When in Rome…

My family and I attended one of the recent Brewer-Twins games held last week at Miller Park. The game was excellent and the atmosphere was fun…there were many Twins fans in attendance which kept audience participation at a high level throughout. The banter between Brewer and Twins fan was jovial… the teams are regional rivals but because one resides in the American League and one in the National League the games lack heated emotion. There were many Twins jerseys in the stands (lots of Mauer, Morneau, and even one Bombo Rivera) seated next to fans with Fielder, Braun, and Jeffrey Hammonds jerseys. Peace on earth….at one point I found myself humming “Ebony and Ivory”.

These same fans, one group wearing Peterson, Williams and Favre jerseys and one group wearing Rodgers, Jennings, and Favre jerseys, will likely not be as jovial with each other in a few months. When the two NFC North titans collide there will be lots of emotion, fire, and brimstone. Same fans…much different scenario.

I have zero interest in attending this season’s Packer-Viking games. The atmosphere will not be family friendly, the cost of concessions for a three-hour NFL game is exorbitant, and the bathroom lines are much longer than I find at my own abode. For those attending the games in the opponent’s stadium I offer one piece of advice…leave the jerseys at home. Cheer for your squad intrinsically rather than extrinsically. Smile to others, be courteous, be responsible, and follow the “golden rule”. Not everyone finds profanity funny or cool, so please refrain. When in Rome, act as the Romans (or Minneapolisonians or Green Bayites) do. As the Brewer and Twins fans capably showed last week, it is just a game. Behave and enjoy.