. He also stated that he focuses on stopping the run, but knows each game will have it's own variables on what schemes to use. He also stated, that it doesn't take 100's of different plans to be successful. KISS theory.

My vote would be to hire Leonard if he's willing to come!

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 12:48 pm

murf7777, lots of really interesting stuff in your comment.
I'm a huge fan of Badgers football and basketball because both really emphasize the team game, and in so doing get so much out of their teams that they can compete against the premier programs with more elite recruiting classes -- and finish in the top ten or twenty in the rankings.
When these Wisconsin teams are able to land an all-American or two or three, or to develop one of their solid players to a higher level, then they can actually become a premier program in the top five, at least for a season or two.
The main point is that I love the idea of individuals coming together as a team with a synergy that makes the whole better than the individual parts.
That was the key to the Lombardi Era teams coming out on top so often.
That's the key to the current Packers getting from their current status as one of the best teams in the NFL, to making it to Super Bowl Sunday, and even winning it all.
To be a champion, it's talent plus teamwork, The Packers are making big strides in both areas, but making the next jump may ultimately come down to our superstars sacrificing some of their huge roles to teammates who are lesser but still highly capable.
Jim Leonhard may have -- with his extensive experience and depth of character -- both the technical and people skills to help in this group endeavor toward further excellence.
It seems simple but perhaps gets obscured: As it gets deep into the playoffs, all the teams usually have an abundance of talent, plus lots of individual tenacity. Then the difference is teamwork.

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fastmoving's picture

February 04, 2021 at 11:10 am

A lot of guys and all the weknoweverythingandarethegretestanyway people thought that there will be no NFL season anyway.
So I m more thankfull than usually for a funride and football in generall. And for a special Packer Team of course.

Sure, it sucks not to be at Tampa and loosing against Brady even more. But at the same time, there is much more light than anything and not only titles count.
Even when the smarties from the "fastourprime" about everything complainer act that way. But thats just because they dont know any better. They just too strong and smart for it......at least thats what they believe

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mnbadger's picture

February 04, 2021 at 12:34 pm

thanks Tim for all of your great articles this year. very well thought out and well written. You tied many of my favorite topics together. I look forward to your column no matter which way it turns. Also, agree about not so super bowl. I'll root for chiefs because of andy reid, chris jones and tom brady. GPG

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 01:25 pm

Tim, when you doubt the goodness of God, just remember the combination of chocolate and beer.
Also, the most serious problem with America these days seems a lack of teamwork that in essence is a division between those who want to be one nation under God and those who want to rule in place of God.
If we banish God from the public square, then how can we complain about him not being around to help us in national emergencies?
Just to illustrate that this is not just an abstract matter of theology or political science, consider which of our administrations is most likely to find reasons to shut down football (and other aspects of our lives) in the future, and which is more likely to find ways to open things up as much as possible, while still maintaining safety.
To bring in a point from your article, Tim, what is the science that says we can't have Super Bowl parties this weekend, or other gatherings? Are we basing these things on epidemiology or ideology?
Is it not true that most Americans have had well over a 99 percent chance of surviving COVID -- and that older or more vulnerable people can stay home or take extra precautions.
Maybe it's time to let average Americans decide how to live our lives with COVID with much more freedom. Let's get the information from all of the experts, not just some, and make our own decisions. That's not a matter of political party but an essential part of the American Way (and I'm an independent anyway).
Besides, taking intelligent account of the all the risks regarding COVID -- including isolation and desolation -- some of us might risk dying with our boots on than moldering in our house slippers.
There can be dangerous risks associated with being too careful -- just consider, as a limited but still useful metaphor, the dreaded three-man rush.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 02:21 pm

"Also, the most serious problem with America these days seems a lack of teamwork that in essence is a division between those who want to be one nation under God and those who want to rule in place of God.
If we banish God from the public square, then how can we complain about him not being around to help us in national emergencies?"

I cannot help but feel that the expected or rather demand that people believe in God, whichever of the many versions, people will simply be better off, since it's been again and again, whichever version of compelled belief, is the reason for the people of the worlds anguish. I have faith that I'll figure it out, and not some invisible entity, God, will do it for me, and if I say God told me so, I'd be shipped to the looney bin, but should always believe he speaks to me. This is why religion is the crux of all the worlds issues.

"Maybe it's time to let average Americans decide how to live our lives with COVID-19 with much more freedom."

This is a thinking that is not allowed under the Democratic Regime as they have already on numerous occasions opined that we the people are not the best decision makers when it comes to our well-being, but they are the sole caregivers and decision makers and rule in place of God and whichever version one believes in.

"Besides, taking intelligent account of the all the risks regarding COVID-19 -- including isolation and desolation -- some of us might risk dying with our boots on than moldering in our house slippers."

The Regime in charge has done everything to have the people succumb to the ruling party, and have you moldering in your house slippers since the day they bashed Trump for closing the borders and air travel, and then immediately had their minion Governors of Democrat states close down every aspect of American life by restraining them to the confined borders of their living quarters or prison, if you will, and I do.

When a religion or government forces you to comply, it's no longer a religion or a government serving your best interest, but only interested in how to keep you under the thumb, and then the larger foot.

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 06:00 pm

As per The Declaration of Independence, our equality comes from our Creator, who is also the giver of our inalienable human rights. If our rights aren't granted and guaranteed by God, they will be taken away by government.
Even in just an historic sense, Jesus is the original source of the unique belief that all of us are equal is the eyes of God; that all lives matter without exception; that none of us are deplorably irredeemable.
In pagan antiquity, no one believed that all of us are created equal; no one even considered the idea. It was unheard of by even the high priests and the sage philosophers because it was unthinkable. Aristotle believed some were born to be slaves.
Of the Roman Empire, it has been written that slaves were as common as in old South Carolina before the Civil War. Women and children were considered less than fully human, without any human rights or legal status, on a par with slaves and even animals.
It is only in the revelation of Christianity that there is no distinction in worth between slave or free, woman or man, Gentile or Jew -- in other words, all humans from all nations are equal without exception.
Consider Mike Aquilina's relevant book about Catholicism: "Yours is the Church;" or on a more Protestant note see, "Christianity on Trial," by Carroll and Shiflett. (The translated works of the French historian, Regine Pernoud, are also very good -- plus there are many other writings about the historic benefits of Christianity.)
To make all of this relevant to Packers fans, the two-part biography of Vince Lombardi by ESPN shows how this highly flawed but sincerely believing Catholic welcomed players of all races and various beliefs. As an example, he defended defensive tackle Lionel Aldridge in his interracial marriage against opposition by other prominent figures in the NFL of that time.
In the series, "America's Game," (from the NFL Channel) about all of the Super Bowl champions through the years, the first episode about the 1966 Packers features Bill Curry as a young center from the South coming to terms with black teammates.
In training camp one evening, in a moment of outdoor solitude, the deep voice of Willie Davis startled him -- and he wondered apprehensively about what was to come.
To his amazement, the venerable Davis had come to encourage him, and to tell him that if he ever became downtrodden under the hard regime of Lombardi, Davis would lift him up with encouragement. For Currie, this was life-transformational.
A similar point was brought up by Dave Robinson in the feature about the 1967 Packers as repeating Super Bowl champs. After growing up in New Jersey, Robinson was concerned about all of the southerners on the Packers roster. He learned quickly that as Packers they were all equals in green and gold.
Herb Adderley famously considered himself a Packer even after winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys. He said he loved his own biological father but didn't think about him every day; he thought about Vince Lombardi every day.
True stories of this kind inspire me about the Green Bay Packers and increase my love for them.
In the history of the Packers from the 1920s to the 2020s, the heart of the franchise is seemingly the mystique of the Lombardi Era.
In the 1980s, the late Dick Schapp called the Lombardi Packers the best team of all time -- not necessarily the most talented team, not necessarily the most successful team, but the group of individuals who worked together to get the most out of themselves as a team.
It seems to me the ideals of Lombardi are essential to the legendary success of his teams, which is the key to the aura of the Packers as the most awesome of NFL teams.
Lombardi literally loved his players of all races and backgrounds; and that loved covered a multitude of his sins, to make him perhaps the greatest coach of all time in all sports at all levels.
So, to conclude, and to keep things relevant, our beliefs matter greatly to our daily lives as citizens of America, even as football players or fans.
Christianity is not just any religion, but the fulfillment of the best of all religions. It is not just a philosophy, but the fulfillment of the best of all philosophies. This phenomena of fulfillment is described with genius in the book by G.K. Chesteron, "The Everlasting Man," by G. K. Chesterton (which was crucial to the conversion of C. S. Lewis to Christianity as based on a mythical person who is actually real; he was also influenced by his friendship with a Catholic named J.R.R. Tolkien).
Christianity is all about the God of love, and it is the inspiration for America -- although admittedly we still have a ways to go as far as integrating Christian principles fully into the ways of America (as the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. seem to make clear in calling us to the best of our national heritage.)
At the same time, it's important to realize and recognize how far we've come as a country in celebrating the diverse peoples of the world. The divisions roiling us today are almost all based on gross exaggerations and outright lies as cynical exploitations for political opportunism. American people are generally good, and earnest in getting better.
Vince Lombardi is a great and historic figure in the growth of America as a beacon of inclusion, and so are the players and fans of the Packers who have embraced his visionary concept of a team that transcends its differences by accepting and elevating all it members.
Please excuse the length, but it's important to not be misunderstood in all of this at a time when sincere thoughts are twisted and vilified and censored.
A healthy religion brings out the best in us, unites us, and grants unto us abundant blessings, here and hereafter.
Without the God of Christianity as a blessing to all people of good will, we are doomed in America to the secularism and totalitarianism of so many tyrannies across time and place in this world -- including modern China, where the only allowable higher power is silent submission to the Government, under penalty of persecution unto death.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 06:39 pm

I couldn't get 1/4 of the way reading this before I realized there is one thing to say.

If any person today still needs to read religious writings or old Government documents to understand fully that all are equal as to being human beings, that's a you problem.

I have absolutely accepted the equality of all, and I suspect the very massive majority of the people on the world do also. It's the ignorance of many that fail to accept that the way one or a race, gender etc is treated, comes by way of what they do or don't do, will or won't do, and what they will allow to be done to them in the name of for them.

Being a human being, whether a Creator had a hand in it or not, is the beginning and end of that original equality. There isn't any Creator written book that says you will be equal in every endeavor or ability you may be born with or acquired.

People have felt the pains of slavery or abuse since the beginning of our existence. It still alive today and in some instances, worse than that ever recorder. The same rules are applied today as centuries ago, and centuries before those, it's just not done the same.

The Catholic Church which is based on Jesus and his teachings, do not live by any of his teachings. The Pope and the Vatican live the life of Kings, Caesars and alike, while they expect and demand that you live under the words of Jesus in poverty, despair with maintaining the faith that you will dwell in Thy Kingdom with God, when you die. Other religions are the same on the inside with a different bs to brainwash their victims.

I'm not religious, and I have lived well due to my desire and toil, and certainly not from any weekly visits to the church of hypocrites telling me how and what I should do.

Humans will never live in peace, because they're to lazy, stupid, ignorant to accept that equality ends at being a human being and everything after that, good or bad, comes from what they as one and as a whole do to and for another, regardless of how many religious or government books are read or read to them. A peaceful existence should be, if there was a Creator, part of the person upon their birth.

I know, God is challenging us.

It doesn't look like this country has come very far, it's more like the rules have changed and others will now get the chance to do the same differently. That's not progress, but simple redistribution of power and the cruelty that will be born from it.

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Swisch's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:02 pm

Well, sad to say, I'm a hypocrite -- especially if that means someone who doesn't live up to his ideals.
When I see the sad problems in America or in the Catholic Church, sometimes truly horrible, it seems my choice is whether or not to endeavor to be a small part of making them better, even with all my flaws and faults.
If a football team is all messed up with the people involved being incompetent or corrupt, I hope as a player or coach to do what I can to make the team better.
The year before Lombardi, the Packers had only one win and one tie, with ten losses.
They were the joke of the NFL.
Then came five championships in nine seasons -- and something wonderful for all involved, including the people of Wisconsin.
To take a miserable world and to strive to make it at least a little better is a big part of what makes life meaningful.
I wish for you the best, Taryn. You may be a wonderful person with lots of strengths who does a lot to make the world a better place.
As for me, I am so weak that I couldn't get through a day without relying on the God of love, and the hope that he has invited me eventually to a place that is much better and more enduring than this disillusioning earth we share.
Please pardon any of my words in this thread that are inconsiderate, and I mean that with all sincerity.
If you pray, please say a prayer for me; and I hope you don't mind if I say a prayer for you. God bless!

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 11:10 pm

I mean you no disrespect Swisch, but the ideals that the church or any religion places upon the followers are impossible to adhere to, as even those that have taken vows are more often the victim of the hypocrisy. The same is true of politicians, they abuse every rule and law they pass upon the people, and the last year with Covid-19 has proven the hypocrisy beyond anyone's denial possibly used for their defense.

I'm not disillusioned with the world, I know exactly what it is. You're disillusioned because perhaps you don't accept what it is, and until the masses do that, they can't change it. The unity of mankind is the enemy of those who only want power, and their constant rhetoric spewed and believed by the willing blind to believe in it is what keeps the world in chaos, right down to the smallest community.

People will make the world better, and it would happen quicker if they kept the Organized out of it. If your faith is true, you don't need an Organized Religion to tell you what you already profess to be true or what is wrong, that should come naturally.

You have said nothing to offend me. I consider myself better than that. I can get upset about things, but getting offended is for the weak who are the biggest offenders of offending others.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:30 pm

Taryn, I think it’s a mistake to conflate religious beliefs with Organized Religion.

Everybody gets to choose what they believe. That’s really about the only Freedom any of us has.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 04, 2021 at 10:39 pm

Yes, everyone can choose what they believe, and I said as much. However, religion is mostly Organized, and one who opts not to be part of that Organized Religion IMO, has the most true faith in people and does more for them.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 04, 2021 at 09:22 pm

When you are forced to comply.........

Every single time, throughout history, that Group A has been able to force Group B to do what Group A wants, it’s been bad forGroup B. It was bad when West Africans were forced to the New World, it was bad when the American Indians were forced onto reservations, it was bad when the German government forced Jews to wear a Star of David in public.

It is wrong. Always.

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