World Report: January 24, 1997 Vol.2 No.15
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Back In The Big Game
Green Bay, Wisconsin, was dubbed "Titletown" after its Packers won the first two Super Bowl titles ever, in 1967 and 1968. Since then, the team has spent Super Bowl Sunday on the couch, watching the game on TV, popcorn close by. But this year, all that changes.
The New England Patriots' only shot at a Super Bowl win was in 1986, and they lost--big time. This year the Pats, including star quarterback Drew Bledsoe, left, are back in the game.
When these teams clash on January 26 in the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, they'll both have plenty to prove. The Packers are out to reclaim Green Bay's old glory and nickname. And the Patriots are determined to wipe out the memory of 1986 and prove the predictions wrong. (Green Bay is favored to win.)
Green Bay's fans have a personal Super Bowl stake--they own much of the team. In 1950, fans bought shares of stock to keep the team from folding. Green Bay resident Carol Vanden Boogart says nearly everyone in town supports the Packers: "If they don't, they don't belong here."
But it will take more than wild fans for Green Bay to get past New England's tough, improved defense. After waiting all these years to snag football's biggest prize, the Patriots "have a real sense of urgency," says Bledsoe. "You can't count on getting this far all the time."
