thedrifter
10-18-08, 08:25 AM
October 18, 2008
G.I. Joes take on Packers pros, 'Madden' style
BY PATTI ZARLING
pzarling@greenbaypressgazette.com
Green Bay area native and Marine Cpl. Timothy Headricks, a lifelong Packers fan, will have a story to tell for a long time.
On Friday, he defeated his football hero, Packers offensive tackle Mark Tauscher, in a close game of "Madden '09," from thousands of miles away.
The two competed as part of Pro vs. Joe, a nonprofit program that links professional sports players with soldiers and Marines serving overseas in video-game competitions connected via Webcam. The Packers competed from the Lambeau Field Atrium, while friends and family of participating service men — and one woman — looked on.
Headricks, stationed in Iraq, chose the Packers as his team and Tauscher selected the Indianapolis Colts, who play in Green Bay on Sunday.
If the video-game faceoff is any indication, Sunday’s match will be a low-scoring affair. The Madden matchup remained scoreless before the digital Packers scored a touchdown in overtime, to the cheers of Headrick’s family.
“I think this is something we’ll be hearing about for a long time,” said Hope Headricks, Tim’s sister. Tim asked to be paired with Tausher. “He’s always admired Tauscher because he’s a Wisconsin boy and still plays here.” Tauscher was born in Marshfield and played for the University of Wisconsin.
Rachel Fitzgerald, his older sister, said Friday’s event was a great opportunity.
“He’s always enjoyed video games, and to get to play against Tauscher, that’s awesome.”
In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Staff Sgt. James Wagner, of De Pere, and his National Guard unit played against linemen Mike Montgomery and Tony Moll in two sessions of “Halo 3.” The soldiers won the first round, but lost the second.
“I got slaughtered,” confessed Wagner. “I thought my video game skills were better, but we made it credible. The kids took care of business. Those Packers players must have a lot of time on their hands.”
His wife, Amy, brought their two young sons and mother to watch.
“My husband is an avid video player,” she said. She talks to him just about every day and uses a Web cam.
“He was in Afghanistan five years ago and we didn’t have that, and it was a lot harder,” Amy said. “What they’ve done here is just wonderful.”
Addie Zinone founded the program with her husband, Greg.
Addie has done two tours in Iraq and knew soldiers play video games in their down time. So they decided to support the troops by connecting them to their sport heroes through video games. They got things up and running in July.
It’s open to all pro sports, but since its football season, it’s the most popular now, Addie said.
“This is a really fun way for teams to show their support,” she said.
They try to pair soldiers and Marines with pro teams in their hometowns, she said.
And while the soldiers and Marines enjoy the competitions, she said the chance to chat with friends and family afterward through a webcam is even more special.
“We’ve had times when people have seen their new babies for the first time,” Addie said.
In Headricks’ case, he saw his nephew, Landon, born June 24, for the first time.
Ellie
G.I. Joes take on Packers pros, 'Madden' style
BY PATTI ZARLING
pzarling@greenbaypressgazette.com
Green Bay area native and Marine Cpl. Timothy Headricks, a lifelong Packers fan, will have a story to tell for a long time.
On Friday, he defeated his football hero, Packers offensive tackle Mark Tauscher, in a close game of "Madden '09," from thousands of miles away.
The two competed as part of Pro vs. Joe, a nonprofit program that links professional sports players with soldiers and Marines serving overseas in video-game competitions connected via Webcam. The Packers competed from the Lambeau Field Atrium, while friends and family of participating service men — and one woman — looked on.
Headricks, stationed in Iraq, chose the Packers as his team and Tauscher selected the Indianapolis Colts, who play in Green Bay on Sunday.
If the video-game faceoff is any indication, Sunday’s match will be a low-scoring affair. The Madden matchup remained scoreless before the digital Packers scored a touchdown in overtime, to the cheers of Headrick’s family.
“I think this is something we’ll be hearing about for a long time,” said Hope Headricks, Tim’s sister. Tim asked to be paired with Tausher. “He’s always admired Tauscher because he’s a Wisconsin boy and still plays here.” Tauscher was born in Marshfield and played for the University of Wisconsin.
Rachel Fitzgerald, his older sister, said Friday’s event was a great opportunity.
“He’s always enjoyed video games, and to get to play against Tauscher, that’s awesome.”
In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Staff Sgt. James Wagner, of De Pere, and his National Guard unit played against linemen Mike Montgomery and Tony Moll in two sessions of “Halo 3.” The soldiers won the first round, but lost the second.
“I got slaughtered,” confessed Wagner. “I thought my video game skills were better, but we made it credible. The kids took care of business. Those Packers players must have a lot of time on their hands.”
His wife, Amy, brought their two young sons and mother to watch.
“My husband is an avid video player,” she said. She talks to him just about every day and uses a Web cam.
“He was in Afghanistan five years ago and we didn’t have that, and it was a lot harder,” Amy said. “What they’ve done here is just wonderful.”
Addie Zinone founded the program with her husband, Greg.
Addie has done two tours in Iraq and knew soldiers play video games in their down time. So they decided to support the troops by connecting them to their sport heroes through video games. They got things up and running in July.
It’s open to all pro sports, but since its football season, it’s the most popular now, Addie said.
“This is a really fun way for teams to show their support,” she said.
They try to pair soldiers and Marines with pro teams in their hometowns, she said.
And while the soldiers and Marines enjoy the competitions, she said the chance to chat with friends and family afterward through a webcam is even more special.
“We’ve had times when people have seen their new babies for the first time,” Addie said.
In Headricks’ case, he saw his nephew, Landon, born June 24, for the first time.
Ellie