Being Brett's Publicist

The hype continues to build here in Northeast Wisconsin about Brett Favre's first return to Lambeau Field since his retirement from the Packers in March 2008. You would have to be living in a cave... buried under a huge pile of boulders... and lacking at least three of your five senses to be unaware of the drama set to unfold Sunday afternoon (kickoff at 3:15 pm CST) at Lambeau.

One measure of the hype is social media activity about Brett. Search "Brett Favre" on Youtube today and you'll find almost 10,000 videos. Below is my favorite Favre/Hitler parody, just one of dozens of similar takes using the same basic footage and different subtitles. Warning: subtitles contain some obscenities.



Living just 30 miles from Lambeau and subjected to what seems like non-stop media coverage of the really critical issues (greeting Brett with applause vs boos vs silence; Packers fans that still like Brett; what to do with old #4 jerseys) we started discussing just what it would be like to be Brett's publicist.

At first blush it sounded like a dream gig. After all, what could be more fun in football-crazed America than handling the feel-good story of the year: 40 year old defies Father Time and leads the Vikings to a winning record.

But after watching it up close as Packer fans living at ground zero, we're not so sure anymore that a self-respecting PR pro wouldn't be ready to blow their brains out real soon. Was it this bad for Michael Jordan and his publicity team? What is there to talk about when the story's been chewed to death and there's nothing new to add?

It's almost to the point where I don't even want to pick up the sports page, because there just aren't any new angles on this. I know I won't be able to watch the pregame show without getting a queasy stomach.

What do you think? Has the media flogged all the fun out of this? Would you want to be Brett's publicist? Please weigh in; I'm dying to hear what you think!