In 2008, preceding “Black Friday”, the Packers were coming off of their ugliest loss of the season, a Monday night embarrassment at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. The Packers went toe to toe with Drew Brees and company for a halftime score of 24-21. The wheels fell off completely after that as Mike McCarthy’s guys were thrashed for a 51-29 final score.

We feasted on tryptophan filled turkey on Thursday and many woke up early on said Friday to collect their fair share of bargains and deals. Grumpy, angry, on edge and snarly shoppers ventured out with an unexplained anger. I remember clearly that morning, during my workout at my gym, two women and one man were arguing about shopping and their physical encounters at the stores. They discussed how “some woman in that Packers jacket and her bratty kids shoved me out of the way” at a local electronics store to get 2 ipods.

When your team’s not winning, it has a lingering effect on your mood, your attitude, your outlook on life and those around you. Actually, that’s true. Studies have been done regarding the direct correlation of sports teams and human behavior.   My point is this, this morning I saw two out of the three mentioned above at the gym again. Remembering last year’s discussion, I asked, “Did you shop today?”  

“Yeah, I went out there again”, she answered. 

I inquired further, “How was it? Any fights this year?”

“No, it wasn’t too bad actually. I got the cloth I needed and no one was really running around all crazy. I might even get some cloth for a Packers blanket” she replied.

After another minute or two of play by play of their adventures at a fabric store and their experience at the same electronics store, she, and her friend, began to ask me about the Packers; if they were for real, do I think they’ll make the playoffs, is that Charles Woodson really that nice in person…..on and on. It donned on me, the Packers won! Our little area of the world is nicer, a little more pleasant.

As I worked out on the stair climber to increase my stamina and the weight machines to strengthen and build my muscles, I realized that training for the “Black Friday” battles wasn’t necessary. The angst I felt about preparing to have women and young children attempt to rip items from my arms, shove me aside like Cullen Jenkens furiously getting to a quarterback, to swear at me as if I were a raw Marine recruit, wasn’t necessary.

The Packers won. They beat Detroit 34-12. For not only did the Packers get a win to go to 7-4 and strengthen their grip on the Wild Card but, un-enounced to them, they performed a community service. Packers fans, in my opinion, will be a little kinder, a little more courteous, to one another today. While standing in those long lines, instead of sighing and clinching your fists because the person ahead of you waits until they actually get the total of their good to begin to write the check, talk Packers and enjoy the rest of your day.