Bears Packers tailgaters start the party early
Any fan thinking this last September was living in fantasy-football land. But now in mid-January on a frigid Sunday morning, tailgaters packed the parking lots at Soldier Field several hours before the 2 p.m. kickoff. In fact, Soldier Field lots were full well before 11 a.m. Despite the cold, people laid out picnic-style spreads that rivaled Ravinia in the summer. Most stayed warm with barbeque grills or portable woodburners.
For the first time in 70 years, the Bears and the Packers, one of the longest rivalries in pro football, go helmet-to-helmet today for a trip to Dallas for Superbowl XLV.
The Bears defeated the Packers in their last playoff match Ñ in 1941, a week after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
Yet today’s match-up is being called by many the biggest game in Chicago history.
Soldier Field’s Waldron Deck parking area bloomed blue and orange. Among the hearty fans was Joe Pawelecki of Rolling Meadows, who said he hasn’t been to a game since the 1985 NFC championship. He brought his tailgating gear after winning the tickets at a giveaway sponsored by his local Mejier store.
“The Bears will do it, but it will be a close game,” he said.
Other fans also voiced confidence mingled with respect for the Packers. “They’ll win by a touchdown at least,” said Brian Scott of Naperville.
Packers fan Kristine Frank and husband Steve Frank, a Bears fan, of Rockford look at the rivalry with a smile and a kiss.
“We started dating in the off-season and by the time football season started it was too late to back out,” he said with a laugh as he readied the grill.
“For one of us it will be a quiet ride home,” Kristine Frank said, with a wink.
Longtime pals Jacob Frank of Morton Grove and Ron Chilicutt of Schaumburg have been going to Bears games together for 15 years. Frank said that while Bears and Packers fans enjoy ribbing each other, it’s mostly in good fun.
“We hate them but we love them at the same time and we understand that without the rivalry, this game wouldn’t matter nearly as much,” Frank said.
One bond that followers of both teams share is commitment. Bobbie Ford of Fond du Lac, Wis., was so determined to make the game that she left her brother’s wedding reception at 9:30 p.m. last night so she could make the drive.
She showed up at the tailgate deck arrayed head to toe in Green Bay colors.
“It’s great,” she said of her Soldier Field reception. “Everybody’s is smiling and they even wish me good luck.”
All agreed this was a football game that wouldn’t soon be forgotten.
At the beginning of the season, or even mid-season, fans didn’t think much of either team’s chance of becoming a Superbowl contender.
“This just isn’t where the Bears were supposed to be at this point in the season, said St. Charles resident David Strickland. “We had no expectations so it just doesn’t get any better than this.”
In a tribute to his teams colors, Wisconsin residents Mark Plichta and Bill Werner were slicing green and yellow peppers to grill. “Whomever wins this game wins 20 years of bragging rights,” said Plichta. “It’s a game that we won’t experience again for who knows how long.”
Also stuck deep in enemy territory among Soldier Field tailgaters was Green Bay resident Craig Stillman, who said he got his tickets Tuesday on Ebay, paying about $600 each.
“We got 11th row end zone. We were lucky to get them,” he said. Stillman added that Bears fans have been polite, even directing them to the closest port-a-potties.
Bears diehard Shawn McCracken said he’s been at every game since 2002, the year of the Champaign home games. “I’m confident because the Bears match up well with Green Bay,” said McCracken, of Chalmers, Ind.
Today’s winner will face the winner of the AFC Championship: The New York Jetsv. Pittsburgh Steelers game starts at 5:30 p.m. Chicago time. The Super Bowl XLV will be Feb. 6 in Dallas.
The Bears last were in the Super Bowl in February 2007, losing to the Indianapolis Colts. The last time the Bears won the Super Bowl was in 1985.
News From: www.suntimes.com
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