American football: Proud Packers fans still warming to their cold weather heroes
As they grow up they take their first steps wearing little Green Bay football uniforms or cheerleading outfits and they eat breakfast each morning from their Packer cereal bowl.
When they die, some will be buried in their Packers replica jerseys but the chances are one thing this generation of Packers fans will never have is a season ticket to watch the team they worship.
As 2004 began, the waiting list for season tickets offering the pleasure of sitting on Lambeau Field's aluminium benches in biting sub-Arctic temperatures stood at 62,000 names. When children are born, parents add their names to the list knowing it might a grandchild who finally holds the treasured pass to the Packers' kingdom.
"People come in and sign up newborns knowing they will never have a chance at tickets but their children might," said Mark Wagner, the Packers' director of ticketing.
The team's popularity extends well beyond the Wisconsin borders with season ticket holders in 47 of 50 American states.
Like Manchester United, baseball's New York Yankees and ice hockey's Toronto Maple Leafs, the Packers have a huge appeal and a fanatical following across the globe.
Despite the smallest sports television market in the United States, the Green Bay franchise and their fans survive in the harshest of climates and economic conditions.
In fact, the Packers, the only publicly owned franchise in the NFL, have not only survived but have flourished, claiming a league record 12 championships, including the first two Super Bowls.
A publicly owned non-profit organisation, the Packers have 111,507 shareholders, with no one person allowed to hold more than 200,000 shares. Attending a Packers game in the January chill is not for the faint of heart yet since 1960 this city with a population of 102,726 has sold out every home game at Lambeau Field.
Until the 1995 season, the Packers also played some home games each season in Milwaukee but Lambeau Field has been refurbished and can now hold up to 72,515 fans.
Founded in 1921, the Packers have no claim to be the birthplace of football, yet 1265 Lombardi Avenue remains the game's spiritual home.
Guarding the entrance to Lambeau Field are bronze statues honouring two NFL and Packer giants, team co-founder Curly Lambeau and coach Vince Lombardi, who coined the phrase "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
Inside the cavernous stadium the names of Packer greats such as Bart Starr, Paul Hornung and Ray Nitschke are stamped in gold around the arena.
Even though the dramatic overtime victory over Seattle in last weekend's wildcard play-off was the last game that will be played in Green Bay this season, the Packers still have a chance of adding to their 12 NFL titles
They travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles tomorrow in the NFL divisional play-offs and are just two victories away from another trip to the Super Bowl.
In other games, New England, Kansas City and St Louis enter the play-offs this weekend with home advantage after fine regular seasons.
Riding a 12-game winning streak, the well-rested Patriots will host Tennessee in one AFC clash today. Tomorrow the Chiefs will take on the NFL's best travellers, Indianapolis, at Arrowhead Stadium. In the NFC, the Rams welcome Carolina today.
*TV Schedule for weekend NFL play-offs:
Today: Carolina at St. Louis (NFC) and Tennessee at New England (AFC) - Sky Sports 3, 9.40 p.m.
Tomorrow: Indianapolis at Kansas City (AFC) and Green Bay at Philadelphia (NFC) - SSExtra from 9.30 pm.
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