Cheeseheads Everywhere

So I'm finally on my first trip for work! This morning (at a ridiculously early time) I headed to the airport for my first event of the tour - Green Bay.

After a quick layover in Minneapolis I landed in GB to a sea of Packers gear.

My boss, Mr. Jay (not to be confused with Mr. or Ms. Jay from top model), took me to see a bit of Green Bay. For those of you who are not familiar with the area, GB is like a really big version of a small town.

We tried to make it to the actual bay, but we couldn't find a dock. We settled for an amusement park right next to the water.

As we get out in the parking lot I see a bright orange sign that says attention hunters, and I thought you've got to be kidding me. I snapped this photo with my phone and please notice the playground in the background.

Little did I know that this is in fact a problem in the area. Not more than 100 feet away from the playground was the bay, where I saw a man carrying a rifle with a dead goose in his hands. Turns out that in GB it is illegal to shoot a firearm, but the city's limit ends at the shore.

After that we went to see Lambeau Field. I've heard a lot of stories about the field and about this the Packers - but this was awesome. There is literally hardly anything around the field except for trees.

I don't understand how they can pack that place because there is hardly anyone around here - but these people are die-hard fans of a variety that I have never seen before (the people of GB literally own the team - the only team in the NFL like it).

I got an official cheesehead in the pro shop before we headed to Curly's for dinner (it's inside the stadium). The restaurant atmosphere was really cool. We sat in the pub area and nibbled on the most amazing pretzel bites I've ever had. Thanks to Heather B. I've been in love with pretzel bites for a while but these were so good. The dough was almost like a pastry dough because it was slightly flaky. They were crisp at the edges but really soft at the same time. I'm assuming that the pounds of butter they were drenched in put me way over my allotted calories but it was worth it.

I, of course, had a diet coke and it was in the most amazing glasses. They look like any bar glass with the logo on the side but the bottom has a cut out of a football that you see as your drink gets low.

Plus while we were there they filmed the weekly show, Inside Lambeau, with guest star Packers WR Jordy Nelson. This picture is hard to see but I wanted to remember it.

I wanted to get the baked mac 'n cheese but decided after the pretzel bites I should go with the salad. I got the buffalo wings salad. It was deceptively large and the buffalo sauce had the prefect amount of spice.

There was a great looking burger with a Louisiana hot link and sauerkraut that I wanted to get but felt like it wasn't the best choice.

The service wasn't great but the experience more than made up for it. I would highly recommend it for anyone who finds themselves in GB.

Spectating

Yesterday I had to opportunity to attend a baseball game as a spectator for the first time since I watched my cousin Eddie's team play against the Angels' scout team past summer.

I've seen plenty of games since then, but they were all while I was working.

Please do not misunderstand me, because I love working baseball games, but there is something different about sitting in the stands, feeling the sun on your skin, watching the game, listening to the sounds of the ball park.

As I sat at the BYU vs. Utah game at Franklin Covey field I turned to Carey and proclaimed, "I should do this for the rest of my life."

It's an interesting aspiration considering my dream job would be in the Bigs, but I always want to be able to be out at a baseball game and be able to love every minute of it.

As I learn more and more about the sport, spectating becomes increasingly more satisfying. Shane Loux spent several summer nights teaching me how to tell what pitch was thrown while he was charting.

After spending time soaking in the knowledge of scouts every night, I can begin to see things in the game that I never saw before.

I had a great time sitting at the park and taking it all in, without having to worry about writing a game recap, injury updates, posting lineups, noting lineup changes, feeding stats to TV or tracking down obscure stats from years past.

But getting to do that for my job is pretty good too.

2008 In Pictures

So I found this wonderful collection of photos from 2008.

I'm posting a few of the photos, but they are all amazing. Take the time to look through them.

The first two parts have already been posted but the third one will come out tomorrow. I'll link it for you then.

It's amazing to consider what goes on across the world and how every culture is so different. Many of these photos come from places ravaged by natural disaster, torn apart from war, the remains of forgotten communities, the mechanical feats of the human race and the physical demands of athletics.

I am humbled by how little I was aware of some of these events.

These photos are amazing! I must warn you that some of them are rather graphic (bloodshed), but you have to click to view the ones deemed offensive, so your safe.


Click here for the first set

Click here for the second set

To All You BYU Fans...

Well, that wasn't so pretty.

I sat in my office trying to get some homework done and watching the Holy War (because the next three weeks are going to kill me), but instead I couldn't focus on anything other than the game.

I was hopeful through the first three quarters, we were still in it.

Then the fourth quarter hit.

I am going to refrain from talking in detail my feelings about the end of the game, the team's performance and my overall feeling about our fans.

I want to represent my university and my department so I'm not going to publicly declare how much I don't like BYU fans. I'm not going to say that they are wretched, fair-weather fans who only wish to be affiliated with the team when they are doing something miraculous. I'm not going to talk about how the sold-out stadium is a mix of colors (when it should be all blue), and I'm not even going to mention the lack of signs, unruly behavior and true-blue fans.

I bleed blue. But like I said, I'm not going to mention my feelings.

I am going to lament the loss, but football is one small part of a bigger picture. I am going to support my Cougars, cheer them on in the Bowl game (even if the BCS system is crap). I'll be happy for the MWC, because in the end it will help BYU.

I'll Rise and Shout (even though as a member of press row I'm technically not allowed to cheer).

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't like the Red Sox. I don't like them because of all bandwago fans that jumped on in 2004 when they won the World Series.

I don't like Red Sox fans, but I respect their real fans, the ones who suffered through years and years of their team falling apart in the postseason. They made it through and two World Series titles later, saw their team develop into one of baseball's powerhouses.

I can't believe I am going to say this, but why can't BYU fans take a look at a die-hard fans and develop fanhood like that.

Your cheer for your team when they are up, and you mourn with them when they lose. You don't disown them.

Oh dang, Oakland is about to score. Gotta Go.