A Bears Fan in Packer Land

Judgement day.

No, it wasn’t the end of the world as that term usually explains, but as a Chicago Bears fan in Wisconsin it might as well be called that when they play the Green Bay Packers. Not only is this the NFL’s oldest rivalry but it also is a rivalry in favor of the team in the green and gold for almost two decades now.

Usually I find myself headed back to my parents’ house in Madison, Wisconsin where we hibernate like Bears until the game is over. This was the routine for many years but today was different. I was feeling optimistic about a Bears win. I decided to stay at my house in Milwaukee with my roommates and a house full of Packer fans.

That was a mistake.

Like every other NFL fan, I awoke excited for opening day. My optimistic feeling grew as I put on my navy blue, throwback Devin Hester jersey. Seeing the blue-and orange always gives me a sense of pride that I don’t really get anywhere else. That faded quickly as I walked into my living room and saw dozens of bodies with green and gold jerseys. They were wearing scowls on their faces as I was the only non-Packer fan there. The game hadn’t even started yet and I already hated the experience.

I took a seat on the couch next to my roommates and friends. I was in a Bear and Packer sandwich. The small living room was crammed with three couches full of rowdy Packer fans and a small fridge tucked in the corner stocked with cold beer. When the game started I stayed quiet in fear of anyone in the room hating me more than they already did for my outfit choice that day. When the Bears scored first, a little fist pump was made, but nothing was said. Fear of judgement and being hated was on my mind. I just wanted to make it out in one piece.

The smell of beer was strong as they were being pounded by some. The level of drunkenness grew as the game headed into the fourth quarter. That resulted in more hate towards the lone non-drunk Bear fan.

“The Bears suck!”

“Take off that ugly jersey!”

Those were the nice things said to me that day. As I tried to reason with the drunks, the game was surprisingly close. The focus in the room went from me to the game. Then the inevitable happened. The most hated Bears player and quarterback, Jay Cutler, threw an interception to a man Packer nation loves, linebacker Clay Matthews.

My stomach turned, my anger grew and into my room I went as the house erupted after the interception. Cheers and cracks of newly opened beer cans were all I could hear as my team took another loss to the team from Wisconsin. It was a familiar feeling. Maybe I should have just stayed in bed that day.