Lou Gramm's musical career

Music has been a part of Lou Gramm's life from day one. Gramm says "That I would choose a career in music is hardly a mystery because I come from a family of musicians. In fact, it was music that brought my mom and dad together in the first place." Gramm's birth name is Grammatico, and his father and mother met through their mutual interest in music. Gramm's father, Ben Grammatico, met his mother Nikki Masetta while playing a concert in a jazz band in the early 1940s. Later, Ben Grammatico started a band called "The Sonny James Orchestra". Nikki Grammatica sang in the band.

Gramm's grandparents were Italian immigrants who came to New York State. They picked cabbage under very difficult living and working conditions. Gramm says "He and the other immigrants were hardy souls and were thrilled just to be in a land where opportunities seemed boundless." Gramm is justifiably proud of what his grandparents and others from that generation had to overcome.

Although, Gramm's father was in a band, he worked a very demanding and difficult day job. Gramm worked at a company in Rochester called "Yarman and Erba." His father built file cabinets for the company in a very difficult environment. The building was hot and the work was exhausting. Gramm admired his father's work ethic.

Gramm grew up in a blue collar neighborhood. As a youth, Gramm developed an interest in baseball because of his father. Gramm says "My dad was the one who got me interested in baseball. One of the first things he would do when he got home from work was plop himself down in his easy chair and read the paper." Gramm's father would read the sports pages and the box scores.

Gramm, a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, was sad when the team moved to Los Angeles. However, he continued to root for them and Duke Snider, his favorite player. However, Gramm became a fan of the Mets when they began play in New York in 1962.

When he was growing up, Gramm loved baseball. Gramm says "Baseball was definitely my first love, and my summer routine revolved around playing ball." Gramm spent a lot of time in the summers playing baseball with friends and family. Gramm also rooted for the Buffalo Bills because he was living in upstate New York.

While Gramm played baseball, music would soon take center stage. Gramm's parents encouraged their three sons to play musical instruments. Gramm took up the drums because "it looked like a lot of fun banging away with those sticks." Gramm was a good drummer who earned a spot in the All-Country scholastic orchestra. At this time, Gramm liked playing the drums, but had little interest in singing.

While he was playing in the school band and orchestra, he developed an interest in rock and roll music. He remembers the first time he heard a rock and rol song. When his father was driving Gramm and his older brother around in a 1953 Pontiac, they heard Elvis Presley's song "Hound Dog." Gramm says "That was my introduction to rock and roll - Elvis' "Hound a Dog" blasting out of the dashboard speakers of my dad's '53 Pontiac. I didn't realize it at the time, but that would wind up being a life altering experience. A whole new world was about to open up for me." When rock and roll music entered Gramm's life, he entered a new phase of life. It represented a new beginning for him.



Many bands influenced Gramm, but The Rolling Stones and the Beatles stand out as the biggest influences in his musical career. Gramm still recalls seeing The Rolling Stones live on November 1st, 1965 in Rochester, NY. He remembers the excitement of the evening and the anticipation of the concert.

The Beatles had a profound effect on him as well. Gramm says "I was a huge Beatles' fan. No group before or since ever impacted me the way they did, and I know I have plenty of company when I say that because the Fab Four revolutionized music and the industry." Gramm still remembers meeting John Lennon for the first time in 1972 when they were recording at nearby studios in New York City. After they met in a nearby coffee shop, they played pool together and talked about music. Gramm said he was honored when he played at a memorial concert in Liverpool England after Lennon died. Gramm also remembers meeting Paul McCartney.

Gramm also recalled his first playing gig as a 15 year old. He filled in for a country western band named "Danny, Tony and the Knighthawks." Gramm was grateful for the opportunity to perform before a live audience. Gramm said "Although country wasn't my thing, it was a cool experience and I'll always be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to feel what it was like to play a gig in front of a crowd." Gramm played about a dozen shows with the band. The experience taught him what it was like to perform in front of a live audience.

After these dozen shows, Gramm joined a band in high school that played cover tunes. Gramm says "I was the lead singer as well as the drummer, and I found it difficult to do both at first." Gramm played in a couple more cover bands in high school. One of his bands had a good following in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse.

Eventually, Gramm formed a band with other musicians from upstate New York called "Black Sheep." The band featured Gramm, Gramm's brother, Ron Rocco, Bruce Turgon and Don Mancuso. The band was the first American act to sign with Chrysalis records- an English record company. They recorded two albums and toured for two years across the United States.



Gramm says that they wanted to write and perform their own songs. They wanted to find their own niche in the upstate New York music scene and eventually the national scene. Gramm says "We didn't want to be just a cover band; we wanted to be distinctive, carve out our own niche. And my dream was to eventually land us a record contract, cut our album and expand our audience beyond upstate New York." Gramm and the other members of Black a Sheep had goals, hopes and aspirations. They dedicated themselves to making those goals come true.

Black Sheep worked hard to write and perform their own music. The band accepted the challenge of writing and performing their own music, but it was not easy. Gramm says "It was a huge struggle at first; it always is when you're a new band. But it was more so for us because we were trying to create a sound that was all our own at a time when club owners and a lot of fans expected local groups to stick to covering the national acts." Black Sheep were going against the grain in their attempt to make their own mark in the music world. They wanted to contribute something that was unique and distinctive.

Black Sheep became popular in cities like Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. While playing in a Buffalo club, the band met Jim Taylor who had worked for "A&M" records. The company represented acts like Humble Pie and Free, two bands that played music that was similar to Black Sheep. Taylor supported them and helped them to believe that they could succeed in the music industry.

One evening, Black Sheep played a show at a club called "Orange Monkey." The patrons stood the whole time as if they were at a concert. The patrons liked the music so much that they did not sit down and buy drinks. So, the bar owners did not ask Black a Sheep to return. It was clear from their local following, that Black Sheep had a successful future. They were making progress in the local music scene. Their popularity came from the quality of their music.

Eventually, Jim Taylor helped the band play gigs beyond western New York. So, the band's following expanded to include other areas. Soon, Black Sheep became the first American band to sign with Chrysalis Records- a European based record company. Up until this time, Chrysalis records had signed bands from England and other European countries. However, Black Sheep impressed the executives at Chrysalis enough to earn a contract. Gramm says "The game plan called for us to produce a song they could heavily promote and market here in the states, and that wouldn't be followed by a few more singles and an album." Black Sheep had the support that they needed. They had found their musical niche and were becoming more popular.

Black Sheep released their first single entitled "Stick Around." Gramm thought that it was a good single to release because it had a good opening guitar riff by Don Mancuso. It is a catchy song and it represented the band's music well. Gramm says "It was a pretty cool, simplistic song with catchy lyrics." However, Chrysalis would develope financial problems and were unable to promote the song. So, the single was not sent out to enough record stores. Gramm says "People went to record stores in hopes of purchasing it and the album it was from, but there was no album, and in many instances even the single wasn't available." The band had experienced an unexpected road block, but it remained undeterred. It did not give up.

When Chrysalis and Black Sheep parted ways due to Chrysalis' financial problems, the band was signed to a contract by Capitol Records. They recorded two albums with Capitol Records. One album was entitled "Song and Dance", while the other one was called "Encouraging Words." The first album was not promoted well and did not sell well. However, according to Gramm, their second album "was more polished. You could tell we were more focused, the songs held up better and there was an identity, stylistically, that the first album lacked." Their songs from the second album were played on the radio and they began a national tour.

However, their national tour did not last long. After one of the shows, the band drove back to Rochester, New York, and the vehicle carrying the band's equipment went off the side of the road. Thankfully, no one was hurt. However, the band's equipment was ruined in the accident. The band members did not have the money to purchase new equipment. So, the group had to stop touring. Soon after that, Capitol Records decided not to renew the band's record contract. The band's musical hopes were dashed.

One summer in Rochester, Gramm saw a concert involving Mick Jones- the guitarist who would become the founder of the band Foreigner. Gramm gave Jones copies of two of Black Sheep's albums. Later, Jones called Gramm and told him he was founding a band, and wanted Gramm to audition for the role of lead vocalist. Originally, he said "no", but his parents and the other members of Black Sheep encouraged him to audition.

Gramm flew to New York City and sang vocals over a demo tape that the band had recorded. Gramm met Keyboardist Al Greenwood and guitarist Ian McDonald. On the second day, Gramm met Bud Prager - the band's manager. After two days of auditioning, the band informed Gramm that he had the job. Greenwood told Gramm "We knew you were the one after the first two lines you sang the first two days you were here." So, the band Foreigner was born.

Gramm says "The original Foreigner was a sextet with three Brits and three Americans. And that's how we came up with the group's name. Because we had a mix, we said that no matter where we played , in the States or Canada, or abroad, there would always be someone performing on foreign soil." This mix of nationalities became part of Foreigner's identity. However, the most important part of their identity was their good rock and roll music.

Gramm said that Foreigner played well together from the very beginning. They rehearsed 8 hours a day, and then they wrote songs until midnight. When Gramm joined the band, the group had already wrote four songs for their debut album. Gramm helped write more songs for the album.

Thanks to the help of Bud Prager, the band's manager, the group signed a deal with Atlantic records. Gramm says "I was thrilled with the news of our deal with Atlantic because they were one of the heavy hitters in the music business." Gramm's musical career had been rejuvenated by joining Foreigner. Gramm was the voice of a band that would soon become one of the most popular rock bands in the music business.

Their first album produced the hit song "Feels Like the First Time," which appropriately enough was also the first single that they released. The album also produced "Long Way from Home." The album was successful. After the first album was released, Foreigner toured with the Doobie Brothers. Gramm says "During that first tour, we'd play an average from 45 minutes to an hour each show." The band also would play 4 concerts in 5 nights. While the tour was rewarding and fun, it effected Gramm's singing voice. Consequently, as the band experienced more success, Gramm asked management to alter the concert schedule.

As Gramm grew as a vocalist, he learned how to preserve his voice. Gramm says that on day she when the band performed, "I wouldn't t talk during the day, I cut out carbonated drinks, and I stuck to room temperature water." This routine helped Gramm to sing to the best of his ability every night.

Gramm was also writing songs for Foreigner. He was always prepared to write a new song or apply a life lesson or experience to music. Gramm says "As a songwriter , you're always in search of that memorable phrase and theme that will resonate with listeners-words that prompt people to sing the songs out loud. You never know where you might find the inspiration you need, which is why I always carried a notebook with me." Gramm was dedicated to writing and performing music. He did the best he could to help Foreigners thrive and become successful.

In 1978, Foreigner released "Double Vision", their second album. The album featured the title track and the song "Hot Blooded." After this album was released, Foreigner toured as an opening act for Heart. Foreigner had become so popular during the tour, that the concert promoter made Foreigner the headline act. The band members of Heart were understandably upset. However, the tour continued. Foreigner had to adjust their set from 45 minutes to two hours. Foreigner was becoming more popular throughout the country. The band was experiencing a lot of success.

Foreigner's third album was entitled "Head Games." The album sold two million fewer copies than the first two albums. Gramm believes that the songs were good, but not as good as the songs on the first two albums. After touring to promote their third album, Gramm and Mick Jones decided that the band needed some changes.

Jones and Gramm decided to make changes that they believed were in the best interest in the band. Gramm says "We each realized that Foreigner was at a crossroads, and after several long and hard discussions, we decided that we needed to dramatically shake things up and remake the band." So, Gramm reduce the numbers of musicians in the band from 6 to 4. Jones and Gramm asked Ian Mc Donald and Al Greenwood to leave the band.



Foreigner called their next album "4" because it was their fourth album and because there were now four members in the band. Gramm liked the name of the album and the cover of the record. Gramm says "We had the No.4 frozen and placed on our cover. It was simple, but very sharp looking; my favorite cover of all the albums I've done." So, although the band was going through changes, the group was confident about the future.

Atlantic Records put out a press release acknowledging some of the changes that the band was going through. Perhaps the label wanted the fans of the band to be prepared for the different sound and look of the band. However, while the band was going through changes, the sound was still distinctive and good.

After the success of "4", the band members of Foreigner discussed the future of the band. After a long tour, the band wanted a break from recording. So, they would not record their fifth album, "Agent Provacateur" for another 3 years. Atlantic Records was hoping that the band would embark on another tour because they had four albums worth of material. Their shows had good attendance and they were a popular band. So, if they had the energy, another tour made sense.

After the tour promoting "4", the band reassessed it's direction. Gramm wanted Foreigner to remain true to it's rock and roll roots, whereas it appeared that Jones wanted to write and record more ballads. Gramm felt that they may lose their base of fans who wanted the band to perform rock music, whereas Jones may have felt that the band benefited from a variety of songs. It's also possible that the ballads were a priority because they made the band money.

Gramm expressed his concern to Jones. However, Jones maintained that that Foreigner was simply going through a common phase that all bands go through. Gramm disagreed and thought the band was going through permanent changes. Gramm did not agree with those changes.

It was clear to Gramm that Jones had decided that ballads would be a part of the band's future. In fact, "I Want to know what love is", the ballad on the "Agent Provacateur" album, would become one of the band's most successful songs. Gramm, who helped write the song says "although it was his (Jones) idea and he did a lot of work on the song, I devoted a lot of time to it and made some tweaks here and there that helped bring out the soulfulness." Gramm also points out that the choir that the group added to sing back up vocals on the song added a different dimension to the song.

"I Want to Know what Love is" is one of Foreigner's signature songs. It became a mainstay on FM radio and has been heard by millions of people.

Three years after "Agent Provacateur" was released, Foreigner put out an album entitled "Inside Information." The album went platinum, but for the first time in their career the album did not finish in the top five selling albums for the year. Gramm did not contribute to the song writing for this album like he did for the previous albums. He sensed that he was becoming less of a part of the band. Although he was respected as a singer, his writing was not being called upon by the band anymore. Gramm wondered if it was time to move onto other musical ventures.

At this point, Gramm decided to record a solo album entitled "Ready or Not." The album featured the hit song "Midnight Blue." The song made it to No.5 on the billboard chart in 1987, and it "was the most played song on the radio that year." Gramm toured with his own band as an opening act for The Steve Miller Band.

Gramm did not want the music to sound like Foreigner. He wanted the music to have it's own personality and character. Guitarist Neil Lofgren and bassist Bruce Turgon played on the album. Gramm says "I was able to pull together a solid studio band to record the album. In addition to Lofgren's magnificent guitar playing, I relied on Turgon to help in the writing of eight of the 10 songs." Additionally, Gramm's father played a trumpet solo on the song "She's Got to Know." Gramm was glad that his father played trumpet on the album.

In addition to recording albums and playing tours, Gramm also made music videos as a solo artist and as a member of Foreigner. Gramm says "MTV videos were pretty primitive when they started out in the early 1980's. The first ones just showed the musicians on stage performing at a concert. But as time went on, the videos became more and more sophisticated, almost like short films." MTV and VH1 figured prominently in Gramm's career, both as a member of Foreigner and as a solo artist.

The rock and roll lifestyle kept Gramm away from his family. That is the part of the lifestyle that he regrets. However, in the late 1980's Gramm moved back to his home city of Rochester, NY to be close to his friends and family. Additionally, at this time Gramm was dealing with substance abuse issues - a common problem in the rock and roll world.

Gramm had a benign tumor removed from his brain in the late 1990s. Though the tumor was benign, it still effected his memory and thought process. The surgery took a toll on his memory and his thought process. He still toured with Foreigner after the surgery. He showed great courage in touring while he was overcoming the illness. He also shows great courage in overcoming his substance abuse struggle.

After leaving Foreigner, Gramm wanted to record a Christian album. He felt gratitude towards God for helping him to overcome illness and substance abuse struggles. Regarding the album, Gramm says "My references to the Lord were subtle. My intent wasn't to do a bible thumping beat you over the head Christian album. But I did want to convey how God helped me through some pretty difficult times and how he became a driving force in my life." Gramm felt gratitude and thankfulness towards God.

Gramm also feels very proud of his family. Gramm says the following about his two grown sons: "One is a sous chef and has his own restaurant, and the other is a computer wiz who's experiencing with a number of different products." Gramm's family and his faith have helped him to put life into perspective.

In 2013, Gramm and Jones were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Gramm was honored by the induction, which recognized his contributions to the Foreigner. Gramm says " I was chosen along with Mick Jones for the music we created with Foreigner, and I was tickled pink when I found out because it was another indication that many of our songs have stood the test of time." Indeed, this is true. Foreigner's songs continue to be played on FM radio stations. Their songs and Gramm's soulfully singing voice continue to be a part of the American musical scene.

Gramm's musical career has featured hardship, challenge and difficulty. However, it has also involved success, achievement and recognition. Gramm's family gave him a foundation that helped him achieve much musical success. He was fortunate to be surrounded by other talented musicians and appreciated by many listeners. The American musical scene is better because of the contributions of Lou Gramm.






Note: All of Lou Gramm's quotes come from his autobiography "Juke Box Hero."

The 50th anniversary of the "Ice Bowl"

50 years ago today, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers played in the NFL championship game in Lambeu Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 21-17 when quarterback Bart Starr scored on a one yard run. The game was played in below zero weather in one of the coldest games in NFL history. The temperature reached the low point of -13 degrees. The game became known as the "Ice Bowl" because of how cold it was.

It was the second straight time that the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL championship game. The Packers would go on to defeat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in the second Super Bowl.

Dan Reeves was a running back for the Cowboys on that day. In 2015, he discussed the game with Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated.When describing how cold it was, Reeves said "I don't know that you can describe it. Probably the best way that people can relate is that the day before, on Saturday, it was 15 degrees, or like going from 70 degrees to 102." The 32 degree difference made it a difficult adjustment for the players. It may have been a particular difficult adjustment for the Cowboys who came from Texas, a warm weather state.

Reeves said that the Cowboys had cotton gloves, but quarterbacks, running backs and receivers did not wear them. Reeves said that the Cowboys wore saran wrap on their feet right above their socks in order to keep their feet warm. However, Reeves said "We did that and that would kind of help, until you made a move or cut and all of a sudden, you'd have a hole in the saran wrap and you'd feel the cold air come in." The Cowboys did their best to manage the cold, but not everything worked.

The ground was frozen that day, which made it difficult for both teams to gain their footing on the field. Vrentas pointed out that the frozen turf inspired the "frozen tundra" label that is still associated with Lambeau Field. Reeves said "You could hardly stand up. It was just very difficult to keep your footing." Both teams fought through the frozen conditions as best they could. Both teams competed against each other and the elements.

The rivalry between the Packers and the Cowboys was cemented that day. The previous year the Packers defeated the Cowboys 34-27 in the NFL championship game. The Cowboys were stopped at the goal line near the end of the game. So, the rivalry had started before the "Ice Bowl."

Regarding the rivalry between the two teams, Reeves said "You did your own scheduling back then, and Coach Landry and Coach Lombardi had been on the same staff in New Yor; they were good friends, so we always played in presason. They were a good football team, and that's where rivalries come from, when you have two good teams that are very competitive. And Coach Landry and Coach Lombardi were both very competitive." The rivalry between the Packers and the Cowboys has been one of the best rivalries in the history of the NFL. The rivalry is symbolized by the "Ice Bowl."

It's difficult for a team to play in harsh and cold conditions. However, its more difficult when the team loses. The winning team at least has the consolation of the victory. Regarding the loss, Reeves said "It was very disappointing. We had the lead in the fourth quarter, and then to lose it at the end of the game, it was very disappointing. We had been disappointed the year before, felt like we should have scored to tie the game the year before. We lost two close ball games for the right to go to the first and second Super Bowls, so it was very disappointing." Sport is filled with exileration in victory and disappointment in loss. One team will be happy, while the other will be disappointed. The Cowboys were disappointed after both NFL championship games against Green Bay. However, their effort was solid. The Cowboys of 1966-1968 are still remembered as a good football team.

Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer made the block against Cowboy defensive lineman Jethro Pugh that enabled Starr to score the winning touchdown. When speaking to Bob Fox of bleacherreport.com, Kramer said that he felt responsible for the play because he had suggested to Coach Lombardi that the Packers call the play during the game. Kramer said "I mean I had suggested the play on Thursday. It seemed like the play was squarely on my shoulders...I knew that to be successful as a blocker that I had to keep my head up and my eyes open." Kramer knew his responsibility as an offensive lineman. He successfully fulfilled his responsibility, which helped Starr to score the winning touchdown.

Referee Norm Schachter blew the whistle to start the game. He did not blow the whistle again. A sound barely came out and Schachter said the "whistles froze on us." They did not use whistles the rest of the game. They simply yelled or raised their voices when they wanted to get the attentions of the players.

Green Bay's Don Chandler kicked the ball off to start the game. Simms Stokes ran the ball to the Cowboy 33 after briefly losing his footing. On the Cowboys' first play from scrimmage, quarterback Don Meredith passed the ball to a wide open Bob Hayes who caught it for a 10 yard gain. The Cowboys tried two running plays to Reeves, who struggled to gain traction on the frozen field. A pass to a wide receiver failed as the receiver slipped on a pass that was underthrown by Meredith. After four plays, the Cowboys punted.



On Green Bay's first play from scrimmage, Running back Donny Anderson fumbled, but the Packers recovered. Throughout the first drive Green Bay tried a mix of running plays and passing plays, which Bart Starr said was their game plan. Anderson ran well and caught a pass during the drive. The Cowboys also had a penalty for pass interference and one for defensive holding. The Packers seemed more ready for the game than the Cowboys. One Cowboy player said that the Packers were thinking about football, while the Cowboys were thinking about the cold. Green Bay had the football first and goal from the nine yard line. On second and goal from the 8, Starr threw a touch down pass to Boyd Dowder. After the extra point by Chandler, the Packers lead 7-0.

On Dallas' second possession, the Cowboys once again struggled to move the football. Running back Don Perkins ran the ball fairly well on a few plays, but was eventually stopped for no gain on a second down play. On third down, Meredith threw to Reeves who slipped and fell on an underthrown pass by Meredith. The Cowboys once again punted the football.

Green Bay's running back Ben Wilson gained 13 yards. Then, on a play action pass, Starr connected with Dowler for a 43 yard touch down pass over the middle. Just like that, Green Bay lead Dallas 14-0.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Cowboys took over at their 40 yard line. Meredith, who said that the cold made the football seem bigger, threw an interception to Packer cornerback Herb Adderly. The announcers noticed that Meredith's passes did not have the same "zip" as they usually did. Clearly, the Cowboys were struggling with the cold more than the Packers in the early going of the game.

Green Bay took over in Dallas territory. They made it into field goal range. However, eventually, Dallas' defensive lineman George Andre sacked Starr all the way back to the Cowboy 42 yard line on third down, which knocked Green Bay out of field goal range. This play gave the Cowboys a chance to come back.

Both offenses struggled for the rest of the first half. Dallas' struggled in part because the conditions neutralized the speed of Bob Hayes. He struggled to gain traction on the frozen field and the Cowboys could not pass deep to Hayes. They tried screen plays and short passes to Hayes. Also, the Packers noticed that Hayes kept his hands in his pockets when the Cowboys ran the football, but took his hands out of his pockets when Dallas passed. So, this tipped off the Green Bay defense what play Dallas was running. When Hayes had his hands out of his pockets, the Packers knew that the Cowboys were passing the football.

Green Bay had the ball in its own territory with under five minutes to play in the first half. The Cowboys' defense made a play that would keep Dallas in the game going into half time. As Starr went back to pass, Cowboy defensive end Willie Townes sacked Starr who fumbled the football. The Cowboys' George Andrie recovered the football and ran 7 yards for the Cowboys' first touchdown. The Cowboys were back in the game. Danny Villanueva kicked the extra point and Dallas had narrowed the score to 14-7.



After Green Bay and Dallas both struggled on their ensuing possessions, Dallas punted to Green Bay. The Packers' Willie Wood fumbled after calling for a fair catch. Dallas' Phil Clark recovered at the Green Bay 17. The Cowboys could not move the football, so they settled for a 21 yard field goal by Villanueva to close out the scoring for the first half. Despite not getting a first down in the second quarter, Dallas had scored 10 points in the final 5 minutes of the half. The deficit had been narrowed to four points.

At the beginning of the second half, the Cowboys shut down the Green Bay offense and forced the Packers to punt. The Cowboys played well offensively to begin the second half. Reeves took a swing pass and gained 7 yards on the first play. Perkins ran for 8 yards on the next play. This was the first Cowboy first down since the first quarter. Meredith threw a pass over the middle to Frank Clarke for another first down. The Cowboys utilized quick pitches and sweeps to gain yards to begin the second half. However, after gaining yards on a run, Meredith fumbled inside the Packer 15 yard line. The football was recovered by Green Bay.

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Packers continued to sputter offensively. The icy conditions continued to effect the offensive lineman and the running backs. The timing for the blocking and rushing patterns was off all day for both teams. Green Bay offensive lineman Forrest Gregg said "I remember how hard it was keeping your balance." Gregg said if an offensive lineman slipped, the defensive player could have an easier path to the quarterback. All it took was a momentary slip, and the defensive lineman was right next to the quarterback.

After Green Bay punted, Dallas took over at the Green Bay 46 yard line. Reeves ran for 11 yards. Then Meredith faked a pass to the left and threw to Reeves for an 3 yard gain. However, on the next play, Meredith was sacked for a 9 yard loss. Villanueva tried a 47 yard field goal, which fell short. Willie Wood fielded the missed field goal and ran to the Green Bay 27 yard line.

On the next possession, the Green Bay offense continued to struggle. The Dallas defense played well and stopped Green Bay from moving the football. Dallas recorded their 7th sack of the game and Green Bay had to punt. Now both defenses were playing well and both offenses were struggling.

On the last play of the third quarter, Don Perkins gained 5 yards. The third quarter was over. Despite outplaying Green Bay for the quarter, Dallas could not score. They still trailed the Packers by four points.

However, the Cowboys would finally score on the first play of the fourth quarter. Reeves threw a half back option pass to a Cowboy receiver for a 50 yard touchdown. Just like that, Dallas had their first lead of the game. Villanueva added the extra point. Dallas 17 Green Bay 14.

After taking the lead, the Cowboy defense continued to play well. However, Meredith struggled to communicate with his teammates in the huddle because it was so cold. Meredith's cheeks were so cold that he could not form audible words. At this time, the Cowboys continued to run the football and play a conservative offense. They hoped their defense could contain the Green Bay offense.

Dallas punted the football to Green Bay and a Cowboy player grabbed the face mask of Wood, who returned the punt. The infraction resulted in a 15 yard penalty, which gave the Packers the football at the Dallas 47 yard line.

Weather conditions were getting worse. The ground was so hard that the players were struggling to stand and run. It became easier to slip and fall. However, both teams continued to put forth maximum effort.

On first down from the Cowboy 47, Starr completed a pass to Dowler for a first down. On second down, Cowboy linebacker batted down a pass attempt by Starr. Starr tried a screen pass on third down to Chandler which fell incomplete. Chandler missed a 40 yard field goal.



With 9:44 left in regulation, Dallas took over at their own 20 yard line. The Cowboys tried running the football probably because the weather conditions were so bad. On first down, Perkins ran for 5 yards. Two more runs for Perkins did not get many yards. However, a Green Bay player was offsides and Dallas had a first down. On the next play, Reeves gained 5 yards. However, on the next play Reeves fell in the backfield and was tackled. Meredith completed a pass to Clarke for a first down. Eventually, the Cowboy offense stalled and they had to settle for a punt. Villanueva's punt was returned by Wood to the Green Bay 32 yard line.

The Packers were about to begin one of the most famous drives in NFL history. The fans and the television viewing audience were about to witness one of the most compelling and memorable drives in the history of the league. Two teams who had struggled and tussled on the "frozen tundra" of Lambeau field had one more challenge ahead of themselves.

With 4:52 remaining, Green Bay took over for it's final drive of the day. Defensive player Ray Nietske came off of the field and said "don't let me down" to the Packers' offense. Packers' offensive lineman Forrest Gregg said "I don't think there was any doubt in anybody's mind that we had to (score) or it was over for us...I don't know that the execution under those conditions will ever be surpassed." It is one of the most memorable drives in NFL history because it occurred under very difficult conditions in an NFL title game. The stakes were high and those conditions were difficult. The combinations of the stakes and the conditions made the moment unforgettable.

Green Bay began the drive with a double fake hand off and a pass to Anderson for 6 yards. Then Mercein ran for a first down. On the next play Starr passed to Dowler for a first down. After three plays, Green Bay was moving the football. They had developed a rythym in the cold weather,while the Dallas defense was playing on their heals. However, on the next play, Dallas showed some promise, as Willie Townes sacked Starr for a loss. Maybe the Cowboys' defense would be able to stall Green Bay's drive.

However, Green Bay regrouped as Starr completed a pass to Anderson for a 12 yard gain. Dallas was double teaming the wide receivers in the hope that Green Bay would run or pass to the running backs. Dallas wanted Green Bay to take time off of the clock. Then Mercein caught a 19 yard pass from Starr to get the football to the Dallas 11 yard line. Next, Mercein took a hand off from Starr and ran the football to the Dallas 2 yard line.



Green Bay had the football, first and goal, at the Dallas 2 yard line with 54 seconds remaining. They had potentially four downs to score a touchdown. On first down, Starr handed the ball to Anderson who dove to the Dallas one yard line. On second down, the Packers tried the same play. However, Anderson simply got back to the line of scrimmage. On both plays, Anderson lost his footing and could not score.

Green Bay called a time out with 16 seconds left in regulation. Starr went to the sidelines to talk to Coach Lombardi. They decided to run "31 wedge", a play that had been suggested by offensive lineman Jerry Kramer on Thursday at a film session. Mercein was supposed to get the football and run between the center and the guard. Everyone on the team, including Mercein expected him to get the football.

Instead, Starr decided to run a quarterback sneak without telling the other members of the team. Starr described why he chose to try the sneak: "It was our lead play on short yardage in a down and distance situation like this." Starr was concerned that the running backs could not gain traction on the frozen field. He expressed his concern to Coach Lombardi. Starr said "Coach, I'm up against the center, and I can shuffle and lunge my way into the end zone." So, Starr felt that he could get good footing on the play. He was confident enough to try the quarterback sneak. He needed to score because it would have been difficult to find the time to set up another play if this one did not succeed. This was the play of the game. The difference between winning and losing would be determined by this play.

Starr lunged behind the block of star offensive lineman Jerry Kramer. He found an opening which was created by the offensive line and scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left on the clock. The most memorable drive in NFL title history had ended with a successful quarterback sneak. Bart Starr had scored the go ahead touchdown in dramatic and memorable fashion.

Don Chandler kicked the extra point, and Green Bay lead Dallas 21-17 with 13 seconds left. Chandler kicked off and the Dallas returner stayed in the end zone for a touch back. Meredith threw two incomplete passes and the game was over. The Green Bay Packers had defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in the 1967 NFL Championship. They would beat the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II two weeks later.

Both teams earned respect during this NFL championship game. The Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers competed against each other and the weather. As the game wore on, the conditions worsened and the challenge for both teams became greater. Both teams walked off the field knowing they had given their all. In the end, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 to win the 1967 NFL championship game - one of the most memorable games in NFL history.

The NFL has had several dynasties, but one stands out from the rest

A dynasty in sports happens when a team wins several championships over a relatively short period of time. That period of time is often 10 years or so. In the NFL it is convenient to say certain teams are teams of the decade. When a team is considered the best team of that decade, it can be assigned the status of a dynasty.

The NFL started in 1920's. The Akron Aros won the first NFL championship. The Canton Bulldogs won the NFL championships in 1922 and 1923. They moved to Cleveland and were renamed the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924 and won another championship in their first year in Cleveland. The Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs were the team of the 1920's.

One overlooked dynasty is the Green Bay Packers from 1929 to 1939. During that time the Packers won 5 championships (1929,1930,1931,1936,1939). They are rightly seen as the team of the 1930's.

From 1932 to 1946, the Chicago Bears won 5 championships (1932,1933,1940,1941,1946). They were seen as the dominant team of that time period.

The Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions each won 3 championships in the 1950's. The Browns were lead by quarterback Otto Graham and running back Marion Motley. The Lions were lead by quarterback Bobby Layne and running back Doak Walker.The Browns and the Lions were the two best teams during the 1950's.

In the 1970's the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys competed for NFL supremacy. The Cowboys appeared in 5 Super Bowls and won 2 of them. The Steelers won 4 Super Bowls in 4 appearances. The Steelers became the team of the 1970's by virtue of their two victories over the Cowboys in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII. The Steelers were known for their "steel curtain defense" and their excellent offense.

The San Francisco 49ers dominated the 1980's as they won 4 Super Bowls. The 49ers were lead by hall of fame quarterback Joe Montana and hall of fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Together they became one of the most prolific quarterback/wide receiver tandems in NFL history.

In the 1990's the Dallas Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls in 4 seasons. The Buffalo Bills also played in 4 straight Super Bowls, but were unable to win. The San Francisco 49ers were also a strong team. The Cowboys had one of the most complete teams in the history of the NFL. They were lead by Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. They also had an excellent offensive line and a very good defense. Additionally, their special teams were excellent. The Cowboys of the early to mid 1990's were one of the most complete teams in NFL history.

The salary cap era has been dominated by the New England Patriots. With Bill Belicheck as coach and Tom Brady as quarterback, the Patriots have appeared in 7 Super Bowls since 2002. They have won 5 of them. Their only losses have been to the New York Giants. The Patriots have been the most consistent team in the NFL for the last 16 years. They have deftly managed the salary cap to remain competitive every year.

All of these teams are known for their success and consistency. However, no team stands out more than the 1960's Green Bay Packers. They are the most memorable dynasty in the history of the NFL. Between 1960 and 1967, the Packers appeared in 6 NFL championships, winning 5 of them. They also won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. The Packers of the 1960's remain the model NFL franchise.

Vince Lombardi was hired in 1958 to turn around the Packers. Lombardi was a 45 year old offensive coach for the New York Giants. He had waited a long time to become a head coach. He wanted the opportunity to show people how successful he could be. He had a wealth of knowledge about the game and he wanted to prove that he could run his own team and make his own team successful.

The year before he was offered an opportunity to coach the Philadelphia Eagles. He considered the offer, but decided it was not the right job for him. He showed interest in the opening at Army, but Army usually hired graduates of West Point, which disqualaified Lombardi from serious consideration.

However, when the Packers job became available in 1958, it proved to be the right fit for Lombardi. The Packers offered Lombardi a 5 year offer to coach the team. Lombardi accepted the offer even though his wife had initial misgivings because she had always lived in or near New York City. Moving two children to Green Bay, Wisconsin would be a challenge for Mr. and Mrs. Lombardi. However, over time both Vince and his wife adjusted to the change.

After Lombardi accepted the offer, he met with the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are the only major sports team that does not have an actual owner. Instead, they are owned by the community and run by a board of directors. It makes the Packers unique in the history of American sports.

John Eisenberg in his book "That First Season" chronicles the first season of Lombardi in Green Bay. Eisenberg wrote about the first meeting between Lombardi and the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers. At the meeting with the board of directors, Lombard was forthright and direct. He said "I want it understood: I'm in complete command here. I expect full cooperation from you. You will get full cooperation from me in return. I've never been associated with a loser and I don't expect to be now. You have my confidence. I want yours. I'm not against anything that will help the Packers." His initial statement showed the self confidence teams need in a head coach. It also shows a willingness on his part to help the team in whatever way is possible. He showed self confidence and respect at the initial meeting. This self confidence and respect won over the board of directors. They realized that hiring Lombardi was the right decision.

Lombardi proved to be a very efficient coach. He did not waste time and he did not allow the players to waste time and energy. Every practice and every activity had a purpose. Eisenberg points out that Lombardi told the board of directors "I hope to hold workouts down to an hour and a half, an hour and fifteen minutes if possible. The players will know exactly what they're supposed to at every minute." Lombardi wanted to account for every practice and every minute. He had a purpose for everything they did at practice. Filling the practices with quality time was paramount to Lombardi. If the players did what was expected of them at practice, then they could do what was expected of them during the games. The Packers would play liked they practiced. If they had efficient practices, then they would have efficient games.

Lombardi was not only demanding of the players, he had high standards for the coaches as well. According to Eisenberg, he told the coaches "I'm a perfectionist. I'm going to demand your best. There's absolutely no excuse for anything other than that." Such comments strongly encouraged the coaches to put forth their best effort. The players and coaches were accountable to Lombardi, who in turn was accountable to the board of directors and the fans of the Green Bay Packers.

Before the first season started, Lombardi and his staff watched all of the games from the previous season on tape. He wanted to see what the players were like and what strategy was best for the future. Lombardi decided to build his team around a power running game. He called Paul Hornung, who up until that time had played multiple positions for the Packers. Lombardi wanted Hornung to be a full time running back. Hornung would be a big part of the Packers' running game. After the first phone conversation with Lombardi, Hornung experienced a renewed interest in football. He experienced a renewed commitment to the game. He would be ready to contribute to the Packers' success.

Next, Lombardi called his 24 year old quarterback, Barr Starr. They had a good conversation, and Starr told his wife that the new coach sounded very organized. Regarding Starr, Eisenberg said "No Packer worked harder than Starr....Blessed with a quick mind, he easily memorized playbooks, mastered the nuances of different offensive systems, and was always ready to play." Every team needs a smart quarterback who can direct the offense. A good quarterback is like a coach on the field. Ironically, Starr himself, would one day coach the Packers. He was the right quarterback for the Packers at this time. He and Lombardi would work well together in leading the Packers to success.

Lombardi opened up the first training camp with the words "Three laps around the goal posts." Lombardi's words set the tone for a team that had previously lacked discipline and focus. Starr, in particular, had been concerned about the team's previous lack of discipline and attention to detail.However, it was clear to the coaches and the players that Lombardi's Packers would be different.

Before the season started, the Packers traded for Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants, who was the first African American man to play for the New York Giants. While the league was slow to accept racial diversity, the New York Giants were leaders in this area. Lombardi respected every person, liked Tunnell and felt that he could help the Packers. Regarding Lombardi's commitment to racial diversity, Tom Bartsch says "Lombardi began getting what he wanted by assessing the Packers' current roster and deciding who could and could not help the team win. This required a man of vision who knew what his team would look like, and how an individual player's skill would fit into the overall scheme. That Lombardi did so without predjudice set him apart. He wanted the best football players, not the best white football players, or black football players, or blue football players. He didn't care about the color of a player's skin. He cared about a player's character and ability." Lombardi benefitted from the good example of the New York Giants in the area of racial diversity. His personal faith also helped him to be against racism. In any event, Lombardi respected each player and wanted to include all players who could help make the Packers a better team.

Eisenberg emphasizes that Lombardi wanted the Packers to be in better shape in order to meet the demands of football. Lombardi believed that the Packers would have an advantage if they were in better shape. He incorporated exercises before practices to help the Packers to improve their conditioning.

Eisenberg says that Lombardi lead the team through a series of calisthenics. He guided them through "push-ups, sit ups, and jumping jacks, then had them run in place." Lombardi wanted the players to get the most out of practice and to be ready for the games. He wanted players who would not tire during the games.

After calisthenics, the players worked with their position coaches for half an hour. Eisenberg says that "Each group moved through drills focusing on fundamentals, running, throwing, catching, and blocking." Lombardi's emphasis on the fundamentals made the players less likely to make key mistakes during the games. As the saying goes, "more games are loss than they are won." In other words, mistakes sometime prevent teams from winning. The team that wins is the one that makes the fewest mistakes.

The night before the first full squad practice, Lombardi addressed the players. According to Eisenberg, Lombardi said "Gentlemen, we're going to have a football team here, and we're going to win some games. Do you know why? You are going to have confidence in me and my system. By being alert, you are going to make fewer mistakes than your opponents. By working harder, you are going to out-execute , out block, and out tackle every team that comes your way." Lombardi's self confidence became contagious. Through Lombardi's assertive, consistent and unapologic leadership, the Packers developed more confidence in themselves. Lombardi expected them to be more focused than their opponents and to play better on every play in every facet of the game.

Lombardi also gave the players a curfew and explained they would be fined if they broke the curfew. Lombardi believed that discipline off the field lead to more discipline on the field. He believed if the players kept their curfew, it would help the team to practice and play better.

As a head coach, Lombardi also saw himself as a teacher of the game of football. Eisenberg says "In the evenings, Lombardi stood at a blackboard and slowly introduced his offense, painstakingly explaining every player's role on every snap." Lombardi's attention to detail helped him to be a good coach and teacher. Since he was attentive to every detail, the players also became more attentive and focused.

The Packers lost the 1960 NFL championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles 17-13. The Packers lost despite outgaining the Eagles in yards from scrimmage 401-296. The Packers also had a 22-13 advantage in first downs. However, Hornung missed a field goal in the first quarter and Lombardi elected to go for it and missed on fourth down twice instead of kicking field goals. It was the only time the Packers would lose an NFL championship game under Lombardi.

In 1961, the Packers beat the Giants for the NFL championship game 37-0. The game was played in Wisconsin during the day on New Years Eve in 20 degree weather. Hornung lead the way for the Packers as he scored a touchdown, kicked three field goals and kicked three extra points.

In the 1962 NFL championship game, the Packers once again defeated the Giants. However, this time the score was much closer, 16-7. Hornung was injured for this game,but right guard Jerry Kramer filled in as a kicker and booted three field goals and one extra point. The Green Bay Packers had now been in three straight NFL championships, and they had won two in a row. Lombardi's transformation of the Packers was in full swing.

The Packers were unable to win their third straight NFL championship in 1963. They had to play for third place in the "playoff bowl" in 1963 and 1964. Lombardi hated having to coach in that game, because he believed first place was the only thing that mattered. He believed that first place alone was acceptable for the Packers. They won the "play off bowl" in 1963 and they lost the game in 1964.

In 1965, the Packers were back in the NFL championship game. They beat the Browns 23-12 behind three field goals by Don Chandler, a rushing touchdown by Paul Hornung and a touch down pass by Bart Starr. After a two year absence, the Packers were once again world champions. This was their third NFL championship with Lombardi as coach.

Before the 1966 season, the NFL and AFL merged into one entity. The winner of the AFL playoffs and NFL playoffs played each other in the first Super Bowl. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 to win the first Super Bowl. Max McGee, the star of the day, had 7 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns - including the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Packers had added to their legacy with a victory in Super Bowl I.

Jerry Kramer, the star offensive lineman kept a journal of the 1967 season- the last season that Lombardi coached the Packers. The journal depicts the confidence the Packers had in their coach and in themselves. In the preseason the Packers defeated the Browns 30-21. However, they trailed 14-0 early. Nevertheless, Kramer's journal reflected the confidence the Packers had in themselves even when they were down 14-0. Kramer said "Some people thought we were in trouble, but we knew we were going to win. We go into every game we play knowing we're going to win. And we always do. We never lose a game. Sometimes, of course, the clock runs out while the other team still has more points than us, but we know that the game isn't really over, that if we kept playing we'd end up ahead." The Packers viewed themselves as winners. Lombardi's confidence was contagious. Kramer's words show that the Packers could not accept defeat.

On September 10th, Kramer wrote "Obviously, I spend a lot of time thinking about defensive tackles. Football is a team game, but especially for the linemen and the receivers, there's a dramatic and important, individual game within the game. To help your team succeed, as a team, you have to succeed as an individual." Kramer expressed the high standard that he had as a player. Football is a series of individual challenges. When a team's individual players successfully meet their challenges, then they help the team to win. Kramer understood his challenges as an offensive lineman. Many, if not all of the Packers, understood their individual assignments. This helped them to become the best team of the 1960's.

In 1967, the Packers were trying to win their third straight NFL championship. According to Kramer, a week before their opening game Lombardi said the following to the Packers: "Gentlemen, no team in the history of the National Football League has ever won three straight world championships. If you succeed, you will never forget this year for the rest of their lives. Gentlemen, this is the beginning of the big push." Lombardi helped the Packers to understand what was at stake. He helped them understand what a major accomplishment three straight world championships would be.
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Although the Packers were well coached and they gave maximum effort, they still had struggles. On October 2nd, Kramer wrote "Bart's had such a frustrating season. He's had nine passes intercepted; most years he doesn't give up that many interceptions in a season. Until today, I didn't realize how frustrated Bart was, how intense he was." The Packer players aimed to be the best they could. They were driven and motivated to be the best. Like all teams, they had their struggles and players became frustrated.

On October 3rd, Kramer wrote about how concerned Lombardi was with their inconsistent play. Despite the Packers' undefeated start, Lombardi was concerned about their performance. Kramer said "Coach Lombardi seemed more disturbed than angry during our meeting this morning. He said there's a general lack of enthusiasm on the club, a lack of desire, something he can't quite out a finger on." Coach Lombardi had such high standards. Even though the Packers had not lost a game, he was still concerned about the team's play.

While the Packers were motivated to win every game, they also had a human side. The team had prayer meetings for the players and the players prayed for themselves and others. Kramer said "Personally, I enjoy the chance to pray before a game. I have two special prayers of my own: 'Don't let me make a fool of myself' and 'Don't let anybody get hurt.' I rarely pray for victory, but if we're in a big game, I sometimes say 'I don't like to ask you this, Lord, but...'. So, despite their toughness and strength, the Packers did not want players hurt. They wanted to win, but not inflict injury on their opponents.

While coach Lombardi could be tough on the players, he was also aware of the progress the team was making. On October 12, Kramer wrote "Coach said this morning that our timing is coming along, that our halfbacks are starting to hit the holes a little better. He said the whole program is beginning to escalate, that were moving toward our peak." Coach Lombardi noticed the team's flaws and their strengths. He was aware of the team's progress and their need to improve even more. This awareness helped him guide the Packers to their titles and accomplishments. Awareness is an important quality in a coach. A coach needs to se the team's strengths and weaknesses. A coach needs to know what is working and not working. A coach needs to help a team maintain what is working and improve what is not working.

Despite, their accomplishments, the Packers at times doubted themselves. On October 19th, Kramer wrote "I'm pretty certain that we don't have any real problems, but I'm not absolutely certain. A little doubt's creeping into my mind. I'm starting to question my own ability, my teammate's ability. I'm wondering, most of all, how good a team we've really got. I think a lot of the other guys are asking themselves the same questions. No one's saying anything out loud, but I can feel it, I can sense it." Despite their hard work and dedication, the Packers were still uncertain if they were good enough to win another championship. While the doubt was there, they continued to work and prepare for games. Their effort never waned.

On October 22nd, the Packers trailed the Giants 14-0. However, they came back and played well the rest of the game. Regarding the Packers' second half performance, Kramer said "Every play worked in the second half, everything we tried, particularly through the left side of the Giant line." They came back and defeated the Giants 48-21. After their victory, the Packers celebrated. Kramer said "We hadn't celebrated so hard in years. It was an indication that we were all a little more concerned about our football team than we wanted to let on, that, without saying anything, we were really beginning to wonder, beginning to doubt. The Giant game made us feel a lot better." Though the Packers had doubts, they overcame their doubts through a good performance against the Giants. Teams have challenges, but good teams overcome them. The 1967 Packers were a good team.

On November 5th, the Packers visited the Baltimore Colts. The Colts won the game 13-10. Kramer said "The locker room was awfully quiet afterward. Everyone felt disgusted with the way we'd lost the game." Despite the loss, the team really appreciated how they had been prepared by coach Lombardi for the game. Kramer recounted words spoken by Bart Starr: 'You know it, Jerry, and you know it, Max, but perhaps the young guys don't: This man is one great coach. He's got a brilliant mind. He prepares us better for a football game than any other team in the National Football League. Going into the game against St.Louis, we knew exactly what we could do, what we couldn't do,how to do it. The same thing today. I've never seen a more complete book on a team than Coach Lombardi had on Baltimore. It was really a beautiful thing to see." Even in defeat, the Packers realized that Lombardi adequately prepared them for the game. They realized that they were the most prepared team in the NFL.

On November 9th, Kramer quoted one of Lombardi's best sayings. Kramer said "Lombardi offered us another one of his sayings today. 'The greatest accomplishment' he said, 'is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.' This saying emphasized the importance of perseverance and effort. In sports, individuals and teams, need to continually rise to the occasion. Teams and individuals need to consistently work to overcome obstacles and difficulties. Under Lombardi's leadership, the Packers were able to do this often.

On November 12th, the Packers defeated the Browns 55-7. Kramer said "Everything, and everybody, worked for us." Sometimes a team is so prepared that the game plan seems perfect. Sometimes a team is so prepared that a team cannot be stopped or slowed down. In early November, the Packers were building momentum.

On November 15th, as the Packers prepared for the San Francisco 49ers, Kramer reflected upon the Packers victory over the Browns. Kramer said "Our performance in the Cleveland game meant a lot to me. It showed how well we could face a real challenge - the Browns had been leading their division- and it showed how well we could bounce back from defeat, even though our first string running backs were out with injuries." This victory showed the resilience of the Packers. They were able to come back from a difficult defeat. They were able to beat a tough opponent.

The Packers would go onto to defeat the 49ers, Bears and Vikings before finishing their seasons with losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburg Steelers. The Packers finished 9-4-1. They were going to the playoffs and hoped to play in the second Super Bowl after winning the first one the year before.

The Packers would defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL championship game for the second straight year. It was their third straight NFL championship overall. The game against Dallas was played in below zero weather, in what would later be called "The Ice Bowl." The game was won in the closing minute on a one yard quarterback sneak by Bart Starr.

After defeating the Cowboys in the NFL championship game, the Packers met the Oakland Raiders in the second Super Bowl. The game was played on January 14th, 1968 in the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida. The Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 33-14 to win their second straight Super Bowl. The Packers had put an exclamation point on their decade of dominance.

After the game, Lombardi congratulated the players and conveyed to the team how proud he was of them and their accomplishments.Kramer basked in the moment. He wrote "I wanted to keep my uniform on as long as I possibly could." Another successful season had concluded for the Green Bay Packers and Kramer wanted to appreciate the moment.

In the almost 100 year history of the NFL many teams have striven for excellence. However, no team reached excellence more often and more consistently than the Green Bay Packers of the 1960's.

The music and life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music has an enduring quality that withstands the test of time. Since the mid to latter part of the 18th century people have enjoyed and benefitted from his music. Audiences were inspired by his operas, concertos, symphonies, serenades, sonatas and other forms of music. Mozart was a prodigy who was given singular and unique musical gifts. His parents, imbued with faith and a sense of responsibility, helped him to cultivate and develop those musical talents. As a result of this strong parenting and special talent, millions of people over the last two centuries have appreciated his music.

In a way, Mozart's life was like any other life. He strove to respect his parents,but tried to find a balance between adhering to his parents requests while striving to be his own person. He respected the guidance of his father, but still needed to express his own views and his own plans for his musical career. He honored his parents, but still developed his independence.

Mozart had the discipline to spend hours everyday composing music, practicing piano and violin and teaching students. However, he still found time to enjoy his life. Throughout his life, he was interested in the theatre, playing billiards and riding horses. After he married and became a father, he spent time with his wife and children.

Mozart's parents passed on their Catholic/Christian faith to their son. He practiced his faith without being dominated by it. He had a healthy approach to Christianity, as he wrote Masses and Requiems for the Church. However, he did it for God's glory and not his own. He understood the responsibility of his faith, but was never crushed by it.

Mozart made good use of his time, but always took the time to enjoy life and remember what was important. He lived a balanced life, and his example inspires us to do the same.

Mozart enjoyed composing and performing. When one of his compositions made their debut, he often performed during the premiere. He was an exceptional pianist who enjoyed playing and receiving applause. He also played violin publically. Music seemed central to his personality and he expressed his love for music naturally.

When I listen to his music, I often hear something within it for the first time. Perhaps, I appreciate the rythym or the melody of the piece for the first time. Or maybe I appreciate the crescendo or the decrescendo for the first time. Sometimes, I marvel at how each note seems perfectly placed. It's as though nothing should be added or deleted. Finally, I am amazed that someone could write so much music for so many instruments

Paul Johnson's biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart presents a succinct and reader friendly portrait of Mozart's life. The book is divided into 5 chapters. The Miracle Prodigy;Master of Instruments; A Married Composing Machine; Mozart's Operetic Magic; and A Good Life Fully Lived. The book is 155 pages, which is relatively short for a biography. Despite it's brevity, the book presents a full fledged picture of Mozart's life and accomplishments.

Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. He was one of seven children born to Leopold and Anna Marie Mozart. According to Johnson, Mozart possessed a high amount of energy during his life:"Mozart was healthy and active, some would say hyperactive. He rode a horse regularly, traveled endlessly, was a fanatic and vigorous dancer, and worked relentlessly, often late into the night." Mozart was a hard working composer who stayed active and enjoyed life. Mozart lived a balanced life.

Johnson points out that Mozart's musical accomplishments were vast: "his output included 17 masses...1 requiem, plus various Kyries , litanies, vespers, Magnificat, and 17 Church sonatas and cantatas and oratorios. There were 7 major operas, plus 16 others, and intermezzos, songspiels, feste teartrali, serenatos, drammi per musica, and other stage pieces, plus 35 songs. Plus 7 sets of ballet music, 8 duets or assembles for voice and orchestra, and 58 arias. He composed 61symphonies..., 24 serenades and divertissements, 19 wind ensembles, 15 marches, 219 dances...,23 keyboard concertos, 10 concertos for strings and 16 for wind, 27 string quartets, 6 string quintets, plus a large number of works I find it difficult to classify." So, Mozart's musical accomplishments were vast and varied. He composed for multiple instruments and genres.

Many of Mozart's works were performed for live audiences during his life , but they were not published until after he died. According to Johnson, the music publishing field grew a lot 10 years after Mozart's death. Mozart probably did not know how popular his music would become.

Mozart grew up in the musical city of Salzburg, Austria . Music was sung in churches and in secular environments. Orchestras and choirs were present in Salzburg. Mozart's parents were also very musical. So, young Mozart was surrounded by music.

Mozart's parents were very musical and influential on Mozart. Johnson says "That he started early was due to his father." Leopold Mozart, Amadeus' father, was a talented violinist who recognized his son's talents at a young age. Leopold, himself, was an accomplished musician. He wrote a instructional book on the violin.Leopold was grateful to God for his son's musical talents. Leopold felt responsible for his son and tried hard to cultivate his son's musical talents. According to Johnson, Leopold gave up playing the violin in order to have more time to teach his son and daughter.

Mozart began playing music at age 3. Mozart began composing music when he was 5, and he wrote his first symphony when he was 8. At age 12, while on a tour of Europe with his parents, he wrote his first opera. According to Johnson, "Mozart's own musical personality soon began to emerge by the age of eight."

In Mozart's day, musicians and composers were not paid well. Johnson points out that "Musicians were exactly in the same position as other household servants -cooks, chamber maids, coachmen, and sentries." Musicians and composers were employed by the Church and the state in the 18th century. They would often compose music by a certain deadline that was given them by a bishop, emperor or empress.

In the 18th century, people frequently wrote letters to family members or friends. It was an important way for people who were separated by many miles to keep in contact with each other. The modern world has instantaneous communication through phones and computers. However, in the 18th century communication required great patience. It would be a long time before people could read a response to their original communication. People would wait patiently for a letter to arrive.

Nine of Mozart's letters have survived to the present day. They were addressed to his cousins. The letters reflect Mozart's sense of humor and his habit of improvising with language. These letters, like much of his music, reflects his creativity and intelligence. Additionally, Johnson says "The letters allow us to follow Mozart's journeys across Europe, shepherded by his father, in considerable detail."

The letters also showed how difficult Mozart's financial situation was. Johnson says "It was difficult at this point in the history of music publishing, for a composer to live by sale of his copyrights. Johann Sebastian Bach, for instance, had only nine of his significant works published in his lifetime. Mozart did better, but not much, one reason why so many of his works survive in his handwriting."

In addition to being an excellent composer, Mozart played multiple instruments well. He played the clavier, violin, piano, organ and other instruments. Johnson says "Mozart had to play the piano all the time, composing, conducting, performing, and organizing operas and other works. But there is some evidence he actually preferred the violin and, even better the viola." Mozart wrote 5 violin concertos when he was 19.

However, despite Mozart's great appreciation for the violin, Mozart may have preferred playing the viola. Johnson says "Mozart, himself, preferred to play the viola rather than the violin, probably because he had a fondness for its rich, fruity tone." However, playing the violin was easier for Mozart than playing the viola. He liked playing both, but found the violin to be a better fit for his musical abilities. Additionally, there were more violins than violas in the world at this time. The violin was a more prominent instrument, and there was more solo work written for the violin at this time. Johnson says "Until Mozart began to tackle the viola, it was not seen as a solo instrument (no solos at all are known before 1750)."

Mozart helped to elevate the viola. When Mozart wrote the "Sinfonia Concerte in 1779, he helped to make the viola more popular. Johnson says that Mozart's use of the E flat key helped highlight the viola in this particular piece. The E Flat key was suited to the unique characteristics of the viola. Johnson says "Thus, thanks to Mozart's cunning, based on sheer knowledge, the violas prominence is underlined by enhanced performance, and the two instruments become true equals for the first time in musical history."

Johnson also points out that Mozart helped to develop the horn as a major instrument. Mozart wrote four concertos for the horn. Three concertos were written in E major, while one was written in D major.

"Horn concerto No. 1" was written in D major features two movements - Allegro and Rondo. Even though it is entitled "No 1", it was the last one to be composed. This concerto included bassoons.

"Horn concerto No. 2" was composed in 1783. It features ripieno horns, which are horns besides the solo horn. This concerto features three parts - Allegro, Andante and Rondo.

"Horn concerto No. 3" is also in E flat major. It was composed between 1789 and 1787. The concerto was written as an act of friendship for Joseph Leutgeb, a horn player. This concerto features 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and strings in addition to the solo horn. The concerto features three movements- Allegro, Larghetto and another Allegro. Some people think that the third movement sounds like the rondo of Mozart's piano concerto No. 22.

In addition to these three works, Mozart wrote incomplete music for the horn.

In a word, Mozart contributed a lot to the repertoire of the horn. Johnson points out that "There is also much ingenious and beautiful and highly original and idiosyncratic horn scoring in Mozart's compositions for. Large or small orchestras. The truth is, without Mozart, the repertoire for horn would be a huge hole, with a few isolated hillocks."

Mozart had many friends who were musicians. He performed with other musicians and often wrote music for them. At times, Mozart had people in mind when he wrote music for them. Johnson says "Mozart had a highly personal approach to music. He associated each instrument with particular people he knew who were especially good at playing it, and wrote with them -or often one of them-in mind.

Mozart understood that each musician was different and unique. For instance, bassoonist were unique because each bassoon was different. They were all made differently at this time. Johnson thinks that Mozart may have written his "Bassoon Concerto in B flat" for Felix Rheimer who was the best bassoon player at this time. He also wrote 3 bassoon concertos for Baron Durnitz - an amateur bassoonist. In any event, Johnson says " what we can say is that the Bassoon Concerto in B-flat, K. 191., written in 1774, when he was eighteen, shows Mozart's complete understanding of the theoretical and actual capabilities of the instrument and also of its spirit. Bassoonist love it because it is by far the best major work in the repertoire."


Mozart married Constance on August 4th 1782. They remained married until his death in 1791. They had 7 children. After they married, they lived in Vienna where they experienced debt and financial difficulties. However, Johnson points out that "Indebtedness was almost a universal habit among married couples in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries." Johnson says that the poor, the middle class and the upper class all struggled with debt. Johnson points out that even "aristocrats paid late." Debt seemed to be part of the 18th century culture.

According to Johnson, "Mozart's income came from five main sources." Mozart made money through teaching; opera commissions; public performances and concerts; private concerts; and the selling of his published music. Musicians and composers were not well paid in the 18th century, so Mozart had to maximize his income through his music in different ways. Mozart made the most of his situation and did his best to provide for his family.

We do not know for sure how many pupils Mozart had. It probably depended upon how much time he had to teach and how much discretionary income people in the community had. If people could afford music lessons, Mozart was probably the best person in the community to go to. In 1782, Mozart told his dad that he had 3 students. He may have had more in other years. He probably taught has many students as he could.

Making money in opera was difficult, but it was one source of Mozart's income. Composers received a one time payment for an operatic performance. Johnson points out that "no royalties were paid, as a rule, and so repeat performances brought in nothing." Although, he did not make much money from operas, Mozart loved the opera and he loved writing operas. The opera was one of his favorite musical genres because it combined theatre and music, two of his greatest interests.

Mozart wrote 22 operas. His first one "The obligation of the first and foremost commandment" was written in 1767. His final opera, "The Magic Flute" was composed in 1791. Mozart often conducted the premieres of his operas. Mozart's operas reflect his love for music, theatre and comedy. The genre features many different elements, and Mozart had the right personality and talents to write for the genre. Mozart collaborated with many musicians, singers and comics when he wrote the operas. He worked well with the musicians and the other people who helped make theses operas successful.

Mozart worked very hard when he composed "The Marriage of Figaro." According to Johnson, Mozart worked harder on this piece of work "than on anything else in his entire life." It's possible that "The Marriage of Figaro" may have expressed Mozart's personality better than any of his works. According to Johnson, Mozart was a positive and upbeat person who "transformed the play into a comic epic of forgiveness, reconciliation and final delight."

Mozart was a balanced person who wanted others to see value and meaning in life. He wanted other people to experience happiness. He conveyed these intentions through his music and the way in which he interacted with others. Regarding "The Marriage of Figaro" Johnson says"Figaro is thus the embodiment of Mozart's emotional nature in music ...He enjoyed existence and wanted every one to be has happy as he. He believed they could be, too, if only they were sensible. "Figaro", in the end, shows everyone more or less being sensible, decent, and forgiving - and so happy." Mozart's positive and upbeat personality came through in his operas and in all of his music.

The overture for "The Marriage of Figaro" is one of the best overtures ever written for an opera. The overture is powerful and beautiful. The melody is memorable and well respected throughout the musical world. The overture sets the tone for the opera. Commentators have said that the overture prepares the audience for the music of the opera. Many people love the music of the overture. The music inspires the listener to look forward to the opera.

The public performances of Mozart's music and his operas was also a source of income for him. Giving public concerts was not easy. It required a lot of work and organizational skills. The composer had to assemble local musicians, teach them the music and rehearse with them. Public concerts required a lot of planning on the part of the composer.

Johnson points out that "A composer could also give public concerts. But he usually had to organize them himself and sell the tickets." The theatre, the composer and the musicians divided up the proceeds. In addition to the income, Mozart, the musicians and the actors experienced great pride in their performances.

In addition to his 22 operas, Mozart is known for his concertos. He's especially known for his violin and piano concertos. Mozart wrote 5 violin concertos when he was 19 years of age. Additionally, throughout his career, he wrote 23 piano concertos. Johnson says "The classical concerto is very much his own creation, and the piano is the means by which he created it." Mozart's piano concertos are my favorite musical works. They contain memorable melodies and unforgettable bars of music.

The concerto features many instruments with one instrument standing out. The piano concertos highlight piano melodies. The piano contrasts and complements other instruments. The piano concertos begin with a basic melody played by the orchestra. Then the piano is introduced and adds to the orchestral introduction. The piano melody adds another layer and element to the basic theme of the concerto. While the piano is highlighted, the supportive role of the other instruments is important, too. A good concerto features contrasting parts and collaborative music as well.

Johnson points out that "Between 1773 and 1791, Mozart wrote 23 piano concertos (plus 2 rondos) which represent his greatest single body of work, exploring every aspect of the instrument in it's relation to the orchestra." Some consider Mozart's piano concertos to be his greatest works. Mozart, himself, was a very talented piano player. Mozart often played the piano parts at the public performances of his piano concertos.

In 1791, The final year of Mozart's life, he accomplished a lot. Johnson referred to this year as "perhaps the busiest in his entire life." During this year, Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" was written. Mozart conducted the premier on September 30th, 1791. The opera was well received and became very popular. It remains one of the most celebrated and popular operas today. The music for the opera involves two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani and strings."The Magic Flute" remains one of the most performed operas today.Yearly there are hundreds of productions and thousands of performances of this opera throughout the world.

Johnson points out that there were other major accomplishments that year as well. Johnson says "On January 5, he had finished and played the big and powerful piano concerto in B-flat major (k595) and this was followed by his String Quartet in E-flat Major (614), one of his most majestic and subtle chamber works. He also wrote his dazzling Clarinet Concerto in A Major (k.622), the best thing he ever did in my opinion, and one of his chief masterworks, the one that I could least spare, for rejoicing on a gaudy day and comfort on a sad one." These were some of Mozart's best works.

His "Piano concerto in B major" had three movements: Allegro, Larghetto and Allegro. The movements are connected to produce one major theme. Mozart wrote the cadenzas, or solos, for the first and third movements. It's possible that the concerto made it's debut on March 4th, 1791, which would have been Mozart's last public concert. It was the 27th and final piano concerto that Mozart wrote. Some consider Mozart's piano concerto to be his crowning achievements. In any event, they are among his best works.

His "String Quintet in E Flat Major" was his 6th and final string quintet. It was the last major piece of chamber music that he wrote. The piece created four movements: Allegro do molto; Andante; Menuetto/Allegro and Allegro. The quintet features two violins, two violas and a cello.

Mozart's "Clarinet Concerto in A Major" features 3 movements: Allegro in A Major, Adagio in D Major and a Rondo in A Major. The concerto featured a good balance between the clarinet and the other instruments of the orchestra. The concerto made it's premiere in October of 1971 and was well received.

Two of Mozart's final works were "Ave Verum Corpum" and the Requiem that would be played at his funeral. "Ave Verum Corpum" was a Christian hymn in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. It was performed for the first time on Corpus Christi Sunday in 1791. The music was combined with a prayer that had been written in the 14th century by Pope Innocent VI.

While Mozart was dying, he composed the Requiem that would be played at his funeral. As his health declined, he realized he was probably writing his final piece of music. The Requiem was incomplete, but it nevertheless was a remarkable piece of music. Johnson says "He completed only the first movement, the Requiem Aeternam and the Kyrie. The second movement, or Dies Irae, and subsequent movements to the Hosias- that is up to and including the ninth- were in draft form." Although it is a Requiem, Johnson points out that there is no sadness to the music. Johnson says "On the contrary, there is a consistent note of gentleness, love, reconciliation, and peace." Perhaps, it was Mozart's believe in the Resurrection of Christ that gave him the grace to write a Requiem at the end of his life that featured hopeful tones and beautiful notes. In any event, it would be Mozart's final work.

In early December of 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died of "severe camp fever." A life that began surrounded by music ended surrounded by music. Mozart began composing music at age 5 and did not stop until he died. A life that began with music ended with music.

Mozart's Christian faith inspired much of his music. As he left this world and entered eternity he saw Christ - the source of his music and accomplishments. He was reunited with the parents who dutifully raised him and gave him the discipline that was necessary to cultivate his talents. His life had come full circle. He did the best that he could to compose beautiful and incredible music and to live a balanced and good life.

The Sedin twins have been role models both on and off the hockey rink

Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin are twin brothers who play hockey for the Vancouver Canucks. Henrik serves as the team captain, while Daniel is the alternative captain. Henrik is the all time leading scorer for the Canucks with 1031 points, and Daniel is second all time with 998 points.

Henrik is first all time in assists, while Daniel is second all time in assists. Daniel is the organization's all time goal scorer with 375 total goals. Henrik ranks second with 239 all time goals. Henrik has played in 1271 games as a Canuck. Daniel has played in 1248 games with Vancouver. No player has played in more games for Vancouver than the Sedin brothers.

Both players were taken in the first round of the 1999 draft. Daniel was taken second overall,and Henrik was selected one pick after. They have spent their entire careers in Vancouver. They would like to finish their careers playing for the Canucks. They are both in their 17th season with the team.

This season is the final one of their current contract. So, many have speculated that the brothers may leave after a this year. However, Henrik and Daniel wrote a letter that appeared on the "Players Tribune" website. The letter reassured the Canuck fans that they want to finish their careers in Vancouver.

The letter features alternating comments from both brothers. Daniel said "When I think of Vancouver, I think about one thing: home...We had no idea what our potential could be, or how long we would stay. But we have grown into men in this city, we have raised our children here, and we have made so many memories over the years." Henrik confirmed Daniel's words when he wrote "we are Swedes, but this is our home."

When explaining why the brothers wanted to remain in Vancouver, Daniel said "If we are going to win a Stanley Cup, if we are going to achieve our dream, we'd only want it to be in Vancouver. If we did it anywhere else, I don't think it would feel the same." Winning the Stanley Cup is not the only goal for Henrik and Daniel. They want to win the Stanley Cup in Vancouver for the Canucks. This is the only NHL organization that they have ever played for. They consider Vancouver to be their home. They want to win it for their home team.

Henrik continued by saying "We are Swedes, but this is our home." Henrik went on to tell the story about the first time that he and his brother went on a bike ride. They were avid bike riders in Sweden, and they brought that hobby with them to Vancouver. Henrik told how the brothers would go on bike rides early in the morning. Henrik discussed biking "almost three kilometers straight up Grouse Mountain." He discussed how challenging and rewarding the experience was. Henrik said"coming down mountain in the gondola with a coffee in your hand is the best feeling in the world. You can see all of Vancouver as the sun is coming up. There's nothing better than that. It never gets old. I don't know how to describe it. It's just home."

In the letter, the brothers went on to describe some of the players that they played with in Vancouver. The letter also describes their growth as players and how their roles changed through the years. Henrik discussed how the brothers transitioned from role players to leaders in 2008. Henrik also mentioned how the entire city of Vancouver supported the team during the 2011 Stanley Cup run.

In 2014 a panel convened to name the greatest Canuck in the history of the franchise. The panel chose Henrik. He was chosen because of his excellent play and his consistent leadership.

Ed Wilkes, writing for "The Province" newspaper, writes that "Henrik's greatest strength lies in his ability to make those around him better." Wilkes points out that there were many players who had their best seasons playing along side Henrik.

In addition to his excellent play and exceptional leadership, Wilkes cites Henrik's strong character off of the ice. Wilkes says " Think of the way he's carried himself on and off the ice. Think of his impact on the community. Again, we're talking about the greatest Canuck of all time and the collective weight of everything Henrik has accomplished here makes him the clear choice." The Canuck organization, fans and media have a strong appreciation for the impact He rik has made on the organization and the Vancouver community.

Wilkes showed appreciation for the personal and athletic growth of Henrik and Daniel. Wilkes says "The Sedins never met a challenge they couldn't outwork and that was the basis of their transformation from support players to bona fide stars. They became bigger and stronger, enabling them to hold the puck longer in their trademark recycling game. They added a stride to their skating, making them as dangerous off the break as in their half court game. They did this through application and perseverance, all awhile maintaining an unimpeachable standard of personal conduct." So, the improvement of both players, their athletic leadership and their strong character have helped them to overcome their challenges and make a strong impact upon the team and the community. Wilkes also points out that that Henrik was chosen as team captain before the 2010-11 season. He is someone that the team respects and learns from.

Both Henrik and Daniel grew as players. They developed their skills and strength over time. When they arrived from Sweden they were young players who had raw talent, but were not strong enough to be impact players. They also needed to develop skills that were necessary to be successful in the NHL. However, over time, they became stronger and adapted themselves to the rigors and challenges of the NHL.

Grant Lawerence of "Westender" says when the twins played their first season in 2000 "they didn't have the immediate impact that other Canucks superstars like Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden did. But little by little, with the reliability of a twin turbo Volvo, the twins put up numbers and eventually turned most of the linemates into scoring stars." Henrik and Daniel made the players around them better. They helped those around them to find more scoring opportunities. They helped the other players to develop their talents and abilities.

Lawrence says "Playing an honest, clean game of outrageous puck possession, the likes of which the league had rarely seen before, Henrik and Daniel rose through the ranks of the Canucks and the league, becoming first line, league leading stars." Rarely had the NHL seen two players more talented than the Sedin twins. They gradually became better players who earned more respect from the Vancouver organization and from the NHL.

Lawrence goes on by saying "Pretty much every team in the NHL adopted their patented slap-pass. They won scoring races and MVP awards, and have been nothing but prime examples of commitment and poise on and off the ice." Their inovated slap pass was something that other teams accepted and incorporated into their offensive style. The Sedin twins received individual accolades because of their outstanding performances.

The Sedin brothers are also known for their innovative approach to hockey. Jeff Argos writes "It seems that each summer they come back to Vancouver with a new trick, a new set play, or a new skill set in their offensive arsenal." Henrik and Daniel try to grow as players every off season. They want to start the new season as improved players. They want to be able to help Vancouver as much as possible. Every offseason they try and improve their skill set and strengthen their approach to the game.

Argos points out that Henrik is the best in the NHL at the "behind the Net Behind the Back Pass." As Henrik is skating in back of the net, the goalie will watch him because he has the hockey" puck. Then Henrik will pass the puck behind his back to an open player who has a shot at an open area of the net. This skill has made Henrik a dangerous player around the net.

According to Argos, the Sedin brothers also do a great job on the "Power Play Zone Entry." Angus says that Henrik and Daniel employ this technique better than anybody because they "position a player (usually Daniel) right on the blue line, on his strong side Henrik will take a pass, quickly skate in , and open up ice behind him for Henrik. It's a subtle move, but one that is near impossible to defend against." So, the innovative style of the Sedin brothers make it difficult for defenders and goalies. Their offensive repertoire makes them impactful difference makers on the ice.

The Sedin brothers have made a positive difference both on and off the ice. They have helped the Vancouver Canucks to be a competitive hockey team and they have contributed to the Vancouver community. They have adopted Vancouver as their home, and Vancouver has adopted them as well. In addition to being outstanding hockey players, Argos says "They are both humble, mild mannered, clean players who do an immense amount of charity work and are fantastic human beings off the ice."