'Talk some junk, have some fun': Donald Driver softball game thrills sold-out crowd
GRAND CHUTE – Football legends of Green Bay reunited Sunday, along with the current stars of the Packers, for the annual Donald Driver Charity Softball Game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
For over 20 years, Packers players have collaborated with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to provide fan-friendly, fun-for-the-whole-family entertainment as a way to generate money for various charities and causes.
This year, the event generated $150,000 for the Donald Driver Foundation – whose mission is to ‘Display Strong Hands, Strong Minds, and Loving Hearts to serve as a hand up, not a handout.” The proceeds benefit underprivileged children and families by addressing health and wellness, safety, education and career development.
Originally hosted by Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre from 1999-2007, Driver took over the duties in 2008 until passing the torch to former Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson in the mid-2010s. This year not only marked the return of the Packers’ all-time leading receiver as host, but the old gunslinger came back to play as well.
“He’s the foundation for this,” said Driver, referring to Favre. “He started it, and after that he just passed the torch. Same thing I did when I passed the torch to Jordy and it went on down the line. I just picked up the phone. We’ve been good friends for whatever, 23 years now. I don’t think that’s going to ever end, so I just picked up the phone and made a call and said, ‘Hey man, listen, we’re doing this legends versus current players, would you come back? You started this, come back and be a part of it.’ And he didn’t hesitate. He said sure.”
Favre announced June 2 he would be a participant in the game and ticket sales skyrocketed. The announced attendance at the event was over 7,000 fans. Neuroscience Group Field has a capacity of 5,900.
“I’m just really happy to be a part of this,” said co-captain of the Stars team and current Packers running back AJ Dillon. “We’ve got a sold-out crowd and I think it’s really cool to have all the fans here to see us not playing football but doing something else, having fun, joking around and seeing some of their favorite Packers coming on back.”
Former Packers wideout and co-captain of the Legends squad James Jones added this event has always been special to him.
“This is always fun, especially when we’re able to interact with the fans,” said Jones. “The fans see us behind the helmets so much while we’re playing, then they don’t see us as much when we’re gone now so it’s always good to come back as retired players. Being able to interact with the fans is what we’re here for. Talk some junk in the meantime, have some fun.”
The other co-captain for the Stars team, Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones, reiterated how this event is about comradeship and forming lasting relationships with the community.
“It’s a blessing to be here today, just in the presence of everyone and especially the legends, building the chemistry, that bond. As James said, a lot of times we’re wearing helmets, so people don’t get to see our face. This is one of the few times they actually get to see our face and interact with us and have fun, and we still get to compete, so this is an event that I always love and look forward to. I’d like to thank the fans for coming out and making this something special,” Aaron Jones said.
Amongst the invited Green Bay Packers players on the Stars roster was University of Wisconsin sophomore running back Braelon Allen, a Fond du Lac native who is hosting his own charity softball event at Herr-Baker Field on the campus of Marian University next month. Allen will be joined on the field by current Wisconsin athletes and Wisconsin legends across multiple sports. Proceeds from the game will benefit the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Foundation.
Although he only saw limited action in the game Sunday, Allen said he had planned on taking this one easy in order to prepare for the event bearing his name July 17.
“I didn’t get much work, but that was the thought process of doing this game – getting a little practice in,” said Allen. “I’m definitely going to have to do more next month.”
Allen spent some time after the game chatting on the field with his counterparts, Jones and Dillon, so it begs the question – were any tips shared with the young, up-and-coming star of the Badgers?
“No,” Allen said with a grin, “It’s always nice to be around guys who’ve been in your spot before that are now competing at the next level, especially guys like Aaron and AJ who have both been successful in the league. It’s nice just to be able to have a conversation with them. I try not to ask too many tips right off the bat, but rather just connecting with them and getting to know them is always good.”
The Stars came from behind to defeat the Legends after six innings, 5-4. Jon Runyan got the crowd going early by launching the first home run of the day. Super Bowl XLV champion and former Packers tight end Jermichael Finley countered for the Legends with a rocket down the left field line as teammate James Jones celebrated by knocking over his co-captain, Driver.
Other highlights included Aaron Jones getting caught in a pickle between second and third base, Favre grounding into a fielder’s choice to shortstop in his only at-bat with Driver serving as courtesy runner, and even Packers head coach Matt LaFleur got involved by hitting the ball a whopping 2 feet in front of home plate and then kicking it out of play.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Donald Driver Charity Softball Game thrills Fox Cities Stadium crowd
