20 Reasons Why You Know You’re a Sports Fan From Wisconsin

20 Reasons Why You Know You're a Wisconsin Sports Fan

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People outside of the state will never understand the passion that is involved with Wisconsin sports unless they experience it for themselves. There is just something about going to a Milwaukee Brewers game in the heat of summer, a Wisconsin Badgers football game in the fall or a Green Bay Packers game at legendary Lambeau Field in the midst of a blizzard. The smell of brats during tailgating, the loyalty of the fans and the enjoyment as generations pass on traditions is certainly one-of-a-kind.

I understand what it means to be a diehard Wisconsin sports fan from Milwaukee because I’ve been one my entire life. I wept during Brett Favre’s press conference as he retired from the Packers after the painful loss to the New York Giants in the frigid NFC Championship Game. I was at Lambeau Field when Green Bay defeated New York in 2010 and everyone in the stands had the feeling that something magical was to take place over the next month.

I went to Brewers games during depressing losing streaks and I watched their celebration over and over when they finally won their division for only the second time in franchise history. I even talk to anyone who will listen at the beginning of every season that this is the year the Milwaukee Bucks will finally get something going.

I’ve endured the glory as well as the pain, a lot of pain, of being a Wisconsin sports fan. And you know what? I wouldn’t exchange it for anything in the entire world. I’m eternally grateful that I was brought up a fan of the Packers, Brewers, Badgers and Bucks because I wouldn’t want it any other way. If you’re a true sports fan from Milwaukee (or anywhere in Wisconsin) then please enjoy the 20 reasons why you know you represent the teams that you do.

20. You Brave the Sub-Zero Temperatures to Watch the Greatest Team on Earth

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For some, a trip to Lambeau Field is the greatest vacation they will ever experience. There’s just something about the incredible tailgating experience, the sea of green and gold in the stands and the epic chants of “go pack go!” For me, the best part about Lambeau is the moment I walk through the tunnel and into the bowl where the field is located. It’s the most magical moment in the world and it gets me every time.

Most people wouldn’t be caught dead in sub-zero temperatures to watch a football game. The good news is the Packers aren’t just any football team. It’s the greatest team on Earth, which makes it that much easier to sit on the cold metal bleachers when the windshield factor is minus-20.

19. You Get Offended by the Term ‘Bandwagon Fan’

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Sure, the Bradley Center may not get sold out every night and there have been plenty of years where the Brewers have a hard time selling tickets. But to call Wisconsin fans bandwagon fans is flat out ridiculous. What other small-market baseball team is well above the National League average for attendance? The Brewers have cleared 3 million in attendance in three of the past five seasons. They have sold 2,831,385 tickets last season in a year that Ryan Braun was suspended and the team finished fourth in the division.

As far as the Bucks are concerned, the fans did all they could for so long. Milwaukee loves its basketball, but they aren’t going to support a team when the owner simply doesn’t care. Most cities would have given up on the Bucks way before fans in Milwaukee did.

On top of that, no team sells out like the Packers do. Every seat in Lambeau Field has been accounted for in every single game since 1960, which gives Green Bay the most sellouts of any franchise in the history of the league.

18. 1982 Will Forever Have a Nice Ring to It, Even if You Weren’t Born at the Time

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Whenever the Brewers have postseason success, which has been twice since 1982, the media and the fans like to bring up the greatest team in franchise history. The ’82 Brewers, or “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” had everything going for them. Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers, Cecil Cooper, Ben Oglivie and Gorman Thomas were a huge part of an incredibly successful team. And who could forget Charlie Moore throwing out Reggie Jackson at third base from right field in the ALCS.

Present day, young fans and college students can be seen wearing the retro Brewers gear in dedication to the ’82 team. Every single player that suits up for the present day Brewers will always be stacked up against the men who took the field before them.

17. You Know Trades are Responsible for Demise of the Bucks

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The trade of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki and Ray Allen set the Bucks down a dark path at different times in franchise history. Abdul-Jabbar wanted out so it’s hard to blame him. Not to mention, he helped give Milwaukee their only NBA championship.

However, trading the rights for Nowitzki in 1998 for a man that not only didn't live up to the hype but isn't even living today is inexcusable, even if the media agreed it was the right move for the Bucks at the time. What hurts almost as much is when Milwaukee decided to give up on Allen because they thought his career was declining. Boy, were they wrong about that.

The Bucks have never been able to overcome various rosters moves, but it’s these three trades in particular that really set the team back.

16. You Will Never Root for the Broncos, Cowboys or Giants

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You refuse to root for the Denver Broncos because of Super Bowl XXXII, the Dallas Cowboys because of all the misery in the 1990s and the Giants because of two massive headaches they caused within the last seven years. The only exception is if a win by the Cowboys or Giants helps the Packers get into the playoffs.

15. You Had a Love/Hate Relationship with Brett Favre

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For every touchdown pass and happy moment Favre gave, there were plenty of interceptions and agony. Fans like to remember all of the great moments the living legend provided. The man single-handedly gave a starved fan base a reason to enjoy sports again, and for that reason we are all forever indebted to him.

However, his last pass for the Packers was a game-ending interception in the NFC Championship Game. Not to mention, that whole retire/unretired fiasco that turned into playing for the Minnesota Vikings is enough to make you sick. We all love Favre and can’t wait for him his number to be placed on the Packers Ring of Honor, but there were times when ‘hate’ wasn’t a strong enough word.

14. You Understand the Pain that Comes with Small Market Teams

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Your friends, who just so happen to be a fan of the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Lakers, make fun of you because the Brewers and Bucks can’t sustain winning. There’s no question it’s hard to be a supporter of small market teams. Even when talented players rise up through the ranks, they will eventually sign with a team that can pay them more money.

13. You Know How to Tailgate the Right Way

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Apparently, people in the south think they know what tailgating is. Of course, those same people haven’t been to a Brewers, Packers or Badgers game in the great state of Wisconsin. Tailgating isn’t just something to do before a sporting event, it’s a way of life. As any sports commentator who comes to Wisconsin for a sporting event and one of the first things they’ll talk about is the crazy tailgating that occurs. Good friends, good food, good times is what it’s all about.

12. You know the Difference Between Gold and Yellow

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You know what it’s like to get in fights with people who aren’t a fan of the Packers. At some point in the debate, an insult such as, “Gold? More like pee yellow” will come up. It’s called the Green and Gold so deal with it. 13 championships, enough said.

11. You Can Never Express How Thankful You are for Ron Wolf

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Ron Wolf is one of the general managers that come around once every 20 years. He’s responsible for the greatest trade in NFL history in which he sent a first round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a backup quarterback named Favre. He was ridiculed by many and called crazy by Packers fans. However, Wolf got the last laugh.

Favre may be responsible for turning the franchise around, but Wolf is the man who made it all happen. Any fan who can’t remember a time before Favre has Wolf to thank for that because he’s a big reason why the Packers have been so successful over the past 20 years. Remember, Ted Thompson was hired by Wolf in ’92.

Wolf is famous for the trade that landed Favre, but it would be crazy not to mention one of the most significant free-agent signings in league history when he convinced Reggie White to come to Green Bay.

10. You Know Vince Lombardi is the Greatest Coach to Ever Live

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Fans can talk about how Bill Belichick is the greatest coach to ever live. Even Peyton Manning wasn’t shy about that prior to the 2014 AFC Championship Game. However, the reality is there will never be a greater coach to walk this planet than Vince Lombardi. The man was a pioneer and Packers fans will forever be grateful for what he did for the organization.

9. Brett Favre Almost Ruined Your Family

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2008 was a rough year as families across the state of Wisconsin were divided. Some wanted Favre to replace Aaron Rodgers while others knew it was time to move on because the veteran signal caller made his bed. No one told him to retire, that was all on him. I personally remember intense arguments that my family members would get into, as I’m sure many of you can relate. Family refused to talk to each other, friendships were strained and some relationships even came to an end all in the name of Favre.

8. And You Know Aaron Rodgers Saved It

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The good news is Rodgers made everything good again. Friends and family could watch games in the same room while all of the hatred slowly faded away. No one could have predicted what treat was in store for Packers fans when Rodgers took flight. He’s all the good that Favre was on the football field with none of the bad. He brought a Super Bowl back to Titletown, which is all that ever matters. How Rodgers helped heal a hurt fan base is one of the most amazing things in franchise history.

7. You Know the Words to Roll Out the Barrel

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You know the words to Beer Barrel Polka, also known as Roll Out the Barrel, and you’re not ashamed to admit it.

6. You Will Gladly Reminisce About the ’01 Bucks and ’11 Brewers

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The Bucks and Brewers have been very disappointing for a very long time. However, there’s certainly no shame in reminiscing about the ’01 Bucks team that was one win away from going to the NBA Finals and the ’11 Brewers team certainly had the look of a team that could win the World Series. Besides from the Packers, Wisconsin sports fans have to take whatever they can get.

5. You Refuse to Talk About Brett Favre or Ryan Braun with Outsiders

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It’s one thing to discuss Favre and Braun with fellow fans, but it’s another to talk about how Favre abandoned the Packers and Braun disappointed an entire city with the use of performance-enhancing drugs with outsiders. Talking about it with fans of other teams is unfair because they have nothing to lose in the conversation, which will only lead to anger on your part.

4. You Know that Tony Mandarich May as Well be a Curse Word

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I apologize in advance for talking about he whose name should not be uttered. Tony Mandarich is the black spot on a franchise that has so few. The man was selfish, disgraceful and loaded up on steroids. The Packers wasted the No. 2 overall pick in the 1989 draft on him. A draft that saw Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas and Deion Sanders go No. 3, 4 and 5 in the draft right after him. Could you imagine Sanders in the backfield with Favre under center? The Packers-Cowboys rivalry in the 1990s would have been the stuff of legend.

3. You know the Meaning Behind “On, Wisconsin!”

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“On, Wisconsin!” is the fight song for the Wisconsin Badgers. It has also become the official state song for Wisconsin, although the lyrics have been changed slightly. Anytime the Badgers record a first down, the fans in the stands shout “On, Wisconsin!”

In case you don’t know the meaning behind it (c’mon you’re better than that), “On, Wisconsin!” was the battle cry for Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur Jr. in the Battle of Chattanooga during the American Civil War. MacArthur would chant “On, Wisconsin!” to rally the troops, which clearly worked as he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

As far as the song is concerned, it’s by far the most popular fight song in the country with over 2,500 variations of it used at other schools. Judge Charles D. Rosa and J. S. Hubbard wrote the lyrics for the song in 1913 and here we are 100 years later still signing it.

2. You Know Which Team Truly is “America’s Team”

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The great debate. Of course, you know which team truly is “America’s Team.” It’s laughable that the Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers would even consider themselves worthy of the title. The Cowboys may have given themselves the term, but the Packers earned it. 13 world championships, the largest fan base in the entire world and thousands of fans in the stands at road games. Seriously, what other fan base forces the home team to use a silent count? What other fan base sells out their stadium for 53 consecutive seasons?

There’s not much negativity projected towards the Packers. In fact, they are seen in a positive light by 57 percent of the country, according to a survey done by Public Policy Polling. That same survey showed that 22 percent of the voters claimed the Packers to be their favorite team, which was more than half of what the Cowboys got.

When former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle was asked to name the best football city in the country, he had this to say:

"Green Bay," he said, according to ESPN. "A small town. People owning their own football team. Rabid supporters."

And check out this excerpt from ESPN a few years ago about the Packers being “America’s Team”:

“And, by the way, shareholders vote for the team's board of directors. Nothing against Steelers fans, but Packers followers do more than wave Terrible Towels. They influence team policy. Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun established the Packers' franchise in 1919. That's 14 years before Art Rooney Sr. purchased the then-named Pittsburgh Pirates. That's 23 years before Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was even born and 33 years before the Dallas Texans became the last NFL franchise to fail. Sorry, ‘America's Team’ isn't supposed to fold.”

I could go on and on but I feel I’ve made my point.

1. You Know the Bears Still Suck

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One of the most heated rivalries in the NFL is that between the Packers and Chicago Bears. The two teams have won a combined 22 championships, including five super bowls of which Green Bay has won four. The two teams also have 48 members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will change to 51 when Favre, Charles Woodson and Brian Urlacher get inducted.

The Bears may lead the all-time series, but the Packers have had the last laugh in recent meetings. Green Bay defeated Chicago in the 2011 NFC Championship Game and then went on to win Super Bowl XLV. The Packers also beat the Bears in the 2013 regular season finale to win the division and advance to the playoffs. Facts are facts and the Bears still suck.