I guess I just don't get the "autograph" thing. My son is 8. He's into it. Fine.
But grown ups? Really? Especially if this day of Twitter and Facebook fan pages. Isn't that enough access? Although, having covered the Packers for years, I can understand the connection (obsession?) of some in the state with the individual players.
I'm no NFL quarterback. I don't have .001% of the recognition factor of Aaron Rodgers but I do sympathize with him on this. He knew this when he signed up for it. Just as I do in my line of work, as a TV news TelePrompTer jockey. #1 station. Some weeks, I feel like I'm on TV more than stinkin' Regis. I do the news, the statewide political debates, yadda yadda. Lots of visibility. I knew this when I signed up for it and feel blessed I've been doing this for 15+ years and haven't gotten fired...yet.
In just about every store I walk into, people say hello and that's fine - I enjoy meeting people, even when I'm in a hurry at the grocery store. 97% are gracious and respectful -- I even welcome people who have criticism of my work, provided they are respectful, especially when I'm with my kids.
Yet, in some of the places, I'll run into people who just want to pester me about really minute issues in the community or their own conspiracies on why a city swimming pool closes earlier in the bad part of town vs. in the suburbs. They are the equivalent of the aggressive autograph seeker for an NFL quarterback. You tell yourself "just keep moving and keep your head down" as you hold the hands of your kids, realizing this person won't respect your privacy, especially if you are not working at the time.
Rodgers was, clearly, in a hurry to get to the plane. That's what you do in an airport, even Austin Straubel. In Green Bay, the autograph hounds are, like, 24/7. I've always believed this is why Green Bay also has to pay a premium for top-shelf free-agents.
"Ain't no privacy in Green Bay."
Places like New York, Chicago or Miami do a nice job with "handling their famous people".
In Green Bay, it's freakin' tough if you want to fly "under the radar". Every trip to Target. Every meal out. Autograph hounds, snappin' their cell phones with their Sharpies out. It's endless in Green Bay.
While Florio did apologize for his inane observations at first on Rodgers, if the autograph seekers actually heard what the people signing their gear said or thought about them (behind closed doors, of course), they'd be embarrassed to be waving their Sharpies and begging.
I would have respected Rodgers even more (and I think he really is the 'superstar' that people seem to demand, on and off the field) if the cameras would have caught him mumbling, "Lady, haven't I signed enough crap for you by now?".
Maybe next time.
At least, in the NFL, I also disagree with the notion that the players have to be nice and mingle with the fans who "pay their salary". That's not true in the NFL. The TV networks and the main sponsors of the commercial breaks (cell phones, beer, etc.) pay NFL salaries. Not the fans. That is who the players SHOULD be nice to.
Any affection is a bonus for the people willing to spend $250 to sit in -17 temps in late December when the experience is FAR superior at home on TV, where you can watch 10+ games on a Sunday, eat tastier food, avoid the DUI fest that is the post-game scramble and not sit through endless TV timeouts.
Not that I'm judging the NFL ticket-buying public or anything...
</suckers>
