Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers: The NFL’s most important rivalry
By Daniel
Dec 29, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) is comforted by Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams (38) after the game at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Cultural Differences, Mutual Respect, and Saving Each Other
This is a true border war.
The two states of Wisconsin and Illinois are similar in a lot of ways. They share a lengthy border, they’re both Great Lake States, they’re both quintessential Midwest in geography and customs. But the two cities that these rivals call home could not be more different — despite being only 220 miles apart. Chicago is a metropolis nearing 10 million people that is teeming with excitement and opportunity; it truly is a world-class city. Green Bay’s population is just over 104,000 people, it’s citizens move a little slower, breathe a little easier. This collision of cultures has resulted in an added wrinkle into this rivalry. It’s essentially a country folk vs city people mentality. This rivalry is representative of the NFL’s origins. In the early days of the NFL there were numerous teams in small towns as well as teams in the big cities. In today’s NFL Green Bay is the only small market to remain and Chicago happens to be the third-largest market in the country.
Sep 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers fans wearing cheese heads and tops during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Even the term “cheesehead”, which Packers fans endearingly call themselves, comes from Chicago. Residents of Chicago would often refer to people from Wisconsin as “cheeseheads” as a slight. This even occurred quite regularly at Cubs/Brewers games. In 1987 a Packers fan had an idea in response to the insult. “But I liked cheese and I figured what’s the big deal? So I cut out a piece of the cushion of the couch, burnt some holes in it and painted it to look like a big slice of cheddar cheese” Ralph Bruno said. He then started a grassroots campaign to produce and sell cheeseheads, and now they’re a common sight at Packers games. Green Bay would like to thank Chicago for one of its most popular traditions.
Chicago native, actor, and longtime supporter of “Da Bears” George Wendt, known best for his role of Norm on Cheers, claims that Chicago has better cheese, brats, and beer than Wisconsin. You can guess that this doesn’t sit well with most Green Bay Supporters. But it goes to show the intense rivalry these two fan bases carry throughout their everyday lives — not just on game day.
Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fans dressed as Mike Ditka (not pictured) during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
This clash of cultures and the hatred on the field doesn’t mean that these teams don’t respect each other. It’s very obvious that they do. In 1932 the Packers accepted a $2,500 IOU from the Bears who didn’t have enough money to remain an organization, thus keeping them afloat. If the Packers hadn’t saved them during the Great Depression the Bears wouldn’t exist anymore. But this amazing phenomenon went both ways. In 1956 George Halas showed up in Green Bay unannounced to help fundraise for the Packers when Green Bay was facing relocation to a new city due to lack of funds for a new stadium. The Bears’ patriarch didn’t want to see his hated rivals disappear so he pleaded with Green Bay citizens to vote for a new stadium. They did and bonds were sold to help fund what is now known as Lambeau field. These two franchises are intrinsically linked, as they hate, respect, and have both helped save each other.
It’s almost as if neither team wants to win in the NFL if they can’t defeat the other. The magnitude and interesting nature of this rivalry cannot be understated. Not to mention, these two teams boast two of the biggest, and most loyal, fan bases in the entire NFL. No other rivalry has two fan bases of this scale. When it comes to tailgating all other NFL fan bases could learn a thing or two from these guys.