As I look at my notes in preparation to write this, I am unsure of how to start this trip report. It was a full-blown road trip, taking several days involving numerous events and interactions with fans and players. This trip actually began several months in advance when the 2003 schedule was released. When the Packers were selected for the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, I thought it was a great opportunity to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame for I have never been there. Getting tickets, learning about the different events, finding a reasonable rate and location for the hotel room, these took much planning of which I will spare you the details.

It's going to be a long dissertation; I hope it will be worth reading. I guess the best place to start would be at the beginning:

Cows.

You're going to have to trust me, before we talk about Packers we are going to talk about cows. It all comes together in the end...

The plan for for my friend and I is to go to bed and get some sleep, awake in the wee hours and head out for Canton from my home in Milwaukee order to avoid the rush hour traffic in Chicago. My friend is Al, a resident of western Wisconsin and he arrived early evening.

Western Wisconsin is cow country where dairy cows rule and it just so happens that Al is a former dairy cow farmer and is currently employed producing cheese. It just so also happens that the State Fair is on and his daughter is showing a calf at the Fair. We head on over to State Fair Park, hang out in the cow barns for a while, and then we grab a seat in the show barn where the cattle is being judged.

To me, cows all look alike, the only importance I can see is how much milk they can produce or how they taste. I get a quick education in the attributes of what makes a good cow and how to show a cow. I learn the size of a calf is important along with how level the back of the calf is to the ground. I am also told that we like cows with wide butts. I start staring at cow butts and trying to admire them but I'm afraid I just didn't have it in me.

Al's daughter scores a red ribbon and Al is ecstatic. He pulls out his cell phone and leaves messages for his family as he gushes over the wonderful event of his daughter.

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to learn the dairy industry and to prepare calves and cows for breeding and showing. It's a passion for dairy farmers and they take it personally when their cow doesn't do well or places behind a rival farmer. I'm told that there's a dairy cow hall of fame somewhere in Madison. This is big stuff, people live and die to show cattle and strive to be the best dairy farmer that they can be.

I will never look at a cow butt the same again.

We're on the road by 4:00 AM and make good time into Canton, arriving about 1:00 PM local time. As we're checking into the motel we notice a stack of cards on the counter which had original drawings relating to the Hall of Fame and football that were drawn by school kids. We take a few for souvenirs, and are greatly impressed with how football intertwined with the local culture. These kids get exposed to football at an early age around here.

After unwinding from the drive the two of us head over to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's our strategy to tour the facility now before the weekend crowds pour into Canton.

Surprisingly, we find the Hall of Fame to be... well... seemingly small. Perhaps it's because, as Packer fans, we're spoiled by the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay. We expected bigger and better but it the Packer HOF was pretty much an equal in comparison. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to see at the Hall of Fame in Canton, but in some ways you expect more after having been through the Packers Hall of Fame.

The HOF is designed to herd you into the gift shop when you're done and we buy a few souvenirs. While we're there we discover that Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik is just hanging out in there so we get his autograph. We've been in town only a few hours and we already make a score! A number of people were asking for his autograph and he was very glad to oblige so it was great that he made himself available to the fans.

Fawcett Stadium is right next door to the HOF and there was no security around so we just walk right in and look around. They're setting everything up for the induction ceremony, putting in the stage and seating area down on the field. The stadium holds has less than 23,000 seats but I find it an impressive facility, even for being as old as it is. You go to a football game to see the game and that's what you can do here. No bad seats in the house, upper end zone seats being closer to the field than most "good" seats in modern venues. Great lines of sight wherever you sit. We actually spend quite a bit of time in the stadium, there's no hurry and it was interesting to explore. It made us look forward to being at the game Monday night.

Canton sponsors a series of events for the Hall of Fame game so we're up early to head downtown because the Hall of Fame parade starts at 7:30. We don't have a map of the area other than a block diagram from the motel and we have trouble making our way but we eventually get there with time to spare. Later we learn that the interstate and a river combine as natural barriers causing roads to twist back the way you came and roads can have three or more names depending on which township you're in. Very confusing.

The parade can only be summed up as: It was a lot of fun!

You had bands, clowns, local groups, groups from out of state, etc. They had the big helium balloons. People  would yell Spin! Spin! Spin! to the different groups. They wanted the people toting the balloons or signs or whatever to spin around in a circle. It was always good for some laughs when the crowd could entice a group to do so.

Also, of course, the five inductees for the class of 2003 were in the parade, along with over 100 inducted Hall of Famers. People in the crowd would yell out to them, thanking them for coming. If they saw you waving at them they'd wave back. Lots of good interaction.

When the parade was over we drove out to the Stark County Fairgrounds for the Ribs-Burnoff. This was barbecue heaven and we walk up and down the rows of outfits preparing various kinds of barbecue delicacies until we found one that was worthy of stopping for lunch. They all looked good but we could only eat at one.

They also had the NFL Experience here, a series of interactive events that gave one a chance to try out their football skills. It was oriented more for kids but it was entertaining just to stand and watch. There also were a number of outfits giving out free stuff. Free stuff is always good!

One of the sponsors was the Ohio Lottery so  we hung out with them for a while, hoping to win some prizes. They gave away cash and tickets to different HOF events but we only got trinkets. I got an Ohio Lottery polo shirt and Al won a HOF game pennant. A former Cleveland Brown, Al "bubba" Baker hosted this event and we get his autograph.

In the evening Al dropped me off in downtown Canton so I could attend the Enshrinee Dinner. Tickets were a little pricey so Al decided not to go but I figured it'd be worthwhile attending and I scraped up the bucks to go.

It was a high-falootin' affair, men in ties and hair slicked back and women in little black dresses and heels. There was a cocktail hour outside the Civic Center and I just kind of hung around for a while since it was early. After a while a luxury motorcoach with tinted windows pulled up along the street and I sat there watching it, thinking maybe some VIPs would get off. This caused me to kind of look up one way up the street while not seeing the other way. After a few minutes I see some "professional" autograph hounds running like the damn busted toward the end of the street I wasn't watching. Die-hard autograph hounds are easy to spot once you know their routine but seeing them made me realize there action was going on in the other direction.

Turns out HOFers were being dropped off at a side door and I was missing them going into the building. A bunch of autograph seekers were there but the HOFers weren't signing. Just as well, it would have been a problem with crowd control if they stopped. I only took photographs and just watched the fun. HOFers were walking by me close enough to touch if I wanted to and many of them were enjoying the hype. Roger Staubach gets off a bus and someone shoves a pen and paper in front of him and he signs but the escorts quickly move him on so one guy got an autograph. There were a lot of old timers that no one recognized and they were left pretty much alone as they walk from the bus to the door but some of the big names had people shouting after them. The big-namers seemed somewhat annoyed by it all, I suppose it's a constant wherever they go.

Finally, it was time for dinner.

The people who sat at my table were locals and they were here because it was a big event for their town. I was in one of the outer rooms but the enshrinees did a walk-through, everyone getting a chance to see and congratulate them up close. Though we were in an outer room they had Dick Butkis at the head table and he spoke for a short time. He was very gracious about being there but at the same time public speaking is not his claim to fame. I think he would have been more comfortable tackling one of the food servers.

Then everyone went into the main arena for the formal festivities. Various awards were given, people were recognized for their work with the Hall of Fame events, and so on. The 100-plus HOFers who were in town also walked across the stage and were recognized. The greatest of the great were here and they were all over the place.

Of course, the main attraction was the class of 2003, they being Hank Stram, Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, and James Lofton. They were formally awarded their gold jackets and the 5 gathered together on the center stage. Hank was around 80 years old and not in the best of health so being inducted while he was still alive was probably a tremendous moment for him as he was crying with joy.

When the evening ended the HOFers who were there were kind of trapped like everyone else in trying to get out through the exits, so people were able to get close to them for autographs. I got autographs from Dwight Stephenson, Tommy McDonald, and Don Shula. I could have got more autographs if I was more aggressive but some of the HOFers seemed a little intimidated by it all. I guess there's a time and place for everything so I kind of backed off. Some people brought along footballs and helmets for signing and were just a little too much.

All in all, though, it was a great evening and a great presentation.

Rain. Lots of rain. Not coming down hard but it kept coming. We slept late to catch up on our sleep and because we had time, the Induction Ceremony being the only thing on the agenda for the day. It rained for about an hour and a half into the ceremony before it quit.

The ceremony itself was essentially a lot of speeches from the inductees and their presenters. The speeches were truly interesting but they all ran over which made for a very long afternoon so we spent a lot of time wandering around the ceremony. We run into Larry McCarren, a former Packer and one of the radio announcers for the Packers so we get his autograph too.

There's lots of other fans from other teams around and we spent a lot of time interacting with them. The "Ultimate Fans" from other teams were there too, they being well known from TV commercials and/or icons in their respective stadiums. We talk with some of them and they were a lot of fun.

After the ceremony we hang out around the Hall of Fame and we run into some of the local media guys who cover the Packers back in Wisconsin. We get to talking with them and find out that the Packers would be arriving in a while to tour the Hall of Fame and we decide to wait for their bus.

There's a security guard there too and I get to talking with him. I was asking if he knew when the players would be coming and he gave me what information he could. He told me that he'd like to meet Brett Favre, he always thought a lot of him.

We end up waiting quite a while, but finally we hear the sirens from the police escort and the busses pull up to the Hall of Fame and, the players get off!

Only problem was, it was the Kansas City Chiefs. They get off, head for the Hall of Fame, and tour the facility for about an hour. When they came back out they were in a good mood, having fun, signing autographs for fans, some of them even taking pictures of us. Why not? It's a big deal for them too, they're merely on the other side of the fence. Some of the media guys score an interview or two also.

Mike Ditka came out and got on the first bus which was close enough to where they roped us off and he could sit in the bus and reach out to sign autographs. He signs for a few autographs, everyone waiting for their turn, when one of the staff comes up and informs him that he was on the wrong bus. I was about two people away from getting an autograph but that's OK, I wasn't here for autographs. It was just fun watching the goings-on.

Eventually the Packers arrive and the same routine goes on. They tour the Hall, come back out, sign autographs and get back on the bus.  We see Brett Favre and a lot of the "big name" Packers though Favre avoided the crowd. It would have been crazy if he did so it's just as well. By then it was late in the evening for all of us, both fans and Packers, and I think everyone was glad when it was time to head back to their respective hotel rooms.

Before we leave we see the security guard again. Brett Favre had had asked he was doing and talked with him briefly. It made his day. Made him feel good that a "star" like Favre would actually talk to a guy like him. They say that's the kind of guy Favre is.

At last! Game day!

Today there's an Enshrinee Luncheon and it's pretty much the same as the dinner; Al drops me off in downtown Canton so that I can attend. We'll meet up later at the game. A friend of mine was at the luncheon and I meet him, his name being Bob, and he came out from Wisconsin with his buddy Dave. They drove in Sunday night.

Forrest Gregg was at the head table today and he gave a short speech, pretty much thanking everyone for being there.

Realizing that this was probably a lot like the dinner, I walk out to the main room and see that the enshrinees were eating lunch together in the one corner where people could get up close. I walk around the concourse and find a group of Packer fans sitting right there behind the enshrinees. Hank Stram was not there, probably because of his health.

Thinking this was a prime location to watch the "Rountable," I walk back around to go get Bob and Dave. However, they were already herding everyone from the outer rooms into the maim room so there was no way I was going to be able to dive into the crowd and get back out let alone finding anyone. I head back to my private little corner.

When I get back some of the staff are telling the Packer fans there that they couldn't sit right behind the enshrinees and they'd have to move one section over. They started making a ruckus about having to move because someone told them they could sit there. Well, someone overruled the decision, deal with it. Since I couldn't sit up close and personal I decided to go back around and find Bob and Dave.

Walking through the concourse one more time was enough for the staff to become suspicious of me. They tell me I wasn't supposed to be there and that I would have to leave. What!? I'm getting kicked out?! No way! I quickly say that we were allowed to sit in the one section where I just left from so I skedaddle back there quick before I'm physically shown to the exit. However, I'm no where near Bob and Dave and they're my ride to the stadium.

I go up to one of the staff people in the seating area, explain my situation, and he kindly escorts me back around to where I'm supposed to be. I find Bob and Dave and everything is OK.

A few speeches are given, a few people are introduced, but the main event is an emcee asking the enshrinees various questions.

At the end, they were asked what it took to be here today. It may be cliche', but the answers were along the line of being dedicated, disciplined, passionate, working hard to be the best, etc. Success does have its common elements.

Al and I had a pretty good read on the landscape after being here for a few days so I was able to guide Bob and Dave out to the stadium after the luncheon and show them where to park. I tour the Hall of Fame again with my two friends. Tony Dorsett was in one of the offices and an old-timer Kansas City Chief was wandering around the displays, some Chiefs fans recognizing him and asking for his autograph. He was more than happy to give out autographs.

Al eventually joins up with us and the four of us tailgate. Traffic is bad but we're all set. We talk, we eat, we do what Packer fans do naturally. It rained for a while earlier but it's turning into a beautiful day, a perfect evening for Packer football.

It's time.

In the stadium we meet up with Bruce, a Packer fan who lives in the Canton area and the guy who had set me and Al up with tickets. (Thanks, Bruce!) The weather is great, the crowd is great, the evening is great, but the Packers... well... they weren't so great. The Chiefs were running them up and down the field but thanks to them being in pre-season form could only muster a 6-0 lead going into halftime. Just before haltime a Chiefs player goes down, one of those ugly injuries where the player just lies there, not moving. Seeing this is going to take a while, I leave my seat and tour around the stadium in order to take some pictures of the crowd.

I find Bob and Dave again and we talk for a while. Eventually I move on again, taking pictures. I'm out from under the concourse and I start feeling a few raindrops. The game was into the third quarter now so I figured it was time to get back to my seat but by then rain was beginning to come down in a downpour. People started moving out of the stands and when I got to the entrance of my section there was no way I was going to plow through the mob coming into the concourse. I sit tight and wait for Al to come out, which wasn't too long. By then it was raining like the dam broke and lightning pounding the ground not too far off.

No surprise then that they called off the game. Suddenly, it was time to go home.

It was a weekend of Hall of Famers. Canton, the birthplace of modern football. Green Bay Packers. Greatness and history, all intertwined together.

Greatness.

What it takes to achieve greatness, the lessons were all around us. Dedication, hard work, passion for what you do. That's how the weekend started, people with a passion for dairy farming and striving for their own greatness in what they love to do. It doesn't have to be football to want to be the best, yet it's football that helps us to remember what it takes to be great.