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August 12th, 9:07pm 3 comments

on the 12th ... to my favorite #12...

this article was passed on to me from my mom. it is written by a sports anchor from fox6 in milwaukee. it really doesn't get any better than this... go pack go!

"Save Me A Spot"

This job affords me some incredible opportunities. Being a member of the 
FOX 6 Sports team means I've been able to witness and report on events 
and people that many can only admire from a distance. I never take these 
situations for granted and sincerely appreciate being involved in 
whatever capacity each permits. 
  
Monday marked just the most recent case as I had the unparalleled 
privilege to be a part of Aaron Rodgers charity event to benefit the 
MACC Fund, a charity towards eradicating childhood cancer and blood disorders. 

Scattered throughout the crowd of rabid Packers aficionados, were the 
people who I consider the event's real MVPs. They are the families 
who've been forced to deal with one of life's toughest sentences - the 
loss of a child. 

Those who sprung for the tickets were not disappointed. In a world where 
many athletes regurgitate canned and rehearsed responses, the Packers 
quarterback was refreshingly candid. Aaron addressed a number of topics 
with in-depth, honest reaction - even some that if reprinted and mass 
distributed might raise some eyebrows.  
  
Aaron stressed the importance of availability and accountability. In his 
opinion, it is a player's responsibility to attend all of the team 
activities as they are all intended to better the team as a whole. And 
then, similarly, he addressed the importance of taking the 
heat/criticism when one falls short of expectations and duties. 
  
He is never nervous to take the field. Aaron is supremely confident in 
the preparation he's put in during the week leading up to Sunday's match 
up. The way the 2009 season ended was disappointing but his 
self-confidence was not affected by the outcome. One of the toughest 
realizations was that that combination of players would never take the 
field together again. He likened the team to a family and admitted that 
conflict can and does occasionally exist but they try to handle such 
situations with maturity and civility. 
  
He talked music and his love for tunes at a young age revealing that his 
mom used to sing and play lullabies and country music when he was a 
child. Aaron's record label Suspended Sunrise is a product of this 
passion but also a contingency plan for life after football. His 
favorite song is Ben Harper's 'Forever' and he's envious of John Mayer's 
guitar skills though not his tabloid reputation. He appreciated my 
affinity for Keith Urban but gave the audience a thumbs-down when I 
mentioned fellow country crooner Kenny Chesney. 
  
His favorite book is The Bible and he tries to read it every day not 
just when life's challenges and struggles surface. 
  
His favorite movie is The Princess Bride which he admits he's caught flack for 
but says he and his childhood friends can recite every line from the film and it is 
simply a great story. 

Rodgers' answers  to questions on this night were certainly admirable. And I 
honestly didn't think I could respect Aaron more.    But I was wrong. 
  
My friend, the father of that young girl who passed, was there that 
night. He was one of several attendees brought up on stage where he caught 
a football thrown by the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. 

He asked Aaron to sign the football he'd caught. He wondered if 
he'd make it out to his daughter. It isn't shocking that Rodgers 
obliged. What caught me off guard was the dedication he made. It wasn't 
until after Aaron left that I first saw the autograph... and the simple 
yet sweet message that brought tears to this father's eyes: 
"To Cheri the angel. Save me a spot. - Aaron Rodgers" 
  
I hope that Packers fans realize how lucky they are to have such an 
upstanding young man leading their team on the field every weekend. I 
hope they appreciate the challenges that were thrust upon him and 
acknowledge the maturity with which he handled them. I hope they stand 
behind the kid and respect him not only for his incredible talent but 
for his intelligence and honesty, poise and compassion. 
  
My job has afforded me the chance to watch Aaron Rodgers play football 
for the last few seasons. But I am truly thankful for the opportunity to 
see the other side of this impressive young man. And pass on some of 
what I witnessed to you.

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