Inbox: The results show it

Which two individuals (player, coach, or GM) made the most impact on you as a fan and why? (Erwin from Albany, GA)

Kevin from Louisville, KY

It begins with Bart Starr, mostly because of who he was as a person and a leader. I became a Packers fan at age 9, the same year Bart was named Packers head coach. He helped shape my fandom. My second would perhaps be Charles Woodson, simply for his relentlessness and desire to win at all costs.

Glen from Henrietta, NY

For me, the first most impactful person was Vince Lombardi. His glory days were before I was born, but as a young child, I came across a book that got me hooked on Vince. I then read more and easily chose the Packers as my team to follow. The '70s were sort of bleak and the 1980s had some excitement with Lynn Dickey, James Lofton, and John Jefferson. Then in the '90s this other impactful person arrives – Brett Favre. His passion and desire helped return the Packers to glory and the rest is history.

Steve from Greenfield, WI

Bart Starr and Ted Thompson. I met Bart in the MKE airport in 2010. Anybody who has met him has probably been impacted in a positive way. I will never forget having met him. He is the standard by which all Packers will be forever measured. Ted always took time to meet with the shareholders after the meeting even though it was a busy time for him. He engaged with everyone and stayed until he met with everyone in line. With Ted, it was always about what was best for the Packers.

Mike from Granite City, IL

Matt LaFleur – because of how he manages the team. He never seems flustered and seems to understand his players. The results show it. If there was an award for "Most Outstanding NFL Person," from what I know, he would be my choice.

Dominic from Chesapeake, VA

The two Packers that made the most impact on me as a fan were Bart Starr and Aaron Rodgers. When I was 10 years old (1968), I wrote a letter to Mr. Starr, and he replied and added an autographed picture of himself. It was just so exciting at the time, and it forever endeared me to him and the Packers. In 2010, I saw my first live Packers game in Lambeau against the Vikings. The experience of watching that game transformed me as a Packer and Rodgers fan to where I have followed the Pack daily since.

Wayne from Lake Hallie, WI

John Brockington. My earliest memory of the Packers was when I went home with one of my friends after church. I watched John Brockington run the ball over and over during that game and became a fan for life. The other is Brett Favre. I started rooting for the Packers in the early-mid 1970s and they were mostly really bad teams. Everything changed when Favre came along and brought winning back to Green Bay.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

Reggie White and Brett Favre had the biggest impact on me of any Packers players thus far. I was a kid back then, living in Chiefs country, and trying to pick my favorite team. The way those two played the game really sealed the deal for me as far as what team I was going to follow and root for throughout my life. Seemed like players back then were more business-like while, in my opinion, Favre and White both seemed to truly love the game.

Dave from Lake Zurich, IL

The two players with the greatest impact for me are Bart Starr and Aaron Rodgers. Bart, for his skill, leadership, and abundant decency and Aaron because he's the most physically talented quarterback I've ever seen play. No one else can make the throws he's made.

Stephie Rae from Flowery Branch, GA

My dad went to Packers practice in Stevens Point and sat on the bench next to the watercooler to get to know the players. He became good friends with left tackle Bob Skoronski, who protected Bart Starr's blind side. When introduced to Skoronski as a little girl in the Lambeau Field parking lot, he stood next to my dad and even though they were both 6-foot-3, it seemed like I just kept looking up and up and up to the sky to see his kind face. The other would be Aaron Rodgers.

Bob from Rome, NY

Two individuals with impact on me: Reggie White's faith and Bart Starr as a coach and still returning to Green Bay after being fired.

Clay from Avondale, AZ

I don't know who my most impactful individual was, there are so many. I would like to highlight Don Majkowski and Lindy Infante. Between losing seasons and players getting in trouble with the law, this 10-year-old boy was finding it hard to love the team he wanted to love. Thank you!

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

It isn't just brown-nosing: Spoff and Wes! I've been a Packer fan since the Don Majkowski days and a reader since this was Ask Vic. I've loved players more (Jordy Nelson) but no one has taught me more about the game and the league or made me a better fan than the two of you!

Adrian from Chula Vista, CA

Vince Lombardi and Aaron Jones. Lombardi for changing Green Bay's culture both on and off the field. On the field, by turning the Packers into perennial champions, and off the field, by demanding all of his players (black and white) be treated equally within the community. Jones for his instant injection of intensity when he stepped on the tundra and for his laid-back respectful personality. I also loved his military ties. GPG!

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

Individuals in the Packers organization: Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. Both men believed in their process and stuck to it regardless of what anyone on the outside thought or said.

Terry from Elroy, WI

The two individuals (player and GM) who made the most impact on me as a fan would need to be Ron Wolf and Brett Favre (with apologies to Bob Harlan, who was not eligible to be named in the answer, and Mike Holmgren) because they were the architect and field general who resurrected the Packers and led them to the first Super Bowl win during my conscious memory.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Honestly, Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst have both hugely impacted me as a fan. They both placed/place the team first in their handling of our players, having to make impossibly hard decisions at times for the good of the whole. All the while, the media and fans constantly second-guess every choice they make. Their professionalism and conviction were/are astounding.

Joshua from Houston, TX

Player one is easily Reggie White. He excelled at his position, put in maximum effort each play, and was still one of the greatest human beings and Christ followers to play the game. Two would be Clay Matthews. He brought a different attitude to the team and excelled even in his rookie year. His ascension also seems to coincide with the team's ascension post-Brett Favre.

Andy from Lancaster, PA

Probably Brett Favre and Ted Thompson. TT because of how he handled the pressures of the GM job while managing to always stick to his team-building philosophy; never breaking from the best-available-player strategy. And Favre was my favorite player growing up because I always enjoyed watching him enjoy simply playing football. He had more fun on the field than anyone else, and it was a great reminder that football is, first and foremost, a game.

Ted from Amherst, NY

If you asked me who most affected my life, there are a few players (and Lombardi) who have been role models who changed my life. But as far as people who have made me a better fan, they are without hesitation Vic Ketchman and Ted Thompson. The two of them did more to give me perspective on the game than I would ever have gotten from just watching (even though just watching is a big part of the answer).

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Vince Lombardi and Ron Wolf. In 1960, as a 9-year-old, I attended my first Packer game and my interest in football and the Packers soared. Lombardi brought the Packers back to glory and they stayed there throughout his time in GB. The next 25 years the Packers were lost in the wilderness and being a devout fan often was often difficult and painful. Then Ron Wolf arrived and guided the Packers back to their rightful place. GPG!

Paul from Ellensburg, WA

Hey fellas, the players who have made the greatest impact on me are Brett Favre and Jordy Nelson. When I was a non-football fan from a state without a team this guy wanted to teach me about football and said, "Paul, let me show you the greatest team in football and the greatest quarterback in the world Brett Favre." One game of his lighthearted enjoyment of playing football won me for life. Jordy is just an exceptional man combined with an amazing player. There's too much to say to do him justice.

Jim from St Pete Beach, FL

I've been a diehard Packer fan my whole life. James Lofton was the most exciting Packer to watch during my childhood in the late '70s-early '80s. And next would obviously be No. 4 who made all those painful years wash away as he ran across the field with his helmet held high, bringing the Lombardi back home.

Benjamin from Guffey, CO

There are so many options, but I'll take a more recent route: Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. Davante for how important are the details (especially footwork) and Aaron for how to be a good teammate and remain joyful in life despite circumstances.

Mike from Leland, NC

The two Packers that made the greatest impression on me were Vince Lombardi – not only for his football acumen and success but also for his leadership and excellence philosophy applied to business situations throughout my career – and Fred Cone. My dad knew Fred from Clemson, and they were great friends. I grew up watching Fred and the Packers with my Dad during the '50s. I was able to meet Fred in August 1960 when the Cowboys and Giants played an exhibition game in Louisville, KY.

Tim from Macon, MO

Paul Hornung and Bart Starr. I wasn't born until 1953, so I was just a kid then, but I can remember dad (who was a big Browns fan) telling me stories about them. Whenever the Packers played on TV, he would be a good sport and watch with me. A good friend of mine whose family came from GB would go up there every year and one year came home with Mr. Starr's autograph for me. I still have it to this day some 60 years later! Great times and great memories!

Marteen from Reno, NV

Mark Murphy. He responded to me directly with a handwritten note within a week.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Just two? Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, and Aaron Jones, if I have to observe any limit. Work ethic, community activism, humility, toughness. These men to me are a small sample size of the qualities that epitomize the Packer Way.

Kevin from Starr Pass, AZ

II/Ask Vic writers (OK, that's three!) The tone and tenor of not taking football too seriously – that these are grown professional men competing at a high level for their profession and our entertainment. That thought coupled with "It's memories that make us rich!" has had an everlasting positive impact how I view sports and life in general! Thank you all!

What's your most regrettable posted Ask Vic/II question or comment? I know I have a few I wish I could take back. (Shilo from Wildomar, CA)

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

I regret the early days of submissions because I vented. I don't think Vic ever posted those, but I regret subjecting him to it. My approach to life, social media and football has changed since then. No negative comments, only put positivity out into the universe, especially in writing. And, thanks to all the Rockhodford content, we know the people as human beings. Humans are imperfect. I try to pull in empathy if I submit something now.

Curt from Westby, WI

My most regrettable submission to Ask Vic was when I suggested that football coaches dress in the team uniform like they do in baseball. Vic's response was brutal.

Jim from Tempe, AZ

I don't regret any questions/comments which were actually posted. I am, however, grateful for several which were not posted. Thank you and again, my apologies for even submitting such unwarranted comments.

Christopher from Stratford Upon Avon, UK

I'd like to nominate this question as the one I wish hadn't submitted: Now we are going 4-3, is it potentially in our arsenal to switch to 3-4 for a play, or two, to throw off the opposing offense's preparation?

Ed from Minneapolis, MN

I most regret asking Spoff if he saw a different name being sewn on an "88" jersey, soon after we let Ty Montgomery go, would he tell us?

Dar from Mansfield, TX

My epic II fail has been told before, but it may prove helpful to new readers and hopeful submitters. After I first got a few questions posted, I went through a two-month lull where nothing got printed. Did Spoff/Hod now hate me? No. So I worked harder (cue "Rocky" theme). I tried less-generic questions. And one day, I landed a punch and was again printed! Thud, just then it hit me that I'd misspelled my own name (Dat). Moral: Keep trying, be interesting, be kind to Mike/Wes, and always proofread.

David from Janesville, WI

I've had a regrettable Insider Inbox question, or regretted how a complex one was perceived with the character limit, but I regret more not keeping track of asked and answered. I submitted a modified take on Crash Davis' "I believe" quote once that I especially wish I could find again as I have been unable to recreate it. Alas, March 24, 2021, is lost to me now.

Shilo from Wildomar, CA

Back in the Ask Vic days, I had more zeal than brains, and I overreacted to someone's beautiful poem that called Lambeau Field sacred or hallowed ground. Vic posted my comment and rightly challenged me on it, and then I sent Vic an apology that was too long to post. My apologies also to the person who sent in that poem!

Taylor from Fargo, ND

I so enjoy Insider Inbox, but I dearly miss Ask Vic, as well. In his waning days, Vic posted my question after he announced his retirement. The question had to do with Vic hinting he had his last press-box hot dog. My regret is not asking more questions as Ask Vic is just a memory now, but as Vic would say, "Memories make us rich."