Sense on Cents

Growing up as  a young boy in Boston, I loved sports of all kinds. Regrettably, our local professional football team, the then Boston Patriots, were a perennial league doormat in the American Football League.

What team did I love? The Green Bay Packers. Led by Vince Lombardi, the Packers played on the frozen tundra otherwise known as Lambeau Field. The memories of the 1967 NFL Championship game, known as the Ice Bowl due to bone chilling negative temperatures, between my Packers and the hated Dallas Cowboys remain etched in my memory.

The Packers won the game 21-17 on a quarterback sneak by my hero Bart Starr with only seconds left in the game. This game was filled with so many legends, including Cowboys coach Tom Landry, quarterback Don Meredith, defensive tackle Jethro Pugh, middle linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, running back Dan Reeves and so many more. My Packers had Starr, middle linebacker Ray Nitschke, guard Jerry Kramer, receiver Boyd Dowler, running back Donny Anderson, safety Willie Wood, and so many more. I loved these guys and loved that game.

On the bench that day as a backup fullback for the Cowboys was Walt Garrison. I have no recollection of Garrison playing during that Ice Bowl, but he went on to a stellar career. When I think back to Walt Garrison, I think of one thing: he was one tough SOB. After his football days, Garrison was a popular figure on the rodeo circuit and became a spokesperson for Skoal chewing tobacco.

I will readily admit for the last thirty plus years, I have given little thought to Walt Garrison…until today. (more…)