Blasts from the Past: Podcasts with Lombardi Legends

The 37th Annual Vince Lombardi Golf Classic tournament is taking place this weekend in Milwaukee...well, Menomonee Falls actually, a Milwaukee suburb. And it is one of the best places to see a lot of former Packers and other NFL and sports celebrities gathered together. Inevitably, stories turn to days of yore. After all, this is a tournament in honor of The Coach himself. Some stories relate to today, as well. On occasion, a microphone is nearby and we get to listen in.

We are treated to two such episodes in the form of podcasts courtesy of 620WTMJ radio in Milwaukee. Sports poobah (and did you know that the term "poobah" originated in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado?), Bill Michaels, landed both interviews.

One compelling conversation is with Packers great Jerry Kramer, one of the best guards to ever play the game and who is still not in the Hall of Fame...but that's a whole other topic. In this interview, Kramer talks about his fight for better pensions and treatment of former NFL players. He has created an organization dedicated to this effort called Gridiron Greats which, by the way you can find in the Links area of PackerFansUnited.com. You can listen to this podcast by clicking here.

Michaels also hosted a one-of-a-kind roundtable discussion with a group of Packers who played in the Ice Bowl 40 years ago: Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Max McGee, Bob Jeter and Zeke Bratkowski. WTMJ's Jay Sorgi also helped facilitate things. Check it out here.

Barry Released

Packers offensive lineman Kevin Barry -- of "U71" package fame -- was released by the team yesterday. Barry was a favorite of former coach Mike Sherman for the power run blocking scheme he favored. However, with the move last season under new head coach Mike McCarthy toward a zone blocking scheme Barry no longer was a good fit. He was also hurt in training camp, rupturing a thigh tendon which sidelined him for the season. A Racine, Wisconsin native, Barry was a fan favorite. Being released by the Packers stung a bit, according to reports. But immediately upon being released his agent began receiving calls. A player of his size and ability, assuming he can make a full recovery from his injury, will certainly find a place somewhere in the league. Good luck, Kevin. It was fun watching you pancake opposing players. Just hope you don't do it to any of your former teammates any time soon.

'67 Pack Profiled Friday on NFL Network

At 7 p.m. (Central) this Friday the NFL Network will air a one-hour documentary on the 1967 Packers. You remember them: the team that beat the 'Boys in the Ice Bowl at Lambeau and then thawed out in time to beat the Raiders in Super Bowl II in a slightly warmer locale for their second straight Super Bowl championship. Running back Chuck Mercein, linebacker Dave Robinson and guard Jerry Kramer recount the season. The show is narrated by Magnum PI himself, Tom Selleck.

This must be the week for the Pack on the NFL Network. Last weekend it played back-to-back a history of the Packers followed by Brett Favre "In His Own Words." For any Packer fans who may have been lucky enough to catch either or both, it was worth the time. Sounds as if this one will be too. Some of Mercein's recounting of the Ice Bowl gives a nice flavor of things: "The first play of the game was almost a disaster. Donny Anderson fumbles the football and it was like trying to pick up an ice cube. I recovered the ball. The referee blew the whistle and the next thing that happened was he tried to pull the metal whistle out of his mouth. It was stuck to his lip. He had to rip it out of his mouth and his lip began to bleed . . . and the blood froze. From that moment on, there was never another whistle in the Ice Bowl We played the entire Ice Bowl listening to the commands of the referees saying, 'Stop!' And everybody did." Coooooooooool!!!