Things I May Regret: I HOPE Aaron Rodgers Does Play This Sunday
- bearclawupdates
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
My friend Mr. Griffin asked me recently what my beef was with Aaron Rodgers. This was a fair question. Although I "grew up" a Bears fan, I didn't really watch them. I would sporadically keep tabs on the games through ESPN while I was orchestra rehearsal - you have a lot of time on your hands being a percussionist in an orchestra (try counting 100 measures of rest just to have the conductor re-start before you get to do anything). I have been honest on this blog about how my love for football did not come to fruition until I was at Alabama. Even then, the extent of my Bears fandom was wearing a Jay Cutler practice jersey on campus and getting chirped here and there as a "lost Auburn fan". Love that the Weagles and the Bears share the same colors...
The response to his question was that I was aware of his dominance against the Bears back then, and I had the misfortune of truly experiencing Aaron Rodgers after 2018 when I became a lot more serious about the Bears. Sure, I may not have been there for all the years, but it doesn't take long to figure out that the man is a terrorist. I sat at Soldier Field in awe and disbelief of Rodgers as I watched him yell that he "owned" us. He wasn't wrong.
Sports are defined by rivalries. We all love the regular season, but the passion and pageantry unveils itself during rivalries. The fact that grown Philadelphians and Dallas-ites can't stand each other despite being in different time zones is hilarious and beautiful. Seeing Walmart Wolverines get into verbal altercations with Ohio State frat bros is fun. Hell, I cannot stand Auburn for no other reason that "because". These games bring out the best in each team and give us something to care about and get excited about after a long week at work. Should it consume us? Probably not, but it makes us feel alive. Nothing brings people together more than shared bond of hatred.
To be fair I don't hate Aaron Rodgers, I hate the idea of him. That one football player could be so good that he goes 25-5 against his rival. I also respect it. Before Aaron Rodgers the Bears held the all-time record against the Packers, now its flipped - entirely because of Aaron Rodgers (and a lot of Bears incompetence but that's another article...). I can respect what he means to the village of green bay and what he's brought to this rivalry. When I was at Alabama the Tennessee rivalry meant pretty much nothing. We had beaten them into a pulp year after year after year. Lately, its been a fun game to watch. Of course I never want to see the Crimson Tide lose, but knowing that "something" is on the line for the game? I lean in a little closer to the TV. While I don't like Aaron Rodgers and I don't like the Packers I appreciate the rivalry. I hope he does play this weekend for the Steelers. Knowing that an old man with a fractured wrist is fired up to possibly beat his long-time rival one more time is what sports are about.
That being said, I hope we break his collarbone one more time.
Aaron Rodgers 2013 Fractured Collarbone v Bears
Aaron Rodgers I own you
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