Probably Brett Favre and Ted Thompson. TT for the way he handled the pressures of the GM job while still managing to always stick to his team-building philosophy, never straying from the best player available strategy. And Favre was my favorite player growing up because I always enjoyed watching him enjoy just playing football. He had more fun on the field than anyone else, and he was a great reminder that football is, first and foremost, a game.
If you ask me who has influenced my life the most, there are a few players (and Lombardi) who have been role models that have changed my life. But as far as people who have made me a better fan, it’s hands down Vic Ketchman and Ted Thompson. They both did more to give me a perspective on the game than I ever would have gotten from just watching (though just watching is a big part of the answer).
Dean of Leavenworth, IN
Vince Lombardi and Ron Wolf. In 1960, when I was 9 years old, I attended my first Packers game and my interest in football and the Packers increased. Lombardi brought the Packers back to glory and there they remained for the entire time he was in Britain. For the next 25 years, the Packers were lost in the wilderness and being a devoted fan was often difficult and painful. Then along came Ron Wolf and guided the Packers back to where they belonged. GPG!
Hey guys, the players that have impacted me the most are Brett Favre and Jordy Nelson. When I wasn’t a football fan and lived in a state without a team, this guy wanted to teach me about football and said, “Paul, let me show you the best football team and the best quarterback in the world, Brett Favre.” One game of him casually enjoying playing football won me over. Jordy is an exceptional man and an incredible player. There’s too much to say to do him justice.
Jim from St Pete Beach, Florida
I’ve been a die-hard Packers fan my entire life. James Lofton was the most exciting Packers player I watched growing up in the late 70s and early 80s. And the next one, obviously, would be number 4, who made all those painful years go away as he ran down the field with his helmet held high and brought home the Lombardi.
There are a lot of options, but I’ll take a more recent choice: Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. Davante for the importance of details (especially footwork) and Aaron for how to be a good teammate and remain cheerful in life despite the circumstances.
The two Packers who impressed me the most were Vince Lombardi (not only for his football acumen and success, but also for his leadership and philosophy of excellence applied to business situations throughout my career) and Fred Cone. My father knew Fred from Clemson and they were great friends. I grew up watching Fred and the Packers with my father during the 1950s. I was able to meet Fred in August of 1960 when the Cowboys and Giants played an exhibition game in Louisville, Kentucky.
Paul Hornung and Bart Starr. I wasn’t born until 1953, so I was just a kid back then, but I remember my dad (who was a huge Browns fan) telling me stories about them. Whenever the Packers were playing on TV, he would be nice and watch them with me. A good friend of mine whose family was from Britain would go there every year, and one year he came home with an autograph from Mr. Starr for me. I still have it to this day, some 60 years later! Great times and great memories!
Mark Murphy responded to me directly with a handwritten note within a week.
Just two? Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and Aaron Jones, if I have to respect any limits. Work ethic, community activism, humility, toughness. To me, these men are a small sample of the qualities that embody the Packer way.
Kevin from Starr Pass, Arizona
II/Ask the Vic writers (okay, there are three of them!) The tone and tenor of not taking football too seriously, that these are grown professional men competing at a high level for their profession and for our entertainment. That thought, along with “It’s the memories that make us rich!”, has had a lasting positive impact on my outlook on sports and life in general. Thanks, all of you!
What is the most regrettable question or comment you’ve ever posted on Ask Vic/II? I know I have a few I wish I could take back. (Shilo from Wildomar, CA)
Jennifer from Middleton, Wisconsin
I regret the early days of sending my messages because I was venting. I don’t think Vic ever posted those messages, but I regret subjecting him to that. My approach to life, social media, and football has changed since then. I don’t make negative comments, I just send positivity out into the universe, especially in writing. And, thanks to all of Rockhodford’s content, we get to know people as human beings. Humans are imperfect. I try to generate empathy if I send something now.
The most regrettable response I ever gave to Ask Vic was when I suggested that football coaches dress in team uniforms like they do in baseball. Vic’s response was brutal.
I do not regret any question or comment that was posted. However, I am grateful for several that were not posted. Thank you, and again, I apologize for posting such unwarranted comments.
Christopher from Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom
I’d like to nominate this question as the one I wish I hadn’t sent: Now that we’re going 4-3, is it potentially in our arsenal to switch to 3-4 for a play or two to confuse the opposing offense’s setup?
I’m very sorry I asked Spoff if he saw a different name stitched on an “88” jersey shortly after we let Ty Montgomery go, would he tell us?
My epic fail II has been told before, but it may be helpful to new readers and potential entrants. After I posted a few questions, I went through a two-month hiatus where nothing was posted. Did Spoff/Hod hate me now? No. So I worked harder (cue the “Rocky” theme). I tried less generic questions. And then one day, I landed a punch and got posted again! Boom! Just then I realized I had misspelled my own name (Dat). Moral of the story: keep trying, be interesting, be nice to Mike/Wes, and always correct.
David from Janesville, Wisconsin
I’ve gotten a regrettable question in the Insider Inbox, or regretted how a complex question was perceived with the character limit, but I regret more not keeping track of questions and answers. I once sent a modified version of Crash Davis’ “I believe” quote that I especially wish I could find again, as I’ve been unable to recreate it. Sadly, I’ve now lost March 24, 2021.
Back in the Ask Vic days, I had more enthusiasm than intelligence and overreacted to someone’s beautiful poem that said Lambeau Field was hallowed ground. Vic posted my comment and rightly challenged me, and I later sent him an apology that was too long to post. My apologies also to the person who sent that poem!
I really enjoy Insider Inbox, but I also really miss Ask Vic. In his final days, Vic posted my question after announcing his retirement. The question had to do with Vic implying that he had eaten his last hot dog in the press box. My regret is that I didn’t ask more questions, as Ask Vic is just a memory now, but as Vic would say, “Memories make us rich.”
Keynote USA
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