GREEN BAY – In a time of hyper-partisanship and unprecedented discord in Wisconsin politics, state legislators at least can agree on one thing: That Aaron Rodgers is one swell guy.
On Wednesday, it became official that December 12, 2012 – yes, 12/12/12 – will indeed be “Aaron Rodgers Day” in Wisconsin.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback accepted the resolution from Wisconsin State Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay), along with fellow Green Bay-area legislators and the person who came up with the idea of making 12/12/12 Rodgers’ day, Jennifer Brilowski, on Wednesday.
Not one for such pomp and circumstance, Rodgers appeared humbled, honored and more than a bit embarrassed by the attention. Rodgers said he’d never received such an honor in his hometown of Chico, Calif.
“I had a plaque actually up on the ‘Welcome to Chico’ sign. It was a wooden board that said ‘Home of Aaron Rodgers,’” Rodgers said. “It recently got taken down – stolen.”
Rep. Bies was the lead author of Assembly Joint Resolution 108, which was passed unanimously earlier this year by both houses of the State Legislature.
“I was worried that there might be a snag or a holdup there,” Rodgers joked.
Brilowski, who started a Facebook page to promote the idea, read the proclamation aloud at the ceremony.
“That was a lot of whereases,” Rodgers said after he accepted the plaque.
“I think this is a strong example of social media influencing and affecting our culture today,” Rodgers said. “I’m very thankful for people coming alongside myself and this team and the success we’ve had. It’s very humbling and an honor to have a day to myself. I think anybody who knows me, I’m not real big on a lot of ‘wheareases’ and a lot of attention on me. I hope we can all enjoy 12/12/12 together.”
Dec. 12 falls on a Wednesday, 10 days after Rodgers’ 29th birthday and just before the Packers face the Bears in Chicago.
“Mike’s probably going to have a padded practice that day,” Rodgers said. Turning serious, Rodgers added, “I think it’s a great opportunity to get perspective on how a career and a way of living your life can have an effect on people.”
Jason Wilde wrote: