Visiting Lambeau Field: The view from Britain
The Guardian, a British newspaper, sent a reporter to Green Bay for the Falcons game on Oct. 5 to get a taste of the NFL in advance of Sunday's Saints-Chargers game at Wembley Stadium.
The writer, Jamie Jackson, met a couple of fans who made quite an impression.
"'Look at my tattoos,' says a man who calls himself Santa. He is an enthusiastic 51-year-old with a long grey beard and flowing hair and must weigh around 20st (280 pounds). He is tailgating with friends behind an ambulance, which is parked next to a van that has two gigantic pink flamingos on the roof. Draped over the ambulance are bras - red, green, yellow, orange, blue, black, brown, and some that need cleaning.
"'There's Rudolph the Reindeer, this one's a little girl whispering into Father Christmas's ear,' Santa says pulling up his Packers shirt to show his tattoos. 'It's my job, every year I give out presents. I start 31 October. You want a beer? Soon I'll get the grey drained from my beard. It takes three goes for that. Then the hairdresser uses white toner to make it like Santa Claus. Every week it costs $175 (£100) for a retouch.'
"Santa's friend Dave will not reveal his surname 'in case my wife finds out.' He is wearing a sticker that says 'The Optimistic Gent,' is drinking beer and is the ambulance owner.
"'We just got more,' roars a tipsy Santa pointing to a star-spangled bra. Bleary eyed, Dave explains. 'In 2000 when they began redoing the stadium we did a campaign, "Support the Legend." And we kept on. Bras give support, right?' he says, not quite sure the joke is understood.
"Dave produces a collection of photographs - there are hundreds - that feature the owners of the bras swaying free in the cold Wisconsin wind. In place to protect the modesty of the topless women - who range in age - are Packers stickers shaped like Playboy bunnies.
"'It's freezing, there isn't much else to do in Wisconsin,' Dave says. 'So you drink and follow the Packers.' Which is what occurs until noon and beyond for a game the Packers will lose 27-24. Some Cheeseheads go into Lambeau Field, some pile into tents in the so-called Tundra Zone to watch on TV. Some just keep on drinking."
Well, OK, that's one aspect of game day at Lambeau Field.
-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com
The writer, Jamie Jackson, met a couple of fans who made quite an impression.
"'Look at my tattoos,' says a man who calls himself Santa. He is an enthusiastic 51-year-old with a long grey beard and flowing hair and must weigh around 20st (280 pounds). He is tailgating with friends behind an ambulance, which is parked next to a van that has two gigantic pink flamingos on the roof. Draped over the ambulance are bras - red, green, yellow, orange, blue, black, brown, and some that need cleaning."'There's Rudolph the Reindeer, this one's a little girl whispering into Father Christmas's ear,' Santa says pulling up his Packers shirt to show his tattoos. 'It's my job, every year I give out presents. I start 31 October. You want a beer? Soon I'll get the grey drained from my beard. It takes three goes for that. Then the hairdresser uses white toner to make it like Santa Claus. Every week it costs $175 (£100) for a retouch.'
"Santa's friend Dave will not reveal his surname 'in case my wife finds out.' He is wearing a sticker that says 'The Optimistic Gent,' is drinking beer and is the ambulance owner.
"'We just got more,' roars a tipsy Santa pointing to a star-spangled bra. Bleary eyed, Dave explains. 'In 2000 when they began redoing the stadium we did a campaign, "Support the Legend." And we kept on. Bras give support, right?' he says, not quite sure the joke is understood.
"Dave produces a collection of photographs - there are hundreds - that feature the owners of the bras swaying free in the cold Wisconsin wind. In place to protect the modesty of the topless women - who range in age - are Packers stickers shaped like Playboy bunnies.
"'It's freezing, there isn't much else to do in Wisconsin,' Dave says. 'So you drink and follow the Packers.' Which is what occurs until noon and beyond for a game the Packers will lose 27-24. Some Cheeseheads go into Lambeau Field, some pile into tents in the so-called Tundra Zone to watch on TV. Some just keep on drinking."
Well, OK, that's one aspect of game day at Lambeau Field.
-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at
8:36 PM
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