Ex-Packers Cheerleader Surrounded by Vikings Fans in Golden Valley
You can take a Packers fan out of Green Bay, but you can’t take their Packer passion away. Golden Valley’s Janis Redmond is proof of that.
“My family, my children are all Viking fans because they were born and raised here,” Redmond said. “So I’m the only green and gold.”
In 1952, Redmond was a Green Bay cheerleader. Despite living in Minnesota since 1958, she is still a Packer backer and excited for this week’s Green Bay-Minnesota game.
“I’m fortunate that I had the opportunity to be a part of that cheerleading squad,” Redmond said. “It was just a delightful experience.”
“We Were Very Modest”
Cheerleading was simple back in Redmond’s day – just pom poms, turtle necks and long skirts.
“We were very modest,” Redmond said. “We didn’t do all the acrobatic things that they do today.”
The Green Bay gals were the polar opposite of the flashy and glamorous cheerleaders of this era.
“When people think of professional cheerleaders they think of the Cowboys,” Redmond said. “Of course, their costumes are rather skimpy. Ours were far from that.”
Packers Are Literally Family
For Redmond the Packers are literally family. Hall of Fame Green Bay running back Tony Canadeo is her uncle.
“Everyone loved him,” Redmond said. “He was a good friend of Vince Lombardi.”
Redmond says she loves everything about the team except for one cheesy thing.
“I don’t like the cheese wedge,” she said.
Redmond doesn’t have a ticket for the border battle match up Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Instead she will be back in Golden Valley cheering on her beloved Green Bay Packers.
