Max McGee, II

Just wanted to piggy back off Matt's post about Max McGee.

Despite being a fellow Wisconsinite, I am not a Packers fan (that is a story for another post). But growing up in a Packers household that did not own a television for about 7 years, my Sundays were set to the soundtrack of Jim Irwin and Max McGee calling Packers games on the radio.

Max is my second favorite announcer (behind Bob Uecker) because he was completely natural. The same guy who had so many great moments as a cutup for the Packers -- like when Lombardi stood before the team and said, "Men, this is a football," and McGee piped up, "Not so fast, coach" -- was the same guy in the booth. He said whatever he was thinking and his natural comedic timing took over from there.

My favorite on-air McGee story is probably apocryphal, but I don't care. Irwin was mentioning how former Cowboys/Bucs wideout Alvin Harper had to have the tip of his finger amputated after a trainer cut him while treating an unrelated injury to his hand. McGee: "He's lucky it wasn't a groin pull."

RIP Max.


And if I knew how to post music, I would post something from Amos Lee, who I saw in concert on Friday.

Still 5-1

No Packers game this week [they are all at The Kalahari enjoying their bye week] and in my fantasy football league I was able to pick up Donald Driver and DeShawn Wynn so hopefully the offense kicks it into gear after their rest...

But on the overall Packer front, it was a bad week in that Super Bowl I hero Max McGee died. Here is a video from the new and improved NFL films site that has the key Super Bowl I and McGee's key catches.

From Wikipedia:

In his final two seasons, injuries and age had considerably reduced his production and playing time. Ironically, these two seasons would be the ones for which his career is best remembered. In the 1966 season, McGee caught only four passes for 91 yards and a touchdown as the Packers recorded a 12-2 record and advanced to Super Bowl I against the Kansas City Chiefs. Because McGee didn't expect to play in the game, he violated his team's curfew policy and spent the night before the Super Bowl out on the town. The next morning, he told starting receiver Boyd Dowler, "I hope you don't get hurt. I'm not in very good shape."

However, Dowler went down with a separated shoulder on the Packers' second drive of the game, and McGee, who had to borrow a teammate's helmet because he had not even brought his own out of the locker room, found himself thrust into the lineup. A few plays later, McGee made a one-handed reception of a pass from Bart Starr, took off past Chiefs defender Fred Williamson and ran 37 yards to score the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. By the end of the game, McGee had recorded seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns, assisting Green Bay to a 35-10 victory.

Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble -- Superstition (Live)

Mr. Vaughn as a new CD coming out in November called Solos, Sessions and Encores which collects rare tracks encompassing solos, session tracks, and encores. You can pre-order it here.