Joey T\'s DHPF of the Month

Name:  Christian Sergio de la Torre

Currently resides in: Colorado Springs, CO

Q: What city/state were you born and raised?

A: Madison, WI

Q: What is your earliest memory of being a DHPF?  

A: Well…..let’s see….probably as soon as I popped out the womb! ha ha. Honestly, I would say when I was probably 8 or 9 years old, I happened to make my way into my Grandpa\’s basement out at their farm in Columbus, WI.  Anyways, he had all these hats hanging with cobwebs from them you know, your typical farm basement. I saw this one hat that just caught my attention, an all green snapback, with a huge Green Bay Packer logo on it and it was basically like a scene from American Pickers. My eyes lit up, I must have said something along the lines of …Grandpa what is that?  When he explained that was the logo of our State\’s team and that was the team we always watched on the TV every Sunday after church, I instantly became a fan! I particularly remember my Uncle Brad being an enthusiastic fan and it was great fun when he was involved.  My passion as a Packer’s fan grew as I matured and I started to learn more about the players, the team, and the history. I am so PROUD that I can claim to ALWAYS be a Die Hard Packer Fan!!

Q: Tell us about your family ties to Wisconsin?

A: My mother Jillian’s family traveled a great deal when she was a child as my Grandfather Willard Weiss was in the Army.  He served during the Korean War, the Berlin Crisis, and the Cuban Crisis.  One of the best parts of my Grandfather\’s service was that he got to serve with some of the GREAT Packers like Paul Hornung and Boyd Dowler. They were all stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.  My Grandfather was an officer in the 32nd Division, in which the Packers served.  He loves to tell stories of them coming back to the base after practices and games!  My Aunt Shelley, tells stories of how the Packers came to visit my Grandfather when they would come to Columbus for Punt, Pass, and Kick.  Aunt Shelley met several Packers, but really LOVED meeting Marv Fleming.  I\’m unsure who is a bigger Packer fan – my Grandmother Jean or my Grandfather Willard.   My Aunts and Uncles would argue who is the bigger Die Hard Fan! After this interview it is apparent I am the most Die Hard Fan of them all. haha.

I have two \”fathers\” as my biological father, Sergio de la Torre, died four months before I was born.  My father was a recognized, internationally known athlete in several areas – bodybuilding, boxing, motorcycle racing, and cycling.  He died in an international bicycle race in AZ.  Although I never got to know him, all of his friends and my relatives keep him \”alive\” in my life.  They all say he was a huge Packer fan and would be very proud of me.

The \”father\” I have known all my life, Bob, \”feeds\” my interest in the Packers as he is always buying me GREAT Packer memorabilia – but the catch is that he finds the BEST antique Packer items.  My mother, Jillian and my dad, Bob, know how to find the most unique Packer items.  I have many Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers photos and posters that my parents have discovered.  My Mom can spot a Packer item that I would like from a mile away at a flea market.  

Q: Your Grandparents had a farm in Columbus WI, tell us about the collection of Hats your Grandfather had?   

A: Well over the years my Grandpa would always collect and wear a variety of hats, the Green Bay Packer ones being his favorites. So when he would purchase the hats from wherever he started getting so many that he decided to hang them up in his basement. My dad said he had quite the collection when he and his brothers and sisters lived there in their early childhood. So you can imagine how big his collection was, I would easily say over a 100 hats, no I can guarantee it haha. Grandpa was a successful Farmer all his life.  Grandpa LOVED the Packers. His life was his Family, Farming, Church, and the PACKERS. Pretty much in that order.

Q: Who is your all-time favorite player?  Who is your favorite player now? Why?

A: That’s too easy, Aaron Rodgers aka the GOAT. I love and respect his game so much because of who he is and how he became one of, if not the greatest Packers quarterback of all time. I say this because he did not just walk into success and or a starting job in Green Bay by any means. Whether you’re a Favre fan or not, he wasn’t necessarily the best mentor to young Aaron. After patiently waiting his turn for 3 years and dealing with Favre’s shenanigans he still had to come out on the Frozen Tundra with Packer Nation doubting him. So with his history from Jr College, University of Cal, and Green Bay he was always sort of doubted and because of that plays with a little chip on his shoulder. I could go on and on about why he is such an amazing quarterback, from his composure, compassion, mental agility to read any and every defense all the way to his gunslinger arm and what I think is the strongest in the NFL (Rodgers to Rodgers pass). Let’s not forget about that awesome play action pass to Nelson or Cobb or his famous “GREEN 18 GREEN 18 SET” that gets everyone on defense to jump when is 3rd down. Maybe it’s his run skip and fist punch jump or the championship belt celebration he does when something good happens on the drive. The true reason Aaron is my favorite player is because who he is on and off the field. He is so true to himself and others, as my dad would say “ ya get what ya get” with Rodgers. He respects the game, coaches, players, fans, and refs. He can take 80,000 people in Lambo from earthquake like noises to absolute silence. He respects the game and history that comes with it, Aaron Rodgers has a type of Swagger and work ethic you won’t see with anyone else in the league. If you ever have any doubt about him just check his stats/records out and or ask any Packer fan how the year 2010 was. Those are just some of many reasons why Aaron Rodgers is my favorite Packer and the Greatest Quarterback of All Time.

Q: I come from a large Italian family and we literally go bananas from my parents, brothers right on down to my sister’s during a game. Our mannerisms come out big time! Is there anything different being from Spanish ancestry?

A: Being in a ‘blended’ family – Anything goes.  For me, I LIVE AND BREATH THE GAME. As a DIE HARD Packer FAN, I get inside each Packer on the field, and know what to expect.  When they goof up, I beat myself up. It’s definitely an emotional roller-coaster.

Q: When did you decide to join the ROTC? (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)

A: Well neither of my parents attended a four year university, so going to college was a new experience for me.  What I did know was that my family nor I could afford to go to a four year college.  I started at our local Madison College, a community based college. I investigated the different branches of the military and learned a bit more about enlisting.  About the time I was going to enlist, I visited the University of Dubuque who was recruiting me for track, shout out to coach Gunnelson. I went for a visit and met with the ROTC faculty and was sold. They were interested in me and I was interested in the Army – so it was a perfect match. I did not think it could get better, but once they saw evidence that I was a good student and a student leader, they offered me a scholarship.  The ROTC scholarship, combined with the other scholarships I earned, offered me the opportunity to fulfill both of my dreams – to become a military officer and to earn a degree in criminal justice. I have an enormous amount of respect for the University of Dubuque’s ROTC program and the Professors in the CJ program.

Q: What branch of the Armed Services are you in and what is your rank?

A: I serve in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant. I am stationed at Fort Carson Colorado and will be promoted to First Lieutenant in November.

Q: Has it been a dream of yours to enter the military? Do you have any family members that have served as well?

A: My family has a long, strong history of being in the military.  My Mother, Jillian, served 20 years in the military.  I got to learn from her the importance of serving our country.  I saw that she had the opportunity to learn and gain skills that she could use in her civilian life.  I also saw that she had a chance to travel the world and learn about other people and cultures.  My Grandfather, my Mom\’s Dad, served 20 years in both the enlisted and officer ranks.  My Uncle served 38 years in both the enlisted and officer ranks and my Aunt did the same for 31 years.  I have countless cousins who have served or are serving in the military.  Serving our country in the military is my family heritage and runs in my blood

Q: How do you feel about what’s going on in our country with the Presidential election?

A: I think that the \”hot\” debate about the elections is one of the things that makes our country great.  We have many different people with a wide variety of views based on their experience.  Our country is built on the idea and the ideals of respecting all of the diverse voices.  In my own group of family and friends – we have a lot of differing opinions.  My wish, is probably what many others have, candidates should focus on the issues that impact the lives of so many in our country.  We need to work together, taking the best ideas of everyone to move our country forward. No ONE person is responsible for advancing our country – but it is the combined efforts of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches along with the contributions of every citizen. At the end of the day politics are politics. The military is a ‘tool’ used by our elected officials to protect our nation – when and if needed. I just try to stay confident in our process to elect people into office that will do the best for America.

Q: What would you like to do once your contract is up with the Army?  How has the new controversies in our country with Police officers affected your decision to be a cop in any way?  

A: I am committed to the field of criminal justice.  I recognize that I am young and am still learning about the opportunities available for me to work in with my degree.  I love working with people and community policing appeals to me at this time.  I want to make a positive difference in the lives of the people that I work with.  I love learning and when I was in a class where we learned about the forensic science involved with police work, I was fascinated.  I am also very comfortable speaking to groups of all sizes and may be interested in working with the public relations component of police work.  I think the high profile cases involving police get a lot of the attention, but there are thousands of police officers in communities large and small across the country who are going about the work of protecting and preserving the peace with little fanfare.  They should be the ones who should be getting the attention.  I am honored to have a degree in criminal justice and look forward to contributing my knowledge, skill, and passion to great police department.

Q: What is it like being a Packer Fan in Colorado? How hard is it to catch the games being on a military base? 

A: It is GREAT to be a Packer Fan in Colorado.  I\’m in Colorado Springs.  One of the first things I checked out was the \”certified\” Packer bar.  This has become a place that I take visitors to when they come to Colorado Springs.  I know that Die Hard Packer Fans would not be surprised at all to know that there are TONS of Packer Fans in Colorado (they are everywhere).  It has been as fun for me as I have traveled across the United States to celebrate with Packer Fans everywhere.  I worked in Disney World and it has been great fun to watch the playoffs at the ESPN bar at the Boardwalk!  Packer Fans come out of everywhere to cheer them on!  It is the same here in Colorado.  How fun for me to actually be a DIE HARD PACKER FAN FROM WISCONSIN!!!

Q: Do you have any game day rituals/superstitions?

A: Depends on where I decide to watch the game. So if I get the game on tv, which sometimes can be hard moving around with the military and having other state teams be priority but that’s why I have options. With it being broadcasted on my tv, the night prior I will lay out all my packer gear in a certain way. Rodgers jersey hanging over a chair that overlooks the living room aka the battlefield haha. I will put my 1996 super bowl snapback hat on the chair as well. When I wake up I immediately run about 2 miles or so to work off the night before, usually from celebrating a win on Badger Saturday. After that it is straight to the liquor store for some silver bullets, Bloody Mary ingredients, Jamison, and a quick #4 on the Jimmy Johns menu. I always put my gear on right before kickoff happens. During the game I drink out of a GB Packer stein and always make sure it’s full with Jameson, ginger ale, and some lime slices. Now if I’m back home in Sun Prairie WI, I do the same pre game rituals minus the liquor store and Jimmy Johns run. Instead of watching it at home I get together with all my friends and we go down to this bar called Ski’s Saloon early in the morning and giver hard until game time. Also every time the Packers get a touchdown they do free Packer juice shots. To say the least Sundays is what I live for!

Q: Any last words you\’d like to say to the Packer Nation?

A: I want to give a huge shout out to the crew who has been working tremendously hard on making this happen. If it wasn’t for Joseph Tirabassi, Lisa Capodarco and Jamie Serpe none of this could have happened. On my behalf and the rest of the Die Hard Packer Fan Page subscribers we would like to thank you for all you hard work a dedication to such an awesome group of people. Those three are the real Die Hard Packer Fans and we gratefully appreciate everything you do. Also dear Packer Nation as a true Wisconsinite I think yall know this but…. “WHEN YOU SAYYYYY WISCONSIN, YOU’VE SAID IT ALL”

Christian\’s gallery