I was watching the Packers game Sunday with one of Milwaukee's greatest musicians, singer-songwriter John Sieger, founder of Semi-Twang, one of the best bands this city has ever produced.

Sieger, who is my nephew-in-law (if there is such a thing), asked a very interesting question near the end of the game.

"How come the Packers are such a great franchise," he said. "So many titles. So much fan passion. What makes them different from the Bucks and Brewers?"

I guess we have to establish first that the Packers are far and away the best professional sports franchise in this state and one of the best in the country.

First of all, the Packers have way more titles than the Brewers or Bucks. And they've won more titles than any other NFL team, but almost nothing speaks louder than the fact that the Packers are the only team in the National Football League that does not (repeat DOES NOT) advertise. You never, ever see an ad asking you to buy tickets or support the team.

They are profitable every year. They pay their own way. And they are now headed to their fourth Super Bowl.

I'm not sure why this franchise is such an overwhelming success, both on and off the field, but I think there are several things that play into it.

One is the nature of public ownership. Say what you will, when you have an owner, along with an owner's ego, you have one set of issues that must be dealt with. Owners have varying degrees of patience. Owners come and go. Look at the NFL franchises, for example, with very stable ownership situations. The Mara family with the New York Giants and the Rooney family with the Steelers.

Certainly stable and predictable ownership is one key to success. And with the Packers governed by a fairly hands-off and benevolent board of directors, it allows people to do their jobs without worrying about what the guy with the checkbook thinks.

Another part of the success may also be the fact that this team plays in Green Bay. This is a stereotypical middle American small town, with both the virtues and the problems of small towns everywhere.

The virtues of hard work, helping your neighbor, telling the truth and attention to detail belong to both Green Bay and to the football organization. Also it is easier for players to concentrate on football in Green Bay. Believe me when I say the distraction level in Green Bay consists of trips to Target, burgers at Kroll's and an occasional beer at a neighborhood tap. Compare that to the distractions, even in a city like Milwaukee or Cleveland, and your game becomes much more single-minded in Green Bay.

There is also a mythology about the Packers. They are widely believed to be hard-nosed, tough, plodding and determined. That is a mythology that is applicable to both the team and the organization.

A decade ago the Packers wanted to get state money to help renovate Lambeau Field. I was involved in those negotiations and the Packers were unbelievable. They laid out their case and never wavered in the argument. The president of the team, Bob Harlan, went door-to-door in Green Bay. Not just for the television cameras, either. He really did it, day after day. The referendum sailed through with little opposition.

Consider the incredible battle to build Miller Park, which resulted in recalls and politicians voted out of office, and the exceedingly difficult time the Bucks are having getting a new arena. Some of this has to be due to the relative love of the franchises.

It's hard to come up with any kind of precise answer. But I think it's clear that there is something very special about this franchise. If anybody has any other ideas I'd really appreciate hearing them.