How Reggie White Made Green Bay Cool

[warriorchick]

Interesting article.  When I was with a Big Eight CPA firm back in the '80s, I worked at a client in Green Bay and my supervisor was an African American woman in her late twenties who had worked as a fashion model in her college years.  We would go out to lunch, and people would stop her on the street to ask her which Packer she was married to.

https://www.si.com/2016/12/06/nfl-reggie-white-green-bay-black-players-free-agency-history

[Uncle Rico]

Interesting article.  When I was with a Big Eight CPA firm back in the '80s, I worked at a client in Green Bay and my supervisor was an African American woman in her late twenties who had worked as a fashion model in her college years.  We would go out to lunch, and people would stop her on the street to ask her which Packer she was married to.

https://www.si.com/2016/12/06/nfl-reggie-white-green-bay-black-players-free-agency-history

An SI article from 1987 to show just what Green Bay and the Packers were a mere 6 years before Reggie came to Green Bay.  The transformation under Bob Harlan/Ron Wolf/Mike Holmgren is to this day, as remarkable as any in professional sports

https://www.si.com/vault/1987/05/25/106777802/troubled-times-in-title-town

[Cheeks]

An SI article from 1987 to show just what Green Bay and the Packers were a mere 6 years before Reggie came to Green Bay.  The transformation under Bob Harlan/Ron Wolf/Mike Holmgren is to this day, as remarkable as any in professional sports

https://www.si.com/vault/1987/05/25/106777802/troubled-times-in-title-town

And NONE of it possible without the salary cap....it gave places like Green Bay, Buffalo, etc a fighter's chance.  Equal distribution of $$$$ for sports is key to long term health because the talent pool is so small.  Great irony, eh Rico.   

[Uncle Rico]

And NONE of it possible without the salary cap....it gave places like Green Bay, Buffalo, etc a fighter's chance.  Equal distribution of $$$$ for sports is key to long term health because the talent pool is so small.  Great irony, eh Rico.   

The players union in the NFL is a disgrace

[Cheeks]

The players union in the NFL is a disgrace

Everyone has benefited.  The players have never made so much money including the percentages of the pie, the value of the franchises for owners has increased.  I find it great that a place like Green Bay can thrive in the NFL, same for Buffalo, New Orleans, and others.  Wonderful for fans, men and women that work for those franchises and the people who have their lives in those communities ti d to those economics.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

And NONE of it possible without the salary cap....it gave places like Green Bay, Buffalo, etc a fighter's chance.  Equal distribution of $$$$ for sports is key to long term health because the talent pool is so small.  Great irony, eh Rico.   

The salary cap began after Reggie signed with the Packers. In fact it would have been difficult for the Packers to sign him under current rules due to the size of his contract.

This is more about revenue sharing than it is salary cap.

[Cheeks]

The salary cap began after Reggie signed with the Packers. In fact it would have been difficult for the Packers to sign him under current rules due to the size of his contract.

This is more about revenue sharing than it is salary cap.

Let me try this way.  Getting Reggie was one thing, but maintaining competitive beyond long term for all teams (it is a parity league by and large) is a function of the salary cap.  Long term viability for teams across the board.  GB had smart leadership, and now teams need smart leadership to thrive rather than simply a big wallet....the wallet is the same for all.

Reggie was in the middle of all of it in 1993 because the 49ers, the highest spending team who had won 4 Super Bowls couldn't just by their championships any more.  The Niners wanted White, but the coming Cap made it difficult...they opted to it resign Holt to get into the bidding for White.  The salary cap now meant teams couldn't just buy anyone they wanted.  Free agency was huge, but had to have a salary cap for it not to make the rich richer....that's what it did.

"What was beautiful about that was everybody was fearful of free agency, fearful that all the best teams would stockpile all the greatest players and they'd all go to one place," Horrigan said. "Well, the salary cap that came with free agency prevented that, No. 1. But then Reggie to Green Bay kind of suggested that the system was good for all."

[warriorchick]

An SI article from 1987 to show just what Green Bay and the Packers were a mere 6 years before Reggie came to Green Bay.  The transformation under Bob Harlan/Ron Wolf/Mike Holmgren is to this day, as remarkable as any in professional sports

https://www.si.com/vault/1987/05/25/106777802/troubled-times-in-title-town

From the article:

Actually, the answer to Green Bay's dilemma is simple. It should sell the franchise to Milwaukee for $60 million or whatever, and then take that money and pour it all into the athletic department at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. With that kind of financing, UWGB could bring in recruits from everywhere to play on Lambeau Field, plus build a 20,000-seat basketball arena. So, in one fell swoop, Green Bay could trade a lousy football franchise for a first-class basketball and football program.

[Billy Hoyle]

Interesting article.  When I was with a Big Eight CPA firm back in the '80s, I worked at a client in Green Bay and my supervisor was an African American woman in her late twenties who had worked as a fashion model in her college years.  We would go out to lunch, and people would stop her on the street to ask her which Packer she was married to.

https://www.si.com/2016/12/06/nfl-reggie-white-green-bay-black-players-free-agency-history

nearly any athletic-looking African-American male can sit at a bar in Green Bay and have drinks bought for them all night because fans just assume he plays for the Packers.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

From the article:

Actually, the answer to Green Bay's dilemma is simple. It should sell the franchise to Milwaukee for $60 million or whatever, and then take that money and pour it all into the athletic department at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. With that kind of financing, UWGB could bring in recruits from everywhere to play on Lambeau Field, plus build a 20,000-seat basketball arena. So, in one fell swoop, Green Bay could trade a lousy football franchise for a first-class basketball and football program.

Ironically, less than a decade after this article was written, the Packers abandoned Milwaukee.  (Which was a really smart move BTW)

[JWags85]

nearly any athletic-looking African-American male can sit at a bar in Green Bay and have drinks bought for them all night because fans just assume he plays for the Packers.

It's gotta be such an odd scenario for a young professional athlete. My best friend (an avid Packers fan) and I have long contented it's gotta be one of the toughest off the field cities for a professional athlete. Top 3 contention with Buffalo, Winnipeg, and OKC. Size, weather, lack of dining/entertainment, etc... GB has its charms I'm sure, and it's likely a great community for an older player with a family, but younger talent, sheesh. But oddly perfect for a guy like Favre.

Conversely, as mentioned, the Packers in Milwaukee would have never worked as well IMO

[WarriorDad]

It's gotta be such an odd scenario for a young professional athlete. My best friend (an avid Packers fan) and I have long contented it's gotta be one of the toughest off the field cities for a professional athlete. Top 3 contention with Buffalo, Winnipeg, and OKC. Size, weather, lack of dining/entertainment, etc... GB has its charms I'm sure, and it's likely a great community for an older player with a family, but younger talent, sheesh. But oddly perfect for a guy like Favre.

Conversely, as mentioned, the Packers in Milwaukee would have never worked as well IMO

It would depend on the sport.

Buffalo's African American population is similar to the US average.  Green Bay is considerably lower than the avg.  That could cause some anxiety.

In hockey with so many Canadians in the league would they object to Winnipeg any more than Edmonton?

OKC feels like a fish out of water.  SLC, too, but both have strong support.  Does Malone live in SLC post career? 

[jsglow]

It's gotta be such an odd scenario for a young professional athlete. My best friend (an avid Packers fan) and I have long contented it's gotta be one of the toughest off the field cities for a professional athlete. Top 3 contention with Buffalo, Winnipeg, and OKC. Size, weather, lack of dining/entertainment, etc... GB has its charms I'm sure, and it's likely a great community for an older player with a family, but younger talent, sheesh. But oddly perfect for a guy like Favre.

Conversely, as mentioned, the Packers in Milwaukee would have never worked as well IMO

For some guys JWags.  For others it's an extension of their own college town experience.  If someone wants 'bright lights, big city', no.  If someone's entire life is football, it's absolutely perfect.  There is no other language up there.  Okay, maybe huntin' and fishin' when it's not Packers season.  Paradise.

[JWags85]

It would depend on the sport.

Buffalo's African American population is similar to the US average.  Green Bay is considerably lower than the avg.  That could cause some anxiety.

In hockey with so many Canadians in the league would they object to Winnipeg any more than Edmonton?

OKC feels like a fish out of water.  SLC, too, but both have strong support.  Does Malone live in SLC post career?

I can just recall a lot of players mentioning they didn't love their time in Buffalo or road trips there.  Same with Winnipeg. Spitting Chiclets is a great NHL podcasts and multiple players, who are Canadian, mentioned not caring for it. It's a good bit smaller and more remote/less cosmopolitan than Edmonton.

SLC seems like it would fit too, but players always seem to speak fondly of the city and the area.

For some guys JWags.  For others it's an extension of their own college town experience.  If someone wants 'bright lights, big city', no.  If someone's entire life is football, it's absolutely perfect.  There is no other language up there.  Okay, maybe huntin' and fishin' when it's not Packers season.  Paradise.

Except you're no longer around your classmates/peers, college bars, and now you have money to burn. Your former teammates and buddies in the league are all over, you're getting a taste when you're on road trips or in the off-season. Thank god for salary cap parity cause otherwise I imagine it's a tricky sell.

[Pakuni]

False premise.
Green Bay is not cool.

[rocket surgeon]

nearly any athletic-looking African-American male can sit at a bar in Green Bay and have drinks bought for them all night because fans just assume he plays for the Packers.

That sounds awfully privileged to me, but most Green Bay people know their packers like their own children.

[real chili 83]

Interesting article.  When I was with a Big Eight CPA firm back in the '80s, I worked at a client in Green Bay and my supervisor was an African American woman in her late twenties who had worked as a fashion model in her college years.  We would go out to lunch, and people would stop her on the street to ask her which Packer she was married to.

https://www.si.com/2016/12/06/nfl-reggie-white-green-bay-black-players-free-agency-history

Pics?

[warriorchick]

Pics?

Why would I have pictures of someone I worked with for a few weeks in 1986?

[real chili 83]

Why would I have pictures of someone I worked with for a few weeks in 1986?

To prove you were in Green Bay.

[jsglow]

Except you're no longer around your classmates/peers, college bars, and now you have money to burn. Your former teammates and buddies in the league are all over, you're getting a taste when you're on road trips or in the off-season. Thank god for salary cap parity cause otherwise I imagine it's a tricky sell.

Disagree vehemently. Playing for the Packers is like a whole new collegiate fraternity for many.  Everywhere else it's a job.  In Green Bay it's a way of life.  Admittedly, it's not for all.  But it's perfect for some.

[Pakuni]

Disagree vehemently. Playing for the Packers is like a whole new collegiate fraternity for many.  Everywhere else it's a job.  In Green Bay it's a way of life.  Admittedly, it's not for all.  But it's perfect for some.

This sounds precariously close to "Patriots Way" nonsense 

[🏀]

This sounds precariously close to "Patriots Way" nonsense 

Yep, it's gross non-sense that makes me cringe.

[dgies9156]

The salary cap began after Reggie signed with the Packers. In fact it would have been difficult for the Packers to sign him under current rules due to the size of his contract.

This is more about revenue sharing than it is salary cap.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

The genius of the NFL was a collective negotiation of television rights. Unlike baseball, the NFL negotiates its most valuable rights -- television -- collectively. It was the genius of Pete Rozelle that made this possible and ensured the NFL would prosper in Green Bay, Buffalo, Kansas City and other smaller markets.

Rozelle waited until all the local contracts expired and then in about 1962 negotiated a common contract for the entire league. The revenue was split equally, whether you were in Green Bay or New York City. With the baseball model, the power of the NFL would have been concentrated in New York, Chicago and Dallas. Green Bay would have had to move to Milwaukee quickly and even then it would have been questionable whether the Packers would have survived the 1970s.

It took baseball more than 30 years to figure this out -- and they still don't do what the NFL does.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yep, it's gross non-sense that makes me cringe.

Wisconsin Provincialism at its normal.

[Jockey]

Disagree vehemently. Playing for the Packers is like a whole new collegiate fraternity for many.  Everywhere else it's a job.  In Green Bay it's a way of life.  Admittedly, it's not for all.  But it's perfect for some.

Sounds like some bears fans are butt hurt by your comments.

As usual, your sports commentary is spot on.