The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 1 Season Opener

Green Bay schools are only having classes for half a day today in order for fans and kids to get ready for the season opening game tonight against visiting New Orleans. If they take off half a day for one regular season game, what do they do on Vince Lombardi’s birthday?

And Here We Go

Keeping with recent tradition, tonight the defending Super Bowl champions play host for the first game of the NFL season. And all the eyes in the sporting, entertainment and NFL worlds will be trained upon little Green Bay as they cheer on their beloved Packers.

I want to dislike the Packers; after all, they took the trophy away from my favorite team. They were the only thing that stood between Pittsburgh and making history again, and Green Bay stood tall. I have tried to find something to loathe about the team, to get a good lather of disgust and dislike built up, something to make accepting a Super Bowl loss more palatable. But I can’t. I like them. There I said it. I like their fans. I like their uniforms and their stadium packed with history. I like their training camp traditions and their pregame tailgating. I like the Packers, and I say that with no shame despite the fact that they beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl 7 months ago.

I will not pretend that losing to the Packers made it ok, it certainly did not. It sucked and still sucks. But I am glad they did win in a not so small way. They needed that win far more than Pittsburgh did or even I realized. They needed that win to finally let go of Brett Favre, which was long overdue. Aaron Rodgers needed it to sway any remaining Favre fans to his side. Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy needed it to show justification for all the moves they made to build their team, some of which were unpopular with the fans, especially shipping out Favre. And they went out and earned that win with a stellar game. Plus their head coach is from the Burgh! Honestly if Green Bay had faced any team other than Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl, I would have rooted for the Pack along with every other casual fan.

And I’m not alone with this sentiment. A Pittsburgh sports radio show recently ran a call in poll asking listeners which NFL fan base did they like and respect the most. Overwhelmingly people picked Green Bay as their favorite fan base, the same fans that cheered wildly in February as their team defeated the Steelers for the ultimate prize in professional football. Yes, even after watching their team lose to the Packers in devastating fashion, Pittsburgh fans still could find nothing to dislike about Green Bay fans and touted them on the airwaves. That should tell you everything you need to know about those who back the Pack.

So, tonight I will unabashedly cheer on the Packers as they begin the defense of their Super Bowl title. Yes, I admit I do like the Packers. But I refuse to watch the latest episode of America’s Game. You can only draw me into supporting the Green and Gold so far. Perhaps as far as a rematch game, say Indianapolis in February? What do you say Green Bay, wanna go again?

On Tap This Week

And again we begin the quixotic journey of predicting wins which was the original raison d'être that created The Crystal Ball. Just to note for anyone new to this little football tome, we do not try to divine final scores or pick with point spreads involved. Just a simple, old fashioned who’s gonna knock the slobber out of each other first straight up pick ‘em. Before we begin, let us reset our counters from the previous season.

Last week: 0-0

Season to date: 0-0

I always enjoy the beginning of the season tally. So unsullied by close wins, devastating losses and shake your head in bewilderment picks. I really picked Buffalo on the road? What was I thinking? Well, now we stand upon the cusp of a new season, with ample opportunities to ask what exactly was I thinking. So let’s get started, shall we?

Thursday

New Orleans (0-0) at Green Bay (0-0)

No analysis needed, at least from my perspective. Green Bay is the Super Bowl champions, at home, with everyone healthy and pumped up and hyped with what will sure to be a raucous crowd behind them. Yes, New Orleans is a good team, but that’s hard to overcome. And since this Thursday night opening tradition began, the defending champions have yet to lose. Why go against the odds now?

Packers over Saints