Super Bowl, Schmuper Bowl

The Green Bay Packers aren't in it so why should I give a rat's ass? No - I won't be watching it. And if you've read any of my posts during the football season, you'll know I do not make predictions and I think people who do are idiots.

While in Phoenix picking up his FedEx Air Player of the Year Award, Favre said he has no rooting interest in Super Bowl XLII and was not about to make any predictions on the outcome. "To be totally honest with you, I couldn't care less," Favre said. "Someone's gotta win it, but if it's not going to be us, I don't really care."

Exactly my sentiments, Brett. Touche.

Favre, McCarthy - Top Honors from FedEx & Motorola

Phoenix, AZ - And the honors keep rolling in for the Green Bay Packers. FedEx and the NFL Wednesday announced the winners of the fifth annual FEDEX AIR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD at a press conference in Arizona, site of Super Bowl XLII. Quarterback BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers was named the FedEx Express NFL Player of the Year. In honor of the winners' great play, FedEx will donate $25,000 to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation.

Favre led the Packers to a 13-3 record and to the number two seed in the NFC. Favre completed 66.5 percent of his passes (356 of 535) for 4,155 yards (fourth in the league), and threw 28 touchdown passes. In 2007, Favre passed John Elway (148) for the most wins by a quarterback with 160, passed Dan Marino (420) for most career touchdown passes with 442, and passed Marino (62) for the most career games with three-or-more touchdowns passes with 63 career games - 6 NFL records, in all. Favre also eclipsed the all-time career passing yards mark set by Marino (61,361) with 61,655. His 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings against Denver on 10/29 was the second-longest overtime touchdown in NFL history. Favre was nominated for six FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week awards in 2007, winning five times. Favre was selected from among three finalists in the air category. The other FedEx Express NFL Player of the Year finalists were New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY and Dallas Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO. More than 1,000,000 fan votes were cast at NFL.com from Tuesday, January 8th through Wednesday, January 23th.

Also, head coach MIKE McCARTHY of the Green Bay Packers is the 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year, Motorola and the NFL announced Wednesday. In 2007, McCarthy took a Green Bay team that finished 8-8 last year to a 13-3 record securing the number two seed in the NFC and tying

the Packers franchise record for wins in a season (13). McCarthy was nominated for two Motorola NFL Coach of the Week awards, winning both times. Coach McCarthy led the Packers to their first NFC championship game since 1997, when they defeated the Carolina Panthers and went on to beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. In this postseason, the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 42-20 on January 12, when RB Ryan Grant ran for 201 yards and scored three touchdowns, and then were defeated in the NFC Championship at Lambeau Field.

A record number of over 501,000 fans voted on NFL.com for the head coach whose game planning played the greatest role in his team's success this season. Voting took place from Monday, January 7 through Monday, January 21 to determine the 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year. McCarthy was selected as 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year from among five finalists by voters on NFL.com. The other finalists were head coaches BILL BELICHICK of the New England Patriots, JACK DEL RIO of the Jacksonville Jaguars, JOE GIBBS of the Washington Redskins and MIKE TOMLIN of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Also, as a consolation prize for not winning the NFC Championship, the Green Bay Packer coaching staff will be on hand to coach the NFC at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. That's nice, I suppose. So are these other little nuggets McCarthy and Favre have received - takes away some of the sting from the NFC Championship loss.

Wait - one more thing. At the press conference for Brett's award and after fielding questions about his decision whether or not to return for his 18th season, some asshole reporter asked Brett, "do you think the Green Bay fans want you back next season?". Brett responded, "I don't know what the GB fans want". Good answer, Brett. Dumb fucking question, reporter. My brother and I wanna find out who the asshole was that asked such a stupid question and kill him. How inappropriate to put Favre in that spot when he's there to accept an award. Cocksucker. Sorry for the swearing but I hate the media. HATE THEM!!!!!!

Keep us in the loop.

Favre, McCarthy Receive NFL 101 Honors

(Kansas City, MO) - Six high-achieving players and coaches who made the 2007 National Football League season one of the most memorable in years were announced today as winners of the annual NFL 101 Awards - the nation's only awards event dedicated exclusively to professional football.

Mike McCarthy was voted as NFC Coach of the Year and his legendary QB Brett Favre was chosen as NFC Offensive Player of the Year. A national media committee, comprised of 101 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL, selected the winners in each award category in a nationwide vote at the conclusion of the regular season.

Bill Belicheat earned AFC Coach of the Year and record-setting QB Tom Cry-Brady was selected as AFC Offensive Player of the Year.

All of the award winners will be presented with trophies at the 38th Annual NFL 101 Awards gala in Kansas City on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the Westin Crown Center. The prestigious black-tie awards event was founded in 1969 and has evolved into what many sports insiders consider the finest awards event of its kind.

GO PACK in 2008!!

Julie Christie Wins SAG Award

The Screen Actor Guild Awards (of which I am a member, thank you) were given out last night and my Julie Christie won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Away From Her.

66 years young and still beautiful. Next stop - The Academy Awards.

I'm contemplating working for a while as a commercial fisherman up in Nova Scotia.

I need to get away. It may help to take my mind of the Green Bay Packer loss. Well I've got the beard and Cabela's hat. Why not? Look at that gray. Christ. Hemingway woulda been gone already. And he was a damn fine writer, he was.

"Mouseketeer Role Call count off NOW!!"

LISA! JEFF! JANELLE! BRAD! PAULA! STEVE! TINA! JAKE! AMY! JOE! JUNE! DAMON! BRIANNA!

Bottom row, left to right: Lisa , me, Paula, Jimmy, Brianna.Top row: left to right: June, Amy, Janelle (right over my right shoulder), Tina, Brad, Joe, Steve, Jake.

It's the Mouseketeers! Well, Cedar Rapids' version of them anyway. My very first performing experience came with the Cedar Rapids Follies show - a fundraiser sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Symphony that's been a CR institution for over 25 years. Bob Geuder and Damon Cole write the entire show, which is a cross between Ziegfeld's Follies and The Lawrence Welk Show. Thousands of "blue-hairs" from 4 or 5 states (as well as local theater patrons) converge on the Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids for three weekends of fun and frivolity.

The above picture was taken at a weekend event about a month after my first Follies in 1994. The CR Symphony was doing a "Salute to Disney" and Damon, my musical theater director/mentor (is that OK to say, D.?) picked this lucky group from the Follies cast to perform - complete with Mouseketeer ears and name shirts (yes, I still have them).

As the years pass and I look back on this photo, I'm extremely honored to have been a part of the Disney/symphony event - and Follies - considering I was almost scratched from the Follies list all together.

But that's another story. Say "hi" to Damon. He started Follies with Bob. Damon's a wonderful pianist (classically trained) and a wonderful friend. He can play anything and if you say, "it sorta goes like this", he'll figure it out. Amazing. I worked with him on four Follies and all the musicals I did at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Damon's a very hip guy, wry sense of humor - people LOVE to be around him...so much so that the orchestra pit at the Paramount Theater is named in his honor.

Seriously. I would love to have Damon work with me on my Frank Lloyd Wright musical. Or Tony - another musical theater friend from high school. Maybe both. They're both talented.

Back to the cast photo above. I lost track of Brad, Steve and Brianna, though I seem to recall Steve being in Minnesota. Everyone else I'm in touch with. Lisa lives in Seattle - we date for about 2 years. Jake's in Chicago and engaged and everyone else is in Cedar Rapids and I usually see them all whenever I visit once a year. Jim and Joe are still close friends - I don't see them nearly as much as I would like. I see Damon but not enough either. I don't see ANY of them as much as I'd like, quite frankly. Thanks for the photo, Jake. I do have a copy of this but it's framed and in storage.

Julie Christie Update & "Atonement"

Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent in Away From Her.

I previously blogged about my favorite actress, Julie Christie (see below)http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/12/women-celebs-i-love-3-julie-christie.html and the kudos being flung her way for the movie, Away From Her. Caught the movie this week with friends, along with, Atonement. Both excellent movies. One much more depressing than the other.

Since my original post on Julie, she was awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress and she's been nominated for an Academy Award for her role as a women struck down with Alzheimer's Disease. As wonderful as this movie is, it was extremely painful to watch. As an actor, my attention to characters in movies is much the same as my approach to a character that I'm portraying on stage or on film - I put myself in the character's shoes, asking, "what would Jeff Ircink do if HE were that person?". Not a novel approach by any means, but of all the acting approachs (Method, Meisner), this works best for me.

So I put myself in the shoes of Julie Christie's husband, is forced to deal with his wife's increasing memory loss, then he puts her into a home and then watches from afar as she become "involved" with another patient - a man who she takes "a liking" to her (and she to him). I now have a greater appreciation for the loved ones of Alzheimer victim's - it's the loved ones who seemingly suffer the most. My God, how heart-wrenching to see Christie's husband crumble in the face of everything that he faces - none of which he has contol over. Honestly, if you're in a shitty or depressed mood, wait until you have a skip back in your step before you watch this.

Great acting job by everyone involved. And Julie Christie is as lovely and beautiful as ever.

Atonement is another excellent movie - essentially about how two lovers just prior to WWII are separated from each other and the hardships they endure along the way. I really don't feel like writing a review on the movie...just watch it - it garnered 8 Academy Award nominations. It was very lyrical and poetic (I stole that from my writer-friend Donovan, who's working on his first novel by the way, but I would've said the same thing), drifting from present to past and back again very seamlessly. And again, as in Away From Her, I put myself in the character's shoes (the lead male), feeling the joy and sorrow and emptiness that he felt. I know what it's like not being with the one you love. Many of us do. It's one of the most empty feelings one can have. Just horrific. This is another great movie. Go see it.

And see it with someone you're deeply in love with.

Green Bay Packers Finish Season 14-4.

It's taken me a few days to get on here and blog about our loss in the NFC Championship this past Sunday. Actually, I won't talk about the game - it's verboten territory right now. Still stings too much. My brother and I vowed to wait until our annual walleye fishing trip back in Wisconsin in May.

That being said, I have to say our Packers had an excellent season and the team and fans should be very proud. Hey - we weren't expected to finish much beyond 9-7, maybe, and with the youngest team in the league, I expect great things next season. I'm quite confident Favre will be back for another go-around; our young players and coach will have learned from their mistakes this year; and we'll make a run for the Super Bowl next year.

My real purpose for posting was to thank everyone who was kind enough to support MY passion for the Packers this year - non-Packer fans, per se. And the first people I wanna thank are Donovan and Maria and their daughter Grace. I watched EVERY game at their home in Tujunga (NFL Sunday Ticket) when I wasn't home for the holidays and their support was unwavering. Oh-h did we have some fun moments. And when their team (Denver) was eliminated from playoff contention, they switched gears and became as rabid as a Packer fan as I know. THEY helped to make this the best season for me since moving to California in 1998.

Aside from them I'd like to thank the following: John in Philly, Bill the FedEx guy, Bill, Bruce, Jeffrey E., JD, Fred, the Staples guy, D Doug, Zac, Kinga, Janelle, Amy, Justyna and Dave. Remember - these folks aren't Packer fans but were rooting for them. It's difficult being here in CA when you really would rather be back in WI where everyone around you is a Packer fan and you can commiserate together. Thanks, guys, for making the loss somewhat easier.

GO PACK in 2008!!!

"It is finished."

- Jesus Christ, on the Green Bay Packer loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field, in overtime, 23-20.

Packer Fans: It's "Golden Time".

This is it. The NFC Championship Game. At Lambeau. First time since 1996. In the movie business, when the work day hits a certain "late" hour, extras get paid double. It's called "Golden Time". And it's 'gettin' to be that time' for Packer Fans. I won't post anymore about the game...I don't know about you but the butterflies are startin' up. So I thought a couple of inspirational videos (see below) might calm us all down. As this is my last post before Sunday's game, you should check out my first post in the beginning of the season...back in September: http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/08/ironman-is-back.html. Enjoy the game. And GO PACK!!!

Favre's Introduction / #421 TD

Mel Kanoke "Feels the Power"

NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers (14-3 and a bye) host the New York Giants (12-6).

There's a party goin' down in Green Bay this weekend. We're all waitin' for you, New York Giants. This Sunday, January 20, 2008 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 5:42 p.m. CST. NFC Championship Game. Winner goes to Super Bowl 42.

The Ghost of Vince Lombardi, former Packer coach, will be roaming the field. Yelling, screaming - cheering his Packers on. He's the guy who coined the phrase, "Winning isn't everything - it's the only thing," and changed the face of the NFL. The Super Bowl championship trophy - named for Vince. There's a reason for that. The last time GB met the Giants in the postseason was in 1961 - on this field. GB won. Vince's first championship. He went on to win many more, including Super Bowl I and II. Oh-h you can bet your sweet ass Vince will be waiting for you.

#4 is waiting for you, too. The Hall of Fame "Ironman" who plays the game with a uniqueness that is unmatched. Owns every major QB record in the NFL. He'll make his 274 consecutive start (this includes playoffs) when he meets you guys Sunday. That's fucking insane. Hasn't missed a start since 1992 - over 200 QBs have started for other teamsin that time from. We're all unique, sure. But this sonofabitch's mold is broken. Blocks like a linebacker and won't take shit from no one. Legend.

He's 38 but plays the game like he's 17...makes the game of football fun. That's why people wanna watch him play. That's why he's respected and feared by his peers - active and retired. Played one season with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Ran in off the bench one time after getting a concussion, threw a TD then got yanked from the game. Survived EVERYTHING that's been thrown at him. Had two "off" years in the 16 years he's been with the Pack. The day after his daddy died he threw for 399 yards and 4 TDs at Oakland. Even the Oakland fans applauded him - and they don't applaud their own team half the time. Critics told him to retire - you're washed up. The critics can kiss my ass. The media asks him the same retirement questions every year. They can kiss my ass too. Watch him - he pulls plays outta his ass you only see once in a lifetime - like the one against the Seahawks last weekend. Problem is there's more where that came from. That's 'cause he's #4. Put Manning, Brady, Montana, Young, Elway, Staubach, Bradshaw and all the greats on the field AT ONE TIME and we'll put #4 against them all. Hero worship? Naw. We Packer fans are just enjoyin' this once-in-a-lifetime treasure before he packs his gun and rides off into the sunset. You should all be so lucky. Everyone seems to trip over their tongues talkin' about him; they wouldn't if weren't so damn good. No he's not mistake free - he's human, like you and me. But unlike you and me, I didn't even mention his name and I saw you quiver. Can't you already "hear the lamentations of your women"? Even Conan respects #4.

The Green Bay Packers will be waiting for you. With previous seasons of 4-12 and 8-8, they were maybe picked to finish 8-8 this year...perhaps 9-7 if things went their way. Young team but too young to make a dent. Driver. Jennings. Jones. Tauscher and Clifton. Spitz. Pickett. Barnett. Woodson. Harris. Atari. Grant. Jackson. Lee. Martin. Bubba and KGB. Crosby - most points in the NFL this season. And Favre. No running game in the first half of the season. 2nd year coach and a washed up QB to boot who just came back for the records. Smallest market in the NFL. Owned by the people. No cheerleaders. Who the hell are we, huh? We ARE the Green Bay Packers, baby.

And yep, even former Packer great, QB Bart Starr will be there as the Packers' honorary captain Sunday. Starr is a two-time Super Bowl MVP (SB I & II), NFL Hall of Famer and leader of five world championship teams under Lombardi in Green Bay. Starr will present the George S. Halas trophy on behalf of the NFC to the Packers should they win the game. This is the guy who, on Dec. 31, 1961, with the temperature 21 degrees and a wind chill of 5 in Green Bay, led a 37-0 rout of New York with three touchdown passes to earn the franchise's seventh NFL title. This is the guy who did it again the next year at New York. This is the guy who snuck the ball into the endzone during the 1967 Ice Bowl victory over the Cowboys (the equivalent of the NFC Championship today) - 40 years ago...just a couple days ago. On this very field. It was -47 degrees that day. Starr then led the Pack to Beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl I.

And Lambeau Field is waiting. The "Frozen Tundra". She's 50 years young this season. She may be an inanimate object to you but she's a living, breathing entity that will eat you up this time of year. Home of the famous Ice Bowl . One sports anal-yst commented that "Frozen Tundra" is redundant. That's true. But when it hits -46 degrees and the turf feels like cement, I think you're well within your rights to say, "the frozen, frozen of Lambeau Field". Now, you Giants may have a 9-game road win-streak goin', but we're 8-1 here this season - at the same place. Oh - and Brett's 43 and 5 here when the game-time temp is 34 degrees or below. It's supposed to be 7...give or take, and it'll drop below freezing later in the game. Eat you up.

And the fans. Yes, we too are waiting for you. Too many of us to put a photo up, but I think you get the picture. In Wisconsin and around the world...we'll be watching. My family and friends. Me in CA with Donovan and Maria and baby Grace. Uncle Fran in Madison will be watching even though he hates Eli Manning - my uncle was a QB and doesn't respect Eli. Uncle Fran will turn his head when Eli has the ball. Brother Jason will be home with Mom and Dad - even though a big party's a-brewing at the Schmidt household (the Pack has a history of losing when Jas watches games at the Schmidt's). Not sure who but I will know people in the stands. Diehards. Season tickets waiting list over 30 years long. Loyal. Loyal enough to fill Lambeau for an inter-squad scrimmage, or show up in the tens of thousands for a parade to honor the Pack when they lost the Super Bowl to Denver. They'll give you the shirt off their back - even when the temperature's below zero.

Better put on your jock strap nice and tight Eli - and since you've matured over the last few weeks as a QB, better bring your "A+" game - 'cause you ain't never been in anything like this. This IS what the NFL is all about. GO PACK GO!!!

MSNBC Poll: Packers V. Giants - Who has the edge?

A current MSNBC poll asks readers to vote on a number of categories comparing the Green Bay Packers versus the New York Giants: coaches, QBs, special teams, secondary, RBs, WRs, intangibles, etc.

Nearing 170,000 votes as of Saturday, 9:32 a.m. PST, the Pack lead every category by a landslide - except defensive line, which shows the Giants with a slight edge over the Packers - 60% to 40% - the only category they lead. See for yourself: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22655354/

It's just a poll. It means nothing - until the night these two teams meet on the Frozen Tundra in Green Bay. Sorta like the polls that show the American people don't want to be fighting in Iraq - but we're still there.

How to Beat the Giants and Get to Super Bowl 42 (and some useless trivia along the way)

1.) How to beat the Giants? Same tips for how we beat the Seahawks. Follow this link: http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2008/01/four-reasons-seattle-should-tremble.html. Add to that the fact that GB is the No. 2 offense in the NFL and the No. 11 defense.

2. Lambeau Field - once the mystical venue where visiting teams had difficulty winning, the last couple years Lambeau has lost that mystique with a 4-12 and 8-8 record (but an improvement). This year changed. Yeh, the Giants are on a 9-game road win streak. Big deal. We have Lambeau Field - where we were 7-1 at home, 8-1 with the Seattle victory. And that's ONE stadium - not 8. Another tidbit about Lambeauuuuuuu Field - Brett is 43-5 at home when the temperature dips below 34 degrees at kickoff. It's supposed to be high of 7 degrees at kick-off...give or take. And it WILL drop below freezing.

3.) History. This season - right about now - is the 40th Anniversary of Super Bowl I, when the Pack beat the Chiefs, as well as the Ice Bowl, where the Pack beat the Cowboys in -47 degree temperature at Lambeau to get to Super Bowl I.

4.). Vince. Lombardi used to be a coach with the Giants before coming to Green Bay. He's from New York. And his first NFL championship was against you know who - the Giants.

5.) Finally, make Eli piss his pants. Throw him off his game plan. Just hit the little bitch a few times and all his recent success in QB'ing will turn limp. Remember, this little bastard cried when he got drafted 'cause he didn't want to play for San Diego (they sucked then) and, with the help of his daddy and brother Pay-twirp holding his hand, cried his way to getting traded to the Giants. I apologize for my language but fuck this guy. I liken it to the question put to Conan the Barbarian, "What is best in life?'. Conan answered, "To crush your enemies/Eli Manning. See them/the Giants driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their women (cheerleaders, Mother Manning - I don't know)."

That is good.

"Atari" in Japanese means, "ATTACK!"

(most of this is reprinted from Packer.com)

Big fish means big hits. Atari-style.

"It's like catching a fish," Bigby said. "You can just feel him fighting for his life. It's a great feeling. You can actually feel the electricity in his body. I'm telling you, it's hard to describe, but it's great." If you wanna know what it's like to hit a guy hard, Atari says, 'catch a big fish'.

Regularly labeled with the tag "hard-hitting safety", this is Atari Bigby's curious description for what it's like to deliver one of those hard hits, both for him and his victim. Bigby was probably the most physical presence in a dominating defensive performance that held Seattle to just six points over the game's final 56 minutes in the 42-20 triumph. He leveled multiple Seahawks receivers and ballcarriers with big hits, leading the team in tackles with seven (four solo). And he made the biggest play of the game for the defense on the first play of the second quarter, drilling tight end Marcus Pollard after a short reception and popping the ball loose. Teammate Aaron Kampman recovered at the Seattle 18-yard line to set up a short field for the go-ahead touchdown to make it 21-14, putting the Packers ahead for good and completing the recovery from a 14-0 deficit.

(Quickly...my personal observation on Bigby. I called him "the felon" because of the way he kicked the shit out of receivers, drawing penalty after penalty. This sonofabitch is one crazy mother. The way he comes flying into receivers, leaping from his feet head first at full speed with his dread locks tossed in the wind like freakin' Predator??? All I know is I'm glad he's playing for us. He needs to be consistent again on Sunday, not laying out guys and getting penalites. Look at him - his eyes are half-shut, grinning, laughing - comparing hitting guys to fishing?. Oh I know he's having a good time, but - he's like how a dog gets when you blow pot smoke in its face. Serious. If I were a receiver I would very scared.)

Bigby continued his high-impact play on Seattle's next series. He blasted receiver Bobby Engram after a 9-yard reception and then stuck with Pollard in coverage and batted away a pass that would have given the Seahawks a first-and-goal. Seattle settled for a field goal, keeping the Packers ahead 21-17. Bigby's presence, and the early big hit, may have had an effect on Pollard the rest of the game. The 13-year veteran had two passes later in the game go right through his hands when he was wide open - one in the end zone in the third quarter, and another on fourth down in the fourth quarter. Receiver D.J. Hackett also dropped a short pass near the goal line, and while it's impossible to know if Seattle's miscues were directly a result of any seeds Bigby planted in their minds, other Green Bay defenders gave Bigby at least partial credit.

"He made some big plays," cornerback Charles Woodson said. "Anytime the secondary makes those receivers a little jumpy out there, catching the ball, it pays dividends. You see they dropped a couple of passes...When you put that in the minds of receivers running routes, running across the middle, knowing that there's going to be somebody there that's going to hit you, not just tackle you by the legs but actually hit you, they think about that."

Bigby had his rough patches earlier this season, his first as an NFL starter after beating out incumbent Marquand Manuel for the job in training camp. At Denver on Oct. 29, he was called for four total penalties on two Broncos scoring drives - a late hit, two pass interferences, and a delay of game for kicking the ball - for 41 yards. The next week at Kansas City, he took another pass interference in the end zone, for 29 yards, setting up a Chiefs touchdown. But as the season wore on, Bigby channeled and timed his aggressive play better and ended up leading the team with five interceptions, including four in the final month of the regular season that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December.

But Bigby gets far more thrills from his big hits, and he's been a key piece in run support all season. He finished third on the team in the regular season in tackles with 121 (95 solo), the most tackles recorded by a Green Bay defensive back in 17 years. "It's just a mindset," Bigby said of his aggressive mentality, which aptly fits his first name, a Japanese form of the word 'attack.'

"I'm a strong safety. I tell those guys all the time I'm going to back you up, and they have a lot of confidence in me doing that." That confidence was only reinforced by Bigby's stellar playoff debut. "I wasn't amazed at all," cornerback Al Harris said. "I see it all the time. He's a man. He's the real deal. Any play that he makes, we're not amazed because we see it all the time", Al Harris. "That's how he plays. He only has one speed. If you're on his team, just get out of his way."

My nomination for the Green Bay Packer Mascot...

...Packer the Bulldog.

We don't have one. We should for the NFC Championship Game Sunday.

Other teams do (24 in all) - Cleveland Browns - the Dawg Pound, Minnesota Vikings - Ragnar the Viking and Vikadontis Rex the Dinosaur, New England Patriots - Pat (not the Pat from SNL - I don't think), among them.

Found Packer via the Associated Press - from the playoff game at Lambeau against Seattle. I think he's perfect. Or she. My friend Tom's dog is Packy - one of those jumping terriers like the dog on Frasier. Packy would freeze at Lambeau though. She does like coffee grounds...maybe that would help keep herwarm. Twice she got into my luggage in 2005 and 2006 over the holidays and ripped open my Christmas Blend coffee.

UPDATE: 1/19 - According to Tom, Packy is ill. Tom thought it was nerves prior to tomorrow's game, but alas, no. Say a prayer for Packy, please.

My Saving Grace

Baby Grace, me and her good luck Packer chimp last Saturday when the Packers snow-socked it to the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20 in a blizzard at Lambeau Field during the NFC Divisional Playoffs. I've watched EVERY Packer game this season (aside from the two at home during Christmas) in Tujunga (near Pasadena) at my friends' home - Donovan and Maria. Denver fans first - then Packer faithful. Thanks guys, for making this the best Packer season for me since moving to CA. It's been a magical year - regardless what happens the rest of the way. And thank you, NFL Sunday Ticket, for letting me see the games.

Another good luck charm, unbenounced to me until the game was finished, was that my friend, Justyna, was watching the game in Chicago. Not that she doesn't like football, but she doesn't watch a ton of it. More magic.

By the way, this picture was taken toward the end of the game and I'm shit-faced. Not really - feeling good, more like it (quite capable of holding the baby on my lap, mind you). 7 shots of Patrone Tequila and a 6-pack does that to you.

Totally COOL! Favre on Today's SI Cover.

"Brett Favre led the Pack to a 42-20 icing of Seattle. Next visitor to the tundra: the Giants". This for the NFC Champion and a trip to Super Bowl 42. I borrowed that headline from Packer News but I really can't think of a better one. GO PACK!

Giuliani Refuses to Sign Packer Hat on Campaign Trail

Punta Gorda, FL — Rudy Giuliani refused to sign a potential voter’s Green Bay Packers hat after a campaign stop Monday afternoon, saying it would be “bad luck". The loyal New York Giants fan denied the request as he was signing autographs and posing for photos after a meet and greet at the Village Fish Market and Restaurant on day two of his bus tour through the Sunshine State. While Florida has become the campaign’s must-win state, Giuliani is apparently drawing a line as to how far he will go to woo voters. “I won’t sign that,” he said after campaign chairman Pat Oxford handed him the hat. “No, no, no. That would be bad luck right now."
He said he'd sign it after the game.

I agree with Rudy. If someone thrust a Giants' hat in my face I'd force myself to puke up all over it. Or worse.

Segregation - NFL Style

I wouldn't normally put this in my blog, but considering the GB win Saturday DID get us to the NFC Championship Game this Sunday...

Clint and Bronson Would Be So Proud OR "The Joys of Vigilantism"

(This news tidbit is courtesy of my friend Michael Gregory, an actor and former security guard for my favorite all-around entertainer, Dean Martin.)

A 71-year-old retired Marine who opened fire on two robbers at a Plantation, FL, Subway sub shop late Wednesday, killing one and critically wounding the other, is described as John Lovell, a former pilot for two presidents. He doesn't drink; he doesn't smoke; he works out everyday.

According to Plantation police, two masked gunmen came into the Subway just after 11 p.m. There was a lone diner -- Lovell, who was finishing his meal. After robbing the cashier, the two men attempted to shove Lovell into a bathroom and rob him as well. They got his money, but then Lovell pulled his handgun and opened fire, shooting one of the thieves in the head and chest and the other in the head. Both men were taken to Broward General Medical Center, where one, Donicio Arrindell, 22, of North Lauderdale died. The other, 21-year-old Frederick Gadson of Fort Lauderdale is in critical but stable condition. Lovell worked as a pilot for the Marines, flying former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He later worked as a pilot for Pan Am and Delta. He is not expected to be charged, authorities said.

One 71-year-old Marine against two punks (my father is 70 by the way). Two head shots and one center-body-mass shot! Good shooting!

(Florida law allows law abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon.)

Did I mention it was a helluva game?

Brett taking the snap - I told you with Spitz back in on the O-line, our protection for Favre would be a key to victory. Brett was never sacked and barely even touched.

Brits Call Favre "Blizzard Wizzard"; Cowboys LOSE to Giants, NFC Championship Reverts Back to Lambeauuuuu Field!

You gotta be kiddin' me.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Look at Favre - even he's excited (heard tell he's taking up opera in the off-season). In a switcheroo that most thought was highly unlikely, Dallas lost to the NY Giants...which means that next Sunday the New York Giants come to Lambeau in the NFC Championship! GO PACK!!

The Sun in London had this great picture of Favre takin' in the snow and enjoying his team's success during the Seattle game at Lambeau. It'll be the first NFC championship game in Green Bay since the Packers beat Carolina 30-13 on Jan. 12, 1997. Green Bay went on to win the Super Bowl that year for Favre's only title. Sunday's game is expected to be frigid, with a forecast of highs in the single digits and wind chills below zero with kickoff not until the late afternoon.

Here's a quick one minute video interview with Brett after the Pack defeated Seattle on Saturday: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9tgezAam5PY

Need I repeat what I stated in a September 26 post when the Packers had just gone 3-0 after beating the Chargers? "Favre is playing well and having a good time and most anal-ists are noticing this and agreeing. In some power rankings where we were 25, or 26 - we're now 5 or 7. I don't know - but I feel something magical is happening and my gut is usually right."

While Watching the Colts and Chargers...

...I realized QB Philip Rivers from San Diego is an asshole. WHY is he getting into yelling matches with fans? He's done this before (Denver game). This little boy needs to grow up.

With that, I'd also like to add coaches like Mike Holmgren (Seahawks). Tony Dungy (Colts) and Wade Philips (Cowboys) are class acts and it was sad to hear them speak of their playoff loses.

UPDATE: 1/14. I may have to amend the above statement. Philips, in his press conference, said he felt the best team lost that game - his Cowboys. I know he's bummed, as our all the players and organization. But I hate that comment - "the best team lost". Fine - you wanna be the "best" team and not have a chance at going to the Super Bowl...that's your choice. It's like cry baby, pussy-bitch Matt Lienart from USC saying "we're the better team" after USC lost the national title game his senior year to...whatever the team was. Sore loser is what that is and it also comes from having an overly confident, smug and cocky attitude all season long, THINKING that the title is just going to be given to you.

"Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!" - Seahawks Meet Old Man Winter AND Old Man Favre; Pack Wins 42-20; Next Stop = NFC Championship

One of the best Packer games I've witnessed. Favre said afterward, "That was awesome. I've been hoping for that for 17 years. I wanted to play where you couldn't see the field and the snowplow comes out. It just kept getting worse and worse."

That was just the snow. In a blizzard that helped to paint the quintessential Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field...the quintessential Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field, the Pack came back from a 0-14 start within the first couple minutes to snow-sock it to the Seattle Seahawks, 42-20 in the NFC Divisional Playoff game. Click here to see highlights - go to page 3 or 4 wherever you see "NFL Film highlights, Jan. 12". Of all the Packer highlights this season, you don't wanna miss the one - and the Favre flea-flicker is about half-way through - look for Can't Miss Play - Favre: http://www.packers.com/multimedia/videos/recent/

Dammit! What a game. It really was perfect. Honestly after Grant fumbled TWICE which led to Seahawks' scores, I wasn't nervous. It was too early with almost the entire 1st quarter to play.

Grant - and the rest of the team (the youngest team in the NFL) - kept their cool and he went on to rush for 201 yards and three TDs - only 7 RBs have done this in a playoff game. Other notable stats: Favre became the second quarterback to pass for more than 5,000 yards in the postseason (Montana is first). His three TD passes tied a career playoff-high (he's done it five times). The 28-point opening quarter ties the NFL record for the highest scoring first quarter in playoff history. Green Bay's 28 first-half points tied a franchise record for points in first half of a playoff game.

Above: Favre in trouble flea-flicks a pass to Donald Lee for a first down. Classic Favre.

I watched this game in Tunjunga - near Pasadena - with my friends Donovan and Maria and their 6-month old, Grace. Donovan suggested a shot of Patrone Tequila - which I don't drink. I obliged. Then suddenly we're down 0-14 inside a couple minutes into the 1st quarter. We then scored. So I suggest to Donovan we do another shot to celebrate AND do one every time the Pack scores.

Didn't know they'd score 6 times. Favre had under 200 yards and 3 TDS; Grant had 3 TDS, and Donovan and I got plowed. Never missed a beat of the game though. GO PACK!!! And congrats!

Brett having a snowball fight with Donald Driver.

Green Bay Packers 2007 Highlights

If you enjoy football - whether you like the Packers or not - this is a nice highlight reel from Green Bay's 13-3 North Division Championship season. Great soundtrack - quality's a bit off at times, but some great plays showing you Favre's receiving corp and what they're capable of in the playoffs. Sort of a mute point perhaps to share this once the season is over - that may be as soon as this Saturday.

Or not.

"The Pack IS Back! It's the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lambeauuuuuuuuuuu Field!"

...and the Seattle Seahawks are due for an old-fashioned ACME Packer ass-whoopin'!


Here come the Pack! After a franchise-tying record of 13-3, the Packers are in the hunt to return to the NFC Championship - if they do it would be the first time since 1997 (they were last in the playoffs in 2004 - first playoff game was a Wild Card match against...the Seattle Seahawks - which they won in overtime.

Big Question: Will the Bikini Girls be in attendance again? They were all over the tube when the Pack trounced Detroit in the last game of the season. It was about 20 degrees out - must've used tape. Cute, too. Always in tow is their banner that begs Brett Favre to stay another year.

For them - I would.

Oh - game time temperature = slight chance of light snow showers, high 29F and low 20F, winds light. I think Favre is 40-5, 41-5 at home when the temperature is below freezing...

Six Reasons Seattle Should Tremble...

There's probably more - but here's six to chew on.

Wisconsin's the Badger State, remember? The Badger. Fear the badger. That's Number 1. What the hell IS a seahawk anyway? Like...a tern? Some sort of egret? If it's mythical, it doesn't count. Touch my Badger. TOUCH IT!!!

Number 2: Favre. He's having one of the best years of his career. Enough said. He's like a badger - one tough sonofabitch. Touch him. TOUCH BRET FAVRE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 2: See that guy to Favre's left. That's Jason Spitz. He's playing Saturday and our entire ORIGINAL offensive line will be in tact. That means more protection for Favre to play QB - and more time to throw to...

...these guys. Number 3. Favre's Receiving Corp. Here you have Driver, Jennings and Martin. Add Jones, Donald Lee, Koren Robinson and Franks. Now you've got 7 threats to Seattle. 7 targets Brett can fling it to (8 if you count RB Ryan Grant as a potential receiver). These sonsabitches can't be touched - they led the league in YARDS AFTER CATCH - 2,131 yards (yards after the catch is an indicator of a quarterback's ability to throw quickly and with accuracy). Spread'm out 4 and 5 wide and Seattle's defense will have their fins full. And NONE of them bitches about wanting more catches. ALL of them are as gracious as can be - no Mosses, TO's, Javon Walkers or that dumb bastard at Cincinnati Shad Bonehead here, baby.

Number 4: Ryan Grant. For the first 8 games of the season we didn't have a running game per se. All the pundits cried, "you can't survive long without a running game!" The last 8 games of the season, Grant LED (did you hear me - LED) the league in yards.

Number 5: The Green Bay Packers Bikini Girls. I know - I mentioned them in the above post. But look at'm. Three sisters, from what I've gathered. Dad owns season tickets and they do this toward the end of the season (last year a cousin took the place of one of the sisters). How homegrown, Pollyanna is that? Since we're the only team in the NFL without cheerleaders (we have the local college pom pom squad), we deserve these bikini-clad babes, don't you agree?

The Bikini...oh, I covered them already. Well, one last look. That's it. I think that's "Dad" with the thumbs up.

Wisconsin Governor Doyle is a Dolt

While home over the holidays, I wrote a post chastising Wisconsin Governor Doyle for the recent cigarette tax hike (see: http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/12/wisconsin-governor-doyle-is-liar.html)

Seems the honorable gov'ner in Madison has put his foot in his mouth again - by issuing a sttetement thanking Brett Favre for returning to the Green Bay Packers next season:

"Like all Packer fans, I am thrilled that Brett Favre will return to action next year for the green and gold. Brett Favre's tremendous work ethic and willingness to go out and play hard every day represent the true spirit of Wisconsin. I am hopeful that with this announcement behind us, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers can focus on the task at hand: defeating the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and advancing to the National Football Conference Championship game. I want to thank Brett Favre on behalf of Packer fans everywhere for his commitment to the Packers, Green Bay, and all of Wisconsin."

Problem is - Brett hasn't said anything. There are "news reports" out there - one from Favre's hometown - that he's indicated he'd like to play longer, but nothing confirmed by Brett. Way to put Favre on the spot AND way to go media for a distraction we don't need before Saturday's playoff game. I HATE THE MEDIA!!!!! I WANT TO KILL THEM!

The governor's office later amended the statement to say Doyle was "excited to hear Brett Favre talking about returning to action next year."

That's better. Better yet if Doyle's publicity office kept their mouth shut until the Green Bay Packer organization confirms ANYTHING. I like what Coach McCarthy said, "I don't know anything about it, and I think it's someone just trying to distract my quarterback."

BeerKid says, "Packer Fans WATCH This Video!"

In the spirit of the upcoming NFC Divisional Playoff game between my Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks, led by former GB coach Mike Holmgren (who I love), you HAVE to watch this video. This is a great website for any Packer fan: http://packerpalace.com/rock07.html

Javon Walker is a Whiny Bitch

We got rid of this clown shoe a couple years ago because he screamed about wanting more money.

THIS after he had his first pro bowl season. The guy has one big year and suddenly he wants the sun and moon. The Packers said 'no'. The next year he came back, got hurt in the GB opener and missed most of the next season with a knee injury. Did he shut up? No. Again he bitched about wanting more money.

See ya, Walker.

Now he's recanted comments about wanting Denver to trade him - comments he made out of frustration (he says). "But when it boils down to it, I'm really unsure what's going to happen to me in Denver because the ball's in their court, and even they've said I have a big salary-cap number coming up," Walker said, according to the report. "I have bonuses coming up (he's due to earn about $7.5 million in salary and bonuses)."

Still bitching. And this asshole missed much of Denver's 2007 season due to that recurring knee injury, catching 26 passes for 287 yards and no touchdowns. Walker said the situation in Denver is not the same as troubles he had in Green Bay, where, in 2005, he was publicly criticized by quarterback Brett Favre during a training camp holdout and subsequently hurt his knee in the season opener. Good for you, Brett.

Stated Walker, "So it really boils down to what they want to do with me. If I'm a Bronco, hey, that's fine. If not, hey, that's OK, too." He's good - when he's healthy. But no one is worth this much trouble. No picture on my blog, Mr. Walker - you whore.

Hillary Clinton Crys Me A River

First of all, I don't think she got THAT emotional. However, what "tearing" up that she may have done, this - after losing one primary? My God, is THIS the person we want in the White House? ONE setback (she ended up winning the New Hampshire primary the next week) and she "falls apart"?

Now she's referring to herself (or her campaign) as "the comeback kid". It's the same catchphrase her husband used in his presidential race. Gimme a fricken break. A "comeback kid" after two primaries.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Datka

My mom's father, Myron, died when I was 5 so I really didn't know him well. Well-respected throughout the community and had a great sense of humor. He farmed - as did his father, who came through Ellis Island in the late 1890's (note to all illegal aliens) from Poland. We're German-Polish on the Datka side. Tough man - ran a tight ship. Though being a farmer and raising 9 children ain't a walk in the park. I think my Uncle Butch resembles him the most. I wish I had known him better.

Happy Birthday, Carl.

Carl Wilson's birthday was actually December 21 - I missed it while home with my family in Wisconsin over the holidays. He was the peacemaker of The Beach Boys - the group he founded with his brothers, Brian and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine.

This "voice of an angel" was the lead singer on many BB tunes, including the poignant, God Only Knows, a song Paul McCartney says brings him to tears whenever he hears it.

You are missed, Carl.

New Hampshire Primary

I don't get excited about primaries. Or caucuses. Or politics, in general. I know people do. I wish I could - I'd like to be excited. There's a little bit of me that IS interested...maybe even of holding some sort of political office. They say it's the American political process at its grassroots. It's a part of Democracy that separates the U.S. from non-democratic countries. It harkens back to our early roots - our revolutionary roots. It's what helped to make America...America.

For me, it's just an organized "tall tale" convention on a very grand scale. The candidates tell you what's wrong with the current administration and what they'll change if they're elected. Then when they get elected very little of what they promised they'd do while running gets accomplished. Would you want the winner of the U.S. Tall Tale Contest running our country?

This country has serious problems. Electing another "politician" is not the answer.

Rare January Tornadoes Rip Through Southeastern Wisconsin

I was just there for the holidays. Two sirens went off in my hometown (Waterford) but none were sighted.

A string of rare January tornadoes spawned by a freakish winter weather system tore through southeastern Wisconsin on Monday, destroying about 30 homes in Kenosha County, uprooting trees and knocking out power to thousands. More than a dozen people were injured during the tornadoes, which were accompanied by flood warnings, heavy rains and 60-degree-plus temperatures that made large puddles out of what had been piles of snow last week. There were severe thunderstorm warnings before the tornadoes came into play.

"This is crazy - in the past 14 years, this office has never had a reason to issue a severe thunderstorm warning in the month of January," read a statement posted on the Web site of the National Weather Service, which issued warnings for Rock, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties Monday morning. "Winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings - yes, but not severe thunderstorm warnings," the statement from the Sullivan office said. It got worse - tornado warnings followed.

In all, five reports of tornadoes came in to the National Weather Service - one in Walworth County, south of Pell Lake, and four in Kenosha County. The twisters appear to have struck the hardest in the Town of Wheatland in Kenosha County, where authorities reported 25 to 30 homes destroyed, about 50 to 100 people left homeless and about 100 homes damaged.

Two tornadoes on the ground were reported about three miles northwest of the Kenosha airport, and another tornado was spotted about three miles northeast of New Munster. About four miles northwest of Sturtevant in Racine County, debris was reported falling from the sky.

Another tornado was reported about two miles southeast of Pell Lake in Walworth County. The roof of a barn was blown off at county Highway Q near Twin Lakes Road. Flash flooding was reported in Milwaukee and Greendale, and a quarter-inch of hail was reported in Hales Corners.

The last time severe summerlike weather struck southern Wisconsin in winter was in February 1999, when storms produced golf-ball size hail and wind gusts of up to 70 mph. The last time a tornado touched down in Wisconsin was in January 1967; on Jan. 24, a tornado plowed a 25-mile path through Green and Rock Counties, the National Weather Service said. For the past several days, unseasonably warm temperatures and rainfall have melted almost all the 15 to 33 inches of snow that fell in December, pushing streams and rivers in southern Wisconsin near or above flood stage. On Monday, Milwaukee's temperature reached 63 degrees, smashing the old record of 47 degrees set Jan. 7, 2003. Flood warnings remained in effect Monday night for the Fox River near New Munster, where moderate flooding was expected.

This edited story was written by Jesse Garza in Milwaukee, with reports from Lee Bergquist and Scott Williams in Kenosha County and John Dobberstein in Milwaukee, all of the Journal Sentinel staff.