Say Cheese

The Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers likes to portray a low key image to the media in his interviews.  But, he has quite the personality.  He has taken the art of photo bombing to new levels in the sports world.  Every game day Rodgers has left a lasting image on his teammates. 

Quicker than you can say “discount double check’ Rodgers has made surprise appearances in the background of the weekly captain’s photos.  In fact, it has become such an art form that a website, http://www.rodgersphotobomb.com/, was created to document the unscripted cameos.  Fellow quarterback Matt Flynn has also proved to be a successful understudy in this picture project.  My personal favorite is the week four shark fin appearance from this season.

Varsity Blues

It is pretty common to see freshman on High School basketball rosters at almost every school.  These players usually go on to score 1,000 points in their career.  But, there is a kid in North Carolina that has a chance to become a seven year varsity letter winner and score possibly 3,000 points.

Damon Harge Jr. is so good he is already playing on his school’s varsity team as a 6th grader.  But, how can this happen?  According to an ESPN report he is allowed to play varsity for Christian Faith Center Academy as a sixth grader because it is a private school.  There is no doubt this kid is talented, but playing on the varsity as a 6th grader seems to be a little much.

Old Glory: Mission 10

There is no sports commentary today.  Instead the focus is on one of the most important days in American history.  Today is the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  To honor the veterans of World War II, the documentary I produced on the Old Glory Honor Flight program debuted today in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

The Old Glory Honor Flight program offers World War II veterans a memorable, safe, and rewarding tour of honor to our nation's capital.  We follow in the footsteps of these heroes as they visit numerous landmarks including the monument that was built in their honor, the World War II Memorial.

It is an emotional journey that was long overdue for many that took part in this Old Glory trip.  Pride is on display throughout the day as the 87 Wisconsin veterans are greeted with hugs and handshakes from the moment they arrive in Washington D.C. to the moment they return to Outagamie County Regional Airport.

You can view streaming video of Old Glory: Mission 10 by clicking here.  If you would like to learn more about the northeast Wisconsin chapter of the Old Glory Honor Flight program, please visit http://www.oldgloryhonorflight.org/.

If you know a World War II veteran, get them involved in this program.  There are Old Glory Honor Flight chapters across the nation.  The trip is free for the veterans and they certainly deserve it. 

Cheese Envy

The Green Bay Packers are in the process of selling 250,000 shares of stock, that have no cash value, to raise around $22 million for 6,700 new seats at Lambeau Field.  The sale started so briskly that 1,600 shares were sold in the first 11 minutes of the offering.

At the same time, the rival Vikings are campaigning for a partially taxpayer funded new stadium to keep the team in Minnesota.  So, how does one garner public support for a proposed $1.1 billion new facility?  Well, one creative individual has a unique approach to the problem.  In a well-crafted video, Vikings fans are called out.  They are told that if there is no new stadium, you will no longer live in Vikings country.   You will be living in Packers country. 

The Ultimate Catch

I am sure all of us have tossed a Frisbee around with some buddies.  Maybe some of us have even pulled off a diving catch.  But, who has been froggy enough to hop off a boat going full speed to make the ultimate catch.  Sometimes words do not do justice.  The only way you believe this one is to see.  Check out the clip below.

A Head Scratcher

Apparently concussions are more of a concern in the NFL then we first thought.  In the December 5th Sports Illustrated, NFL players selected Chris Berman as one of their top five favorite NFL commentators.  Jon Gruden was number one, presumably because of his love at first sight commentary on every NFL player.  But, the legendary Al Michaels finished in 10th place with just three percent of the votes, http://insidesportsillustrated.com/2011/11/30/jon-gruden-nfl-players-favorite-commentator-on-tv/.

Either the NFL players can’t stay up late enough to watch Michael’s Sunday night games or they are so battle weary from their own games they find Berman’s 1978 sound effects and nick names entertaining.  Thank goodness Green Bay and Tampa Bay did not play this year, so we did not have to suffer through Berman’s recycled Bay of Pigs introduction while aboard the Buccaneers’ pirate ship.  You know you have seen that skit at least three times.  Who is your favorite NFL commentator?

Suh Ridiculous

Where was the Lions media relations staff after Sunday’s game with the Packers?  They should have removed Ndamukong Suh from the reporters by saying he left the facility after meeting with the team or gave him a prepared statement to read.  Instead, Suh talks to any media that would listen and made a fool out of himself.  Suh's description of his stomp on Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith sounded like something that would have come out of the mouth of George Costanza of Seinfeld fame.  Someone please tell Suh that everything that happens on the field and even the sidelines is caught on tape, just ask the Chargers Nick Novak in the clip below.  Suh’s actions earned his a one game suspension; his words probably earned him the second game.