Matt Cullen, a lifelong Bears fan and owner of Matt Morgan’s Restaurant in Minocqua, is used to choosing sides when it comes to sports. In his neck of the woods, it comes with the territory.
“Coming out of Chicago, there are forced allegiances from the beginning. You’re either Sox fan or a Cubs fan, so this picking sides thing is nothing new to me,” he said, adding that the first question he was asked when he moved to Wisconsin was whether he was a Bears fan or a Packers fan.
Cullen is not shy about telling people he’s a diehard Bears fan (he worked at Wrigley Field when the Bears played there in the ‘60s and once lived in the same neighborhood as Mike Ditka) but he says he doesn’t actively dislike the Packers and would be willing to root for them in the Super Bowl. In the meantime, he is busy cooking up some special treats for Sunday’s epic NFC Championship clash.
Matt Morgan’s will sport a special $2 appetizer menu for game day that celebrates the best foods of both Wisconsin and Chicago. The theme is “us versus them.”
Patrons will be able to choose Chicago-style Vienna hot dogs or Johnsonville brats. Deep fried Wisconsin pepperjack cheesecurds or Italian beef sliders, Goose Island beer (a craft beer brewed in Chicago) or Wisconsin’s classic Leinenkugel’s.
Since by 6 p.m, half of the crowd won’t be very happy, Cullen is also offering “crying towels” at no charge.
“I was tempted to say Green and Gold crying towels, no charge, but I’m smart enough to know that since I’m not playing in the game, I can’t affect the outcome, so I don’t want to infuriate the people too much,” Cullen adds.
Cullen said he enjoys all aspects of the rivalry and pointed out there is at least one thing both sides have in common.
“The only thing we know for sure is none of us like Minnesota (Vikings),” he laughed. “We can agree on that common ground, Minnesota is evil and we are good.”
Cullen said he’s making sure there is plenty of appetizers and beer on hand for the big game.
“I don’t want to be in a position for someone to say ‘he welched on his deal,’” he said.
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