(Photo courtesy: Star Tribune/Time)
Before I tackle some PR-related points about Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau Field this Sunday, let’s make something clear right off the bat:
I bleed Viking purple.
And I’m not thrilled Brett Favre is on the Vikes right now. I’m just not big on one-year fixes with 40-year-old quarterbacks. But that’s just me. While I’m pleased the Vikings are winning, and I realize they wouldn’t be 6-1 with any other quarterback on the roster at the helm, I’m also preparing for a playoff collapse like any good pessimistic Minnesotan.
If you’re one of those goofballs who went out and bought a Favre #4 Vikings jersey, you and I couldn’t have more opposite takes on his place on the team.
That said, I do think Brett Favre has a will to win, and an ability to win, unlike any other quarterback in NFL history. He’s fun to watch. Win or lose.
So it puzzles me why the Green Bay mayor felt the need to spend his and the city’s time on a photo-op campaign dubbed “4 Days to Victory.”
Seriously?
Okay, I lived in Green Bay for a year. I get that the people and news media there have a problem prioritizing what’s really important in life. But if you’re really pissed about Favre playing for the Vikings why bother with the small town PR stunts? Why not just let your team try to beat him up on Sunday?
The best PR approach to Favre’s return, by the Packers and any politician in the city, is to ignore him. Take the high road. The guy is a legend and he’s going into the NFL Hall of Fame as a Packer. Get over it!
No, instead, mayor Jim Schmitt thought it would be cute to play up things like “Flip Flop Friday” to encourage people to wear their flip flops to work. And, he had a city employee put up a new temporary sign to rename Minnesota Avenue, “Aaron Rodgers Drive.”
(Image courtesy: WBAY-TV)
Yikes.
And then there was the “Funeral-4-Favre” today, organized by WAPL Radio.
(Photo courtesy: Green Bay Press Gazette)
Really, a funeral? Nice touch.
KARE-11’s Boyd Huppert has a recap of that stunt here. I guess the beer bottles in the hands of the mourners explains it.
At least the Green Bay Press-Gazette strikes a reasonable tone about Favre’s return in this editorial. Too bad the rest of the city doesn’t get it.
Cheer him on Sunday, or boo him… just let the fans at Lambeau have their say, no need for the silly stunts.
Here’s another interesting take, from The New York Times.
I’ll end this post noting my three quick, up close and personal Brett Favre moments:
*During my TV stint at WEAU in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, I met Favre when a colleague did a one-on-one interview with him at the Packers training camp in the summer of 1993.
*There are photos and video to prove this – I just don’t have any of them – but I’m the idiot standing on the one yard line on the sidelines at County Stadium on Dec. 18, 1994 with my arms signaling Favre’s touchdown dive right in front of me to beat the Falcons. Hey, he was on my fantasy team that year! (I was on the sidelines for WEAU, if you find me in a photo let me know… I think it’s in the book, Favre by Brett and Bonita Favre)
*When I produced newscasts at WFRV-TV in Green Bay in the fall of 1994, Favre came into the newsroom once a week to do live interviews with our sports guy, former Packer Larry McCarren. Favre sat just a few feet away and I was tempted to trash talk him during Viking week, but I played nice.
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