Ha Ha Clinton-Dix - Green Bay Packers

1) Ha Ha was drafted 21st overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

2) In 2011 and 2012, Ha Ha won two straight BCS National Championships with his college football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

3) Clinton-Dix represented the NFC as he was selected to his first Pro-Bowl after the 2016 NFL season.

D: My favorite number is #21. How did you pick your number?

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Honestly, I didn't pick it. They (Packers) actually gave me 21. Charles Woodson wore that number. It means a lot to me and I'm going to wear it for pride and I'm going to wear it for you too Danny, alright.

D's Follow Up: Wow, that feels really good! It feels good that he said that to me. He is really nice. Ha Ha is my favorite football player and I want to wear #21 like him. I'm asking for his jersey for my birthday.

J: Do you have a healthy pregame meal that you like eat?

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Nope. I eat pizza and chicken all day. Sorry I can't help you. (LOL)

J's Follow Up: I think it's pretty funny because he's a professional football player and he's one of the best. It's crazy that he can play so well eating that way. I think it all tastes good and pizza is my favorite meal too.

First of all, as a die hard Bears fan, having a Green Bay Packer player in our blog is something I never thought could be possible. How did this all come to be? It all started nearly two years ago when Danny went to kindergarten. The first two boys he met became his best friends and of course... they loved the green and gold. How could two boys he just met trump his dad whose life revolves around the Monsters of the Midway, the Chicago Bears? I'm still shaking my head. 

Danny had met over 40 Bears players at that point but it took no time at all for Danny to go to the dark side and when a Vincent finds something they like, they dive in ALL THE WAY. So now,  all we hear at breakfast, lunch and dinner is Rodgers, Lacy, Nelson, Ha Ha, Cobb, Adams, Matthews and the list goes on and on and on and on. His passion for Green Bay surpassed his friends in no time and he started asking for jerseys, hats, shirts and watching Packers highlight videos on YouTube.

As a dad, I tried everything in my power to turn him back. I offered to buy jerseys, hats, cards of the Bears. What more could he want?!?!

Last fall, I was given tickets to the Bears vs. Titans game. Danny had never been to an NFL game so I was excited for him to go to Soldier Field to experience it with me. I thought maybe this would bring him back to the Bears' side. I'll always have that moment but it was still all about #gopackgo for Danny. (Still shaking my head...)

Then it happened.

I'll never forget the day.

I walked into Kohl's with my 20% off coupon and there it was. 

A Packers jersey. 

And it was on sale too. 

That's when I did the unthinkable. 

I spent my own hard earned money on a green and yellow jersey with the #12 on it for Danny. After a year and a half, I actually bought my son an Aaron Rodger's jersey and decided to surprise him with it. It became a dad moment and it was no longer a football moment. We all want to see our children happy and I knew this is what he wanted more than anything. Needless to say after this purchase he told me I was the best dad in the world. It still felt so wrong on so many levels. At least, at the time it did.

It was the beginning of the end. 

I officially lost him to Green Bay forever on Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th, 2016. Thanks to the amazing hospitality of my co-worker Jane, lifelong Packer fans and season ticket holders, we were invited to spend the weekend at her parents' house in Green Bay and to watch our first Packers game at Lambeau Field. It was a dream come true for Danny. 

Saturday we went on a full stadium tour, visited the Hall of Fame, and took an extra long trip to the pro shop. I'll admit, it was a really amazing experience and Danny was in heaven. Sunday we watched the Packers play the Houston Texans from our seats in the north end zone in the 5th row. We were blown away. Of course, Danny made the JumboTron with his sign, Jordy Nelson scored two TDs right in front of us, a fan upgraded Danny's first visit to Lambeau to the first row in the fourth quarter and he got a picture with a cheerleader he had been smiling at all game. GAME, SET, MATCH. Packer fan for life. It can't get much better for Danny, right?

I would be wrong. 

It could get better for Danny. 

We decided to take an impromptu family trip and fly down to Disney World for a VIP experience at a Pro Bowl practice. We were all be excited to see our favorite players and visit the happiest place on Earth. Jordan, Jen, and I planned to wear Bears gear and meet rookie phenom Jordan Howard and Danny couldn't want to say hi to his hero and meet his first Packer player, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. As to be expected, the players were completely bombarded by fans and it became too dangerous for the boys to battle with adults for autographs and high fives. That's when Danny spotted Packer fans in the stands wearing all GB clothing with the number 21. He decided to go over and say hi and believe it or not,  it was Ha Ha's family! Anyone with Green Bay clothing is certainly a friend to Danny so he had no problem meeting his new friends. They connected right away. Ha Ha's family was unbelievably kind and a week later, a signed Pro Bowl football and 8 x 10 picture was delivered to our doorstep addressed to Danny. Danny was over the moon!

Then the unbelievable happened. We learned that Ha Ha would coming to Chicago for the Fanatics Authentics sports show to meet with fans in May. May 5th arrived and Ha Ha was expecting Danny to be in attendance and he certainly went out of his way to make him feel special. This man spotted him in line, called him by name, and gave Danny time to interact and officially cement his spot in the Packers family. As his dad, nothing could make me happier than the smile on his face and the moment he got to spend with Ha Ha. I can admit now that I am so happy that Danny has found his team and I'm proud that he sticks to his guns and is his own person. Danny loving the Packers makes our life more fun as a family and I wouldn't change a thing. What's even crazier is that I didn't mind standing in line with other green and gold fans like Danny. It felt great to stand and watch my son have one of the best moments of his life.

As far as my response to the questions the kids asked, how crazy is it that Ha Ha was given number 21? Charles Woodson was an unbelievable player in the league and it makes sense that the Packers would hope Ha Ha could come close to the standard that Charles set. I was blown away that he said he would wear it for Danny too... I just know Danny will always be watching and Ha Ha will ALWAYS be his favorite player. I know Ha Ha will continue to be a great role model for Danny and he couldn't have picked a nicer player as favorite. We are all fans of Mr. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix now. Danny now looks forward to his next meeting with his hero!

When it comes to pizza and chicken being the go-to meals for Ha Ha. Honestly, they're our favorites here in our house too! We find it a little wild that the Packers don't have him on a healthier diet but you can't complain with the results. If it's not broke, don't fix it. When I have visits at school from Northwestern University athletes, they tell me about the 80/20 nutrition plan they follow. They try to eat healthy options like fruits, veggies, lean protein and other healthy foods 80% of the time and save 20% for the foods we shouldn't be eating too much of like pizza, fried chicken, and desserts. It's important to not deny ourselves those foods but to still try to limit them. I fall a little closer to 50/50 myself most of the time because I love pizza so much...but I know moderation is key.