| How can you tell if someone is a Green Bay Packers | | | | on a cushion with the proper logo. Matching hat and |
| football fan? He is the guy wearing a green and gold | | | | even gloves are available. In winter he huddles under |
| shirt with a slice of cheese perched on the top of his | | | | a blanket which of course has a big team logo on the |
| head. If he is a family man his cute little baby is | | | | back. Only his face peeks out from under that Green |
| drooling onto a Green Bay Packer's bib. He smiles at | | | | Bay Packer licensed stocking cap. |
| his four-year old daughter who has on a green and | | | | Not only in Wisconsin, but those wild Texas Cowboy |
| gold cheer leading outfit even though the Packers | | | | fans and the people screaming advice to their Denver |
| have no official cheerleaders. Everyone in the family | | | | Broncos are all clad in the proper t-shirts to show |
| is wearing NFL licensed clothing. The five best selling | | | | their loyalty. There hasn't been a heavy metal helmet |
| items in one of the pro shops are all shirts. Four of | | | | available for sale to the Minnesota Vikings fans -- yet. |
| them have Brett Favre's name on them. Reebok | | | | That will certainly give the Wisconsin cheeseheads |
| owns the licensing rights to make and sell the shirts | | | | some competition. All these products add to the fun |
| along with other products.. | | | | of cheering for a favorite NFL team. It does make |
| About a half-hour before game time the doorbell | | | | holiday shopping easier. The boys who wouldn't get |
| rings. His wife opens the door for friends wearing her | | | | excited about pajamas would be pleased to get |
| green and gold sweatshirt with Brett Favre and the | | | | pajamas with their team's logo on them. For the man |
| number four on it over jeans. They all stop in the | | | | of the house who seldom vacates his recliner during |
| kitchen for beer and snacks on their way to the | | | | the weekend an exercise warm-up suit with logo |
| family room where they turn on the game. Win or | | | | displayed front and back. Choosing gifts for children's |
| lose, most people in Wisconsin are fans of the Green | | | | teachers and family gifts young kids can afford to |
| Bay Packers. | | | | buy there are key chains for all teams, glass drinking |
| Now if you peek inside the back of the neckline of | | | | mugs filled with peanuts and showing the logo. |
| those sweatshirts etc., they had better have the | | | | Posters of favorite players to decorate their rooms |
| right tags on them. There is a hologram which | | | | and for the person impossible to buy for - a tree |
| assures you that it is a licensed product. From a short | | | | ornament featuring their team logo. But trust me |
| distance away its hard to be sure. There are | | | | when I say, the lady of the house will not be ecstatic |
| dishonest people out there on street corners peddling | | | | over a football decorated tablecloth for the dining |
| cheap knock-offs of the real thing. It is tempting to a | | | | room. |
| lot of folks to buy them since the price of "the real | | | | Meanwhile, back to the well-dressed family in |
| thing" is sky high. Imagine the amounts spent on | | | | Wisconsin. The game ends, the Monday morning |
| these licensed products. Winter jacket from $100 to | | | | quarterbacking begins. Everyone returns to the |
| about $500. We won't even contemplate the price of | | | | kitchen. After laying out green plastic forks, football |
| the leather one. Unless -- Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, | | | | plates and napkins they all enjoy the large football |
| are you reading this? Under his jacket the man wears | | | | shaped cake she purchased at the neighborhood |
| a sweatshirt, licensed also. If lucky enough to be | | | | grocery store... |
| attending the game in person, he has to park himself | | | | |