First Half Live! Packers @ Vikings

7:24 PM: Let's get it on! I couldn't help but fall into the hype for this game today ever since a Vikings super tool, I mean, fan, wore a Vikings Favre jersey to work today. Personally, I think he should be suspended without pay for the rest of the year. But I have neither the time, nor the inclination to pursue that.

7:27 PM: Steve Young (ESPN) gives the nod to the Pack which is a bit of a surprise stating that this is "Aaron Rodgers coming out party." Well done. However that comment is immediately followed up by "I completely disagree" by Matt Millen. And if anyone knows football, it's Matt Millen.

7:30 PM: I'm sippin on an Oktoberfest from Lakefront Brewery and to be honest, this is the least of my favorite Oktoberfest beers I've had this year. Come on Lakefront, step it up.

7:31 PM: Looking back a couple years ago, I can't believe I only gave this possibility about a 30% chance of happening. Deep down, I knew it was 100%.

7:36 PM: Jaws lets us know that A. Peterson is arguably the greatest runner in NFL history. Really. In his third season. Yeah, just like Reggie Bush was a lock for the Hall of Fame before he was even drafted. Peterson is awesome, so far, but let's not get carried away. Oh wait, I forgot this is ESPN.

7:41 PM: Kickoff. Ah yes, Ryan Longwell. I miss you. Mr. Wide Left Mason Crosby isn't cutting it for me anymore. First & ten from the 26. Grant stuffed. To be a theme? Hope not, he's on my fantasy team. Oh, follows up with a 13-yard gain. Nice.

7:44 PM: Welcome back Holding penalties. I've missed you all week.

7:46 PM: How does Barbe still have hair? Shouldn't his head been shaved by now by his teammates given all his screw ups so far this season? GREAT play to pick up the first down to the Vikings 45.

7:49 PM: Still moving..sweet play to Finley. Nice to see the TE's getting involved so early. AND we have a fumble. Maybe this blog won't make it the whole first half because I almost broke this wireless keyboard over my knee.

7:52 PM: Why is MM challenging that play?? Who up in the booth told him it may NOT be a fumble?! Lord.

7:53 PM: Favre under center against the Pack. I'm just as annoyed as I thought I'd be.

7:56 PM: Vikes pick up a first down but I like the pursuit the last 2 plays. Hopefully they'll continue that and get some momentum going because their run D has been atrocious.

7:58 PM: Taunting? For talking trash? This IS football isn't it???

8:01 PM: Going for it on 4th. Nothing like setting the tone early...I'm sensing Offsides on the D...nope, just a first down. Ugh.

8:03 PM: Well, at least their TE is on my fantasy team. 7-0 Vikes. Little too much excitement going on at Favre's steakhouse in GB. WTF?

8:06 PM: Pack starts from the 33.

8:10 PM: TOUCHDOWN!!!! 3rd & 5 and a phenomenal play. See my 7:49 PM post @ TE. 7-7...Go Pack! Brett who?

8:13 PM: Nice kickoff coverage. Special Teams had been pretty weak for oh, about 5 years.

8:16 PM: We're informed by the booth that Favre now has the record for most TD's for one team before throwing one for another team. Um, how many records are they going to make up for him??

8:18 PM: Nice..punt it away boys. Blackmon (essentially) fair catches at the Pack's 40. I don't know how those dudes catch that ball with a bunch of players bearing down on them. Big props for that.

8:20 PM: First down, Ryan Grant. I'm not getting cocky in my mind this time. End of first quarter and man, my fingers are tired from typing. It's worth it though right? RIGHT?! (Thanks Mom for reading) I'll take this moment to apologize for not posting more on this here blog. I know it's been neglected and I know I've promised to keep it up. I'm working on it.

8:23 PM: Q2 begins...with a Rodgers sack. Not sure what's going on with him. Usually he's good at getting rid of the ball in that situation. 2nd & 17...and I'm not crazy about that play call. I hope they're not playing for a GB with Crosby. Oh jeez...going for it on 4th & 3?? WOW...I'll take that. First down!

8:26 PM: Childress tried to challenge but apparently the challenge flag got caught in his beard. Play stands.

8:27 PM: Really Rodgers? When you stare at the WR the WHOLE way, chances are it's going to get picked. Vikes ball...and a sweet GoDaddy commercial. Yum.

8:30 PM: Oh no, my main man Cullen is down! On of my favorite players and he is needed badly. Get up big guy! "Get your suit on! We need ya!" Yes, that was a "Back to School" quote.

8:34 PM: I have too many jokes about what Jaws keeps referring to as "gap discipline" to insert here. Please stop Jaws, I'm begging you.

8:37 PM: Hate to say it, but Favre is playing with us on this drive. C'mon Pack! AND he finishes off the drive with a sweet TD pass...14-7 Bad guys. I really hope they don't show Favre's Steak House in GB again. If those 2 tools with Vikes Favre jerseys are still standing, then GB has failed me.

8:42 PM: And during the ensuing kickoff Blackmon is hurt, badly it seems. This game is starting to spiral downhill. This lame Favre Sears commercial isn't making things any better either!! Back to the game and yes, Blackmon is hurt and it doesn't look good. THAT will hurt.

8:46 PM: Screen to Wynn, which he drops. I don't think I'll be able to watch this whole game. I'll either have a heart attack or yell so loud Lauren will wake up. I don't know which would be worse.

8:52 PM: And FUMBLE return for a TOUCHDOWN! Nice work CMJ! Peterson looked a little banged up there. Wonder if he's hurt? I hope it's not serious 14-14! Go Pack!

8:54 PM: Nice kickoff coverage again! Momentum turned? And there's the classic Favre moonball I've been waiting for. I think that thing would have hit the video board in the new Dallas stadium. Unfortunately it fell freely to the turf. Two Minute warning until halftime and the end of this blog post. Going by fast but I need to ice my wrists. (No jokes there please)

8:59 PM: long pass down to the 2 yard line. Harvin should have just made it in since I had to play him in fantasy football this week.

9:01 PM: after an INT negated by yet another bogus penalty tonight, Peterson runs it in. 21-14 Vikes.

So as we approach halftime, some last words before I sign off and officially go insane watching the rest of this. I like some of the things I'm seeing here. I don't think too many people actually think the Pack's going to win this game tonight. Too many issues on D right now colliding with playing against the best RB in the league and Favre in Prime time. You have a feeling, and you've seen some of it already, I don't think the almighty THEY are going to let Favre lose this game tonight, which is fine. Long way to go in the season and the Pack have some strides to make on both offense and defense. Hopefully they'll make a game of this and be hitting on all cylinders when the Vikes come to Lambeau on November 1.

Have a good night and go Pack!

ups and downs

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

This past weekend Kirsten and I headed up to Green Bay for multiple, yet equally important, reasons. First, we participated in an American Cancer Society Run/Walk. My sister Gina, her husband Chris and myself all ran the two mile portion while my part deer yet beautiful wife ran the five mile. As for the two mile group, we were happy to finish while Kirsten, like the Irish Fest run, finished first in her age group. Overachiever. We were running as part of Team B.S. organized by a neighbor of my sister's and I believe overall we raised $1,300+ so hooray for us. Good feeling.

Saturday evening was the annual De Groot family chicken booyah cookout where my parents spend three days (!) preparing and cooking delicious chicken booyah. After the initial whining by my Dad that no one would show up, the neighboring um, neighbors came over in swarms and all was right in the world.

Sunday was the day of ups and downs. I awoke from a nestled sleep under a pile of blankets. A large pile because my parents do not believe in turning on the heat in the house prior to November 1 and even then, it's negotiable. Anyway, we had four tickets to the Packers game so my Dad, myself and my 2 sisters donned the gear and headed out. It was nice to see a victory, as ugly and poorly officiated as it was, especially after being there a week prior and witnessing the Bears loss. Brutal. So good times, beer and even coffee were had. Go Pack..5-1 heading into the bye. I don't think anyone would have predicted that. Ups...

...and Downs. Sunday evening our family needed to attend the visitation for my Uncle John, who passed away recently. Another sad day for our family and particularly my Dad who has now lost 2 brothers in the past 18 months. Very emotional as all types of situations tend to be. Good Bye Uncle John, you'll be missed.

quick hits

• Please take some time today to observe a brief interval of time of quiet (moment of silence is getting overused) and reflect on this, the sixth anniversary of September 11. I was thinking about it on the way to work today but it didn't really hit me until I saw a large flag off the highway flying at half mast. That struck a cord.
  
  
• Note to Amy: Very nice to see you this past weekend! I'm glad you were able to come home and I was able to meet up and spend some time with you. Nice to meet Mike as well!
  
  
• T-minus 10 days until my next vacation. A weekend in wine country with my lovely wife, my sister and her husband. As a wine junkie, I'm REALLY looking forward to it. We'll be spending a full day in Sonoma and a full day in Russian River Valley. I'll be sure to post some pictures on here.
  
  
• How about them Packers? Ok, so it was hardly a convincing victory but as they say, a win is a win and I don't think too many people were picking them to come out of the gate and beat Philly in week 1. Nice start to a long season. Oh, and speaking of football, my fantasy team, Lynn's Dickey, dominated. Hopefully the sign of a great football season to come.
  
  
• Did anyone else see that train wreck on MTV the other night? Wow. Kirsten and I turned it on because she wanted to see Britney Spears open the show. Incredible. We were watching in silence and every once and a while we'd look at each other with a confused look on our faces. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. (I know I'm using the word 'mighty' loosely). Oh, and I'm not getting on the "she's fat" bandwagon. She has had two kids recently. I'm talking from a performer standpoint..yikes.
  
  

the negotiator

I make myself sick sometimes. Just two short posts ago, I say that I'm in a blogging funk and plan on breaking out of it and yet, here I am, waiting another extended period of time before writing. Well, now that I have just expelled that emotion, time to move on.

I'm not one for grieving.

So this past weekend a couple co-worker friends and I made a pilgrimage up to the my homeland of Green Bay for the third annual Packers Fan Fest. It's an event that gives fans an opportunity to meet some of the players, get autographs, check out Lambeau Field including some areas that game day fans can't see like the players locker room. Really nice event. It was quite a group of fans there too. First, there was the normal Packers fans like my friends and I and then there were those who were let out of their parent's basement for their once a year journey out into the sun away from there couch made of cheeseheads. Wow. There's some weird people out there folks.

And, I think I found a new career path, Sales. For the first time at Fan Fest, rather than have be a free for all, the Packers organization gave fans 4 tickets for certain players at certain times to get autographs. If they didn't like what they had, they could go to an area in the Atrium called the "Trading Pit" or "Derek's Slaughterhouse" as I like to think of it. Not to brag, well yes, to brag, I was a machine. When all said and done, I parlayed my 3, second rate players and 1 current head coach into a list of 10 or so former Super Bowl players and personnel.

It was ridiculous. I had people bringing me the players I was looking for for crying out loud. In the words of Jim Rome, and an inside joke from the weekend, I was PHENOMONAL.

Then there was the shadow.

We were in line for the locker room tour and as we moved through the maze of ropes like cattle, this, what can only be called a "socially challenged" person (see the second group of fans at the event I alluded to earlier), was literally inches behind me and/or Andy. We had to work together to keep this dude and his wretched breath behind us. It was incredible. No hint short of an elbow to the gut was getting this guy to back up. In hindsight we should have probably just asked him politely to move back, but that's not in our nature. So what do we do instead? That's right, we have the third member of our party take pictures of us making strange faces as the SCP (socially-challenged person, keep up people) is hovering over our shoulders.

Good times, looking forward to next year. Go Pack in '07!