 Classic SI photo by Heinz Kluetmeier |
Leader of the Pack
He may have been born and raised in Mississippi, but Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has become as much a part of the fabric of Wisconsin as brats and beer. Since joining the Packers in 1992, Favre has led the team to two Super Bowl appearances, been selected to the Pro Bowl six times and become the NFLšs only three-time MVP.
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FACES IN THE CROWD | 
| Connie Carpenter Madison Sept. 6, 1976 -- A member of the 1972 Olympic speed-skating team and now a Wisconsin sophomore, Connie, 19, won the U.S. Women's National Bicycle Road Racing championship in Louisville, covering the 36.9-mile course in 1:36:20.
Career highlight: The first U.S. woman to compete in the Winter and Summer Olympics, Carpenter won gold in cycling in 1984.
Then photo by Milt Leidner;Now photo by AP | 
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Eric Heiden, Madison
Took speed skating record five gold medals at 1980 Olympics; won total of 10 world championships in '77, '78, '79.
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Ernie Nevers, Superior
All-Pro in each of his five NFL seasons; scored league-record 40 points in Cardinals' 40-6 win over Bears in 1929; pitched for Browns from 1926 to '28.
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Al Simmons, Milwaukee
Outfielder drove in 100 runs 12 times and had 200 hits six times (including 253 in 1925) in 20-year major league career.
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FLASHBACK |
1987: Why Everyone Should Root For the Packers
Tired of living in NFL fear? Worried that some fat-boy owner in a vicuna coat -- Hello, there, Art Modell -- is going to render a lifetime of watching, praying and season-ticket buying meaningless in a moment, taking the old hometown team to some new megabucks stadium for some new megabucks deal?
FULL STORY
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Wisconsinites root for? SI asked the Badger State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Milwaukee Brewers | 48% |
Chicago Cubs | 10% |
Minnesota Twins | 4% |
No favorite | 24% |
Favorite NFL team
Green Bay Packers | 83% |
Chicago Bears | 5% |
Favorite NBA team
Milwaukee Bucks | 47% |
Los Angeles Lakers | 6% |
Chicago Bulls | 4% |
No favorite | 35% |
Favorite NHL team
Detroit Red Wings | 11% |
Chicago Blackhawks | 9% |
Colorado Avalanche | 5% |
No favorite | 59% |
Favorite pro team
Green Bay Packers | 77% |
Chicago Cubs | 4% |
Milwaukee Bucks | 3% |
Chicago Bears | 3% |
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Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Brett Favre | 50% |
Bart Starr | 13% |
Hank Aaron | 10% |
State's biggest rivalry
Packers-Bears | 32% |
Packers-Vikings | 27% |
Wisconsin-Marquette | 27% |
State's biggest rival
Illinois | 44% |
Minnesota | 42% |
Michigan | 8% |
Favorite sport to play
Golf | 24% |
Fishing | 13% |
Hiking | 13% |
Bowling | 10% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 86% |
Winter Olympics | 43% |
Summer Olympics | 39% |
Basketball | 34% |
Golf | 31% |
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Favorite living sports announcer
Bob Uecker | 48% |
John Madden | 10% |
Al Michaels | 4% |
Bob Costas | 3% |
Favorite college sports team?
Wisconsin Badgers Football | 48% |
Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball | 8% |
Wisconsin Badgers Basketball | 6% |
Which is more important to you, sports or sex?
Sex | 51% |
Sports | 18% |
Declined to answer | 31% |
FUN FACT | |
Sixty percent of Wisconsinites polled have attended a tailgate party. | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 415 Wisconsin residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 4.8%.**Multiple responses allowed.
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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26 Cost in dollars of the "Fun For 4 Pack", a Monday-game promotion offered by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League. Fans receive four reserved seats, four hot dogs and four small sodas.
28.95 Cost in dollars of the Green Bay Packers Wisconsin Cheese Hat Game Combo offered on packertime.com. In addition to the hat, the package includes an "Are You a Wisconsin Cheesehead?" cheese can-cooler and a "Green Bay Packers No. 1 Fan" foam hand.
14,000 Approximate number of fans who participated in a team-naming contest for the NBA franchise awarded to Milwaukee in 1968. According to the 1969-70 Milwaukee Bucks yearbook, R.D. Trebilcox of Whitefish Bay, Wis., was one of 45 people who suggested the name "Bucks." His reasoning: "Bucks are spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile."
2.0 Minimum GPA a University of Wisconsin-Madison student must carry in order to qualify to be a cheerleader.
2003 Year the Packers Brick and Tile Program was launched. The program allows Packers fans to personalize commemorative bricks and/or tiles to be installed outside and within Lambeau Field.
18 Age at which Robin Yount became the Milwaukee Brewers' regular shortstop (April 5, 1974).
30 Points scored by Marquette's Butch Lee in the Warriors' 67-59 defeat of North Carolina in the 1977 men's NCAA basketball championship game. Lee was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
26 Milwaukee mascots who signed up to participate in the 11th annual Mascot Game. The game, which took place on March 21, 2003 at the Bradley Center, featured local celebs such as the Bucks' Bango and Marquette University's Golden Eagle as well as Bernie Brewer and UW-Milwaukee's Victor E. Panther.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Warren Sapp
Among Wisconsinites there's no forgiving Sapp for viciously blindsiding Packers tackle Chad Clifton last season. The most hated opponents: the Chicago Bears (45%), the Minnesota Vikings (40%) and Sapp's Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3%).
Warren Sapp | 27% |
Randy Moss | 20% |
Mike Ditka | 8% |
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: May 29, 1848 (30th state)
Area: 65,503 square miles
Bird: Robin
Capital: Madison
Economy: Agriculture -- Cheese, dairy products, cattle, hogs, vegetables, corn, cranberries. Industry -- Machinery, food processing, paper products, electric equipment, fabricated metal products, tourism.
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Flower: Wood Violet (Viola papilionacea)
Nickname: Badger State
Population: 5,363,675 (18th)
Pro sports teams: Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks
Major college programs: Marquette Golden Eagles, Wisconsin Badgers
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