Ok, I may lack credibility since I am a Bears fan (and was raised to cheer for two teams: Da Bears and anyone playing the Packers). However, the Seahawks have taken on the thugs who increasingly occupy our football games. For tonight’s game (yes, finally, the season has started), police officers will go undercover wearing Packers jerseys to try to catch abusive or violent fans. I previously praised a similar effort by the Seahawks.
We have all lamented how families cannot go to games in many cities because people have become so vulgar, drunk, and generally disgusting. The threats against fans of the opposing team have turned violent in some cases. Now fans are being warned that they will be held to the Fan Code of Conduct will be ejected from the stadium for violations. They could also have their ticket privileges revoked. What I particularly like is a warning to season ticket holders that they will be held responsible for the conduct of their guests.
This is in my view a very positive effort to return a modicum of civility and decency to stadiums. I would love to take my kids to a football game. I simply fail to see what all NFL teams are not following the example of the Seahawks.
Fans can report any inappropriate activity that is disrupting their enjoyment of the game via text-message at HAWK12 (429512).
By the way, I have always found Packers (like most Bears fans) to be very decent and civil to opposing teams. Some team stadiums are notorious for rude and obnoxious fans. I have always heard about Bears fans being treated well as Green Bay and I hope that Bears fans show them the same courtesy. We have a great rivalry (with the Vikings and Lions) but it is always disappointing to hear people ruin the fun by venting their anger at opposing fans. It really has little to do with the game. These are people with anger issues or adolescent mentalities that use sporting events as excuses to drink and abuse people.
Bravo Hawks Bravo. I now have another reason to cheer for you tonight.
@NickS
I have dual citizenship. I am both a Cowboy fan, and a New Orleans Saints fan. I live a few miles over the border from Louisiana, and most of my friends and business is there.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl reporter
Aridog, I didn’t know you were a Badger! Packer/Lions Thanksgiving Day every year back in your early years. Intense rivalry, just a notch below Packer/Bears and Giants/Eagles. I’ve been to several of all those rivalries. Giants/Eagles is by far the nastiest. Got into a huge brawl @ one in Veterans Stadium back in the 70’s. There was no avoiding it.
I should add that the Packers are the last team (that I know of) that plays in an old timey stadium. Correct me if I am wrong. Any football fan who has never been to Lambeau Field for a game hasn’t yet had the full old time NFL experience. Distance may make the hard to do, but if you can manage it, it is worth the trip. I’ll never forget my first visit there and several thereafter.
In the early 1960’s I became a Packers fan by default…e.g., otherwise I was in fear for my life in a U of Wisconsin fraternity who regarded us Detroit folks as the enemy (which in those days we were on every Thanksgiving Day) so I have two teams I “like” always, no matter the year. The cost of games is obscene now and I can get a better view on my TV…but the old Packer/Lions games at Briggs Field in Detroit were memorable, always cold and always tough….and my dad took me every year until college, then I took my dad. They made adopting the Packers rather easy.
I’m going to divulge some nastiness by Packer fans that I’m related to toward their neighbors, Illinois transplants who were fierce Bears fans. During every Packer game the Illinois folks would inflate a huge Bears creature on their front lawn. One evening my relative and his son snuck over there and unplugged the big inflatable Bear thing. The next morning it was discovered laying there limp and pathetic.
I have a father/daughter coming to visit next week and we’re going to the Packer game. Dad was a college roommate and lives in north Jersey. He’s been a Jet’s season tix holder since the Namath Years. He and a south Jersey Eagles fan were out last year to see the Eagles play @ Lambeau. They were amazed @ how civil fans are in the Midwest, particularly Green Bay. That made them comfortable to come out this year in full Jets regalia. They have seen visiting fans savaged @ Jets games.
WooHoo! Two more than I thought. Go Packers!
Anonymously Yours, it’s only entrapment if the undercover cop picks a fight. My bet is that they’re just going to be in the crowd wearing the other team’s stuff, and waiting to see if anyone tries anything. That’s perfectly legal, and good police work.
One would hope that the sheer incredible cost of NFL tickets would keep the more rowdy thuggish elements at bay – it once did. Instead what it has done is provided ample evidence that indeed, crime does pay, and apparently very well, as many thugs have a lot more disposable income for these kind if expensive drunken rowdy “good times” than a whole lot of working folks with families.
Apparently WordPress edited out the retching sound as I threw up a little into my mouth after writing “Niners” in the above post.
The Packers have 4 Super Bowl Wins, The Bears only 1, the Cowboys 5 (as do the Niners), only Pittsburg has 6.
Yes Squeeky and they actually won two Super Bowls!
Squeeky, Are you a Cowboy fan?
Ok, what are they going to be armed with?
Green Bay has a football team???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
A cheesehead hat wouldn’t hurt if used to clunk a Bears fan over the head, would it? 😉
There will be female impersonators dressing up like Jay Cutler 2 Bear Games. And, the Niners aren’t playing tonight, just Seahawks and Packers. New “no touch” rules were put in place to counter the thuggish tactics of DB’s on sissy wide receivers. Should help the Packers.
this will end badly
Sounds like entrapment….
Da Bears!