-- It's easy to hate the New York Yankees if you're a Boston Red Sox fan, and vice versa. The same goes for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, Michigan and Ohio State and those originators of the shotgun formation, the Hatfields and McCoys.

But who hates the Green Bay Packers?

Steeped in tradition and often viewed through a prism of sepia-tone nostalgia, the Packers have succeeded against all odds in a tiny and remote market, in a 50-year-old (albeit renovated) stadium with aluminum bench seats, in an era of unfettered free agency and corporate greed.

OK, if you're a Seahawks fan, you're not feeling all warm and fuzzy about Brett Favre and Al Harris right about now. "We want the ball and we're going to score!" might be old news, but the sting lingers.

Really, though, do you hate the Packers?

Not if you know anything about the history of the National Football League. Not if you've seen those grainy images of the 1967 "Ice Bowl" and Bart Starr's fateful quarterback sneak on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. Not if you admire the principles on which Vince Lombardi built a dynasty.

Not if you pull for the underdog.

In Wisconsin, there is no other option. You are born into Packerdom here. Your great-grandfather cheered for Curly Lambeau and Don Hutson, your grandpa for Paul Hornung and Willie Wood, your dad for James Lofton and Lynn Dickey. Every kid on your block owns a No. 4 jersey.

What makes the Packers special? Start with the fact that there are 112,015 owners, the vast majority of whom hold one share of stock. Formed in the NFL's primordial mist in 1919, the Packers became a non-profit entity four years later and remain the only publicly owned team among the major professional sports.

The most recent stock sale, in 1998, netted 106,000 new "owners" who paid $200 per share (and sent $24 million straight to the team's bottom line) for certificates that are basically worthless. The stock never pays dividends or appreciates in value. But the emotional investment is priceless. When general manager Ted Thompson signs a free agent, the fans can thump their chests and say, "I helped bring that guy to Green Bay." And it's true.

Of course, Bob Harlan, who has run the Packers for 19 years, first as president and CEO and more recently as chairman of the board, has a stake in the team. He, too, owns exactly one share of stock.

"I paid $25 for my share when I became president," said Harlan, who is retiring after the postseason. "When fans call me, they start out by saying, 'Bob, I'm a fan and a shareholder.' They always point out that they're shareholders. I say, 'Well, I am, too, so let's talk.' "

Did we mention that Harlan answers his own telephone? There is no administrative assistant to run interference, no automated maze to negotiate. You've got a beef with the injured cornerback or the price of tickets, you go straight to the top dog.

The fact that the Packers can even exist in a city of 100,000 is a minor miracle, due in equal parts to fan loyalty throughout the state and revenue sharing in the NFL. Los Angeles can't support a team but this little frozen outpost can? It's one of the mysteries of the universe.

It helps that not much ever happens in Green Bay, other than what occurs at 1265 Lombardi Ave. Lambeau Field -- notice, no naming rights -- is the city's corporate and social epicenter, its source of civic pride, its very heart and soul.

The nearest NCAA Division I football team is 2 1/2 hours away at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Milwaukee is 115 miles to the south, so the Packers are the only game in town.

Their reach extends north into Michigan's Upper Peninsula, south into Chicago Bears turf and west clear to the Dakotas (the team had a 40-year head start on the Minnesota Vikings). And that doesn't count the fans who have relocated or the ones Harlan likens to the "Notre Dame subway alumni."

"People call me and say, 'I'm a lifelong Packers fan and someday I'd love to see Lambeau Field,' " Harlan said. "They've never even been here."

On game days, the far-flung Cheeseheads converge on Green Bay and fill the Lambeau parking lot hours before kickoff. First-time visitors are blown away by the passion, creativity and dedication of the tailgaters. There's nothing quite like the smell of 10,000 bratwursts sizzling on 1,000 grills and the sight of footballs spiraling through 10-degree air.

The Packers-Seahawks game will mark the 268th consecutive sellout at Lambeau, including playoffs. That's every single game since 1960. The waiting list for season tickets is at 76,800. With an average of 70 fans per year giving up their seats, the guy at the end of the list will have to wait 1,000 years, give or take a few decades, for his name to come up.

Season-ticket holders live in all 50 states and several foreign countries, including Japan. Domo arrigato.

The obsession with the team is such that the 10 p.m. TV newscasts in Milwaukee and Green Bay are dominated by Packers developments. The long snapper has an ingrown toenail? That leads the sports report. The price of beer is going up at Lambeau? That's the top story.

Brett Favre retires? We don't even want to think about that one.

The Packers have won 12 championships, more than any other NFL franchise, and three Super Bowl titles. The team has sent 21 players to the Hall of Fame. Green Bay city streets are named after former players and coaches, including Mike Holmgren.

But it's not about all that.

It's about a unique relationship between a professional sports franchise and its fans.

It's about people feeling they're a part of something special, something unique, something good.

The Packers don't need throwback jerseys to evoke their glorious past.

In all the ways that count, it's still 1965 here. And always will be.

Here is a Vikings joke that I found funny.

Although it would apply to Detroit, and Chicago

A man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticket office and inquires aboutpurchasing playoff tickets.
The ticket teller replies that there weren'tany tickets for sale because the Vikings did not make it to theplayoffs.
The following day the same man goes to the Minnesota Vikings ticketoffice and inquires about purchasing Vikings playoff tickets.
The ticketteller politely replies that there weren't any tickets for sale becausethe Vikings did not make it to the playoffs.
This goes on for an entire week.
The man goes to the Vikings ticketoffice inquiring about playoff tickets and the teller says none are forsale because the Vikings did not make it to the playoffs.
Another week of this goes by and the man is still asking the ticketteller about Vikings playoff tickets.
Finally the ticket teller in aloud voice says, I'VE TOLD YOU FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS THERE WERE NOT ANYTICKETS AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE THE VIKINGS DID NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!
The man replied, "I know. I drive all the way from Green Bay just to hear you say that!"

That story is fantastic.  And the commentary about new broadcasting in the GB area is absolutely right-on.  We lived in Appleton for several years and I even remember watching news stories about the Packers when there was nothing to report.  No game on Sunday?  That was a news story.  They interviewed depressed fans who hadn't a clue about how to spend the day.  They even interviewed a little girl who giggled, clapped her hands, and said--Goody!  Maybe my daddy will play with me today...

Here's a picture of our two littlest Packer fans, Noah (cheesehead) and Liam (Packer hat) at a game last year.

Noah and his twin brother Sam (an unfortunate Viking fan) will be celebrating their 10th birthday on Sunday.  As a die-hard Packer fan (Noah claims he bleeds green and gold), a win on Sunday and a chance to see the Packers in the Super Bowl would be the absolute best birthday gift EVER!

Hogan, after reading your post it makes me even more proud to Back the Pack and live in the Green and Gold country 

And after reading Prairefire's post, I have an even deeper meaning for wanting a Greenbay Packer win; to make Noah's 10 year old birthday  SPECTACULAR FOR HIM

Sam, happy birthday to you too My son Mike ( die hard packer fan) lives in the TWIN CITIES surrounded by his Vikiing Fan friends. Mike says he has the biggest  fun time, hooting and cheering football parties when the Vikings play the Packers!! So isn't it fun to live with your closest brother and Mike to be with his best friends who root and cheer opposing your favorite   football team??? Makes life interesting and adds fun and excitement

Happy TEN YEAR OLD BIRTHDAY to Noah and Sam  Love Rocky

Not to worry Bill, I didn't take it as a slam.

As a Packer fan it is much more fun when our team makes it to the championship game instead of the other guys in our conference.

well say thanks to rocky
noah

Hogan - it is with my deepest sympathy that your team didn't win. I was hoping they'd meet my patriots in the big game. Close game. Maybe Brett Favre should retire now eh?

I bet Abbey isn't wearing that jersey now! Ha Ha LMAO! Maybe you should get a New England Jersey.

OK enough ragging. I am ONLY kidding. I really wanted them to face the patriots, it would've been an awesome game.

With my sympathy,

Bill

We are sooooo sad Our Packers lost. What can we say. They had a bad day, took one down without turning it around. 

Yes are tails are down,but not between our legs because of the short dock tail length Reflecting about our Packer season is very good

Winning season with 14wins an only 4 losses   (last year we were 8 and 8)  Doing this record being the youngest team on the NFL Roster.  Our Quarterr Back  #4,  broke a few records records this season and if he elects to come back next year may break a few more Being in the second playoff game is the best we have done in the past 10 years, just making it to the playoffs is hugh!!! Boost the Wisconsin tourism  at a normally slowest time of the year. ... The New York fans rated the hospitality of Green Bay the BEST of all the cities they stayed in as a visiting opposing team Of course this is the 10th road game NY Giants have won so the fans had 9 other cities to compare So today life moves on for us Greenbay fans. I have cinnamon rolls in the making doing the dough part in my two bread machines.  We definetly need comfort food. We have snow storm ELLA visiting us this afternoon bring up 4 to 7 inhes of the white powder snow. (light shoveling) Not the heavy stuff.  So life moves on and we look forward to next Packer season and thank them for an extra exciting season they provided for us die hard Packer fans. !!!  GO PACK GO!!!!!   NEXT SEASON!!!

 I think the world the of the Green Bay Packers and their spirit even when things do not go as planned, kind of reminds me of life in general. There are good days, and not so good days but despite that we always play the game the best we can, sometimes that's good enough, and sometimes someone is better.

Brett Favre is a class act. He has proven that on and off the field.

Congratulations to the New York Giants. I for one will be pulling for you in "The Game"

Oh my, the dog even looks sad that the Packers lost!  I am not much of a football fan, but I live in New Hampshire, so I usually root for the Patriots. Of course, they've mad it easy to be a fan the last 7 years or so!

Hogan, who is this?

I dunno, maybe me in about 25 years

Sorry, can't place him.

Hint:  #43 in your program and #1 in your ________ .