Growing up in the Chicagoland area and being a Packers fan presented its challenges. Everyone that I knew watched or played football. Most of my friends in school were Chicago Bears fans. There was the occasional Steelers or Giants fan, but for the most part it was all about the Monsters of the Midway. I distinctly remember showing up to school in the autumn of 2010, the night after the Bears beat the Packers in primetime. It was a war of words in the hallways and the lunchroom. I had the last laugh, however. The Packers would beat the Bears in the NFC championship and go on to win the Super Bowl.

From that point on I had the upper hand. The Packers continued to beat the Bears for the next several seasons. From 2011-14 Green Bay won four straight division titles. Aaron Rodgers won 2 MVP awards. It was a good time to be a Packers fan. Even now it's still a good time to be a Packers fan. I would argue that anytime is a good time to be a Packers fan. They have had their down years. But being a Packers fan is about loyalty and there is a nostalgic sense when it comes to the Packers.

Green Bay got their football team in 1919, and they joined the NFL in 1921. They have won 13 NFL championships and 4 Super Bowls. The rich history is something I've cherished, especially today. Being lucky enough to watch a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, I feel like I've seen NFL history unfold each and every Sunday. Green Bay may not be a big-time city, but the Packers are a pure and strong NFL brand. So, I embrace the title Cheesehead. Even at a young age, I loved it. I still own my very own cheesehead and I've worn one whenever I've been to Lambeau Field.

Being a Packers fan is also about family. My father is a Packers fan, his father is a Packers fan, I'm a Packers fan, and maybe one day I'll have a son who will cheer for the Packers. It's a generational thing. It's something that can be passed down from father to son. My grandpa, my dad, and I used to take the pilgrimage to Green Bay, Wisconsin to see our Packers play on Sundays. Win or lose, the memories from that historic stadium are something that will be in my mind until the day I die.

Being a Packers fan is different from any other brand in sports. My two closest friends love football. One is a Bears fan, the other a Steelers fan. Both the Bears and Steeler have rich histories with great players and coaches. But the Packers have that extra flare that burns in your heart. There does come a time when a man realizes they won't play in the NFL. I realized that years ago since I'm 5 foot nothing. But I don't lose sleep at night because of that fact. The NFL is a business, more specifically they're in the entertainment business. I have been very well entertained watching football. I love the Packers. I love football. Not everyone else can relate to that but that's okay. It's one of several things I'm passionate about. Go Pack, Go!