Motivational speaker Elko to address Packers
Nationally known motivational speaker Kevin Elko is to deliver a pre-game speech Saturday night to the Packers before they play the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Elko, a sports psychologist, is from Pittsburgh, coach Mike McCarthy's hometown.
McCarthy brought in Elko earlier this season to talk to the team before the Dec. 19 game against the New England Patriots.
In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Elko described how he came know McCarthy.
"I used to work for the Saints," Elko said. "And Mike McCarthy, who also is from Pittsburgh, knew of my work. Wonderful man. And I was away speaking - I speak often - and I was pulling into my driveway and my cell phone went off. It was Mike. I said, 'Mike what can I do for you? How are you?' He said, 'Well, I just lost to the Detroit Lions. I just lost my quarterback to a concussion. I have to win two of the next three or maybe all of the next three games. I have got the Bears, the Giants and the Patriots, who are all very good. I need help.' I'm thinking, you maybe should have called the Pope.
"I did go in the night before they played the Patriots and spoke to the team, gave them a pep talk," Elko said. "I have been working with him ever since on mentally focusing the team on how to get them ready to go. And really that's how this came about."