This is not a “Bill Veeck” moment in sports marketing. For you young folk out there, Bill Veeck was perhaps the greatest genius in the history of marketing a sports franchise. The man behind the exploding scoreboard, names on the backs of jerseys, fan appreciation nights (he was the first to employ all of these) is a legend in baseball for his imaginative approach to marketing his teams.
Enter the AHL's Iowa Chops (formerly, “Stars”). Having recently changed their team name, colors, and mascot to ‘illustrate Iowa’s agricultural heritage while also playing into the definition of ‘chops’, having nerve, resilience and staying power,” the Chops have turned down another road…
…signing Brett Favre.
That’s right, Chops’ President Steve Nitzel announced that the team “contacted and will be sending a contract to Brett Favre’s agent…in hopes that the quarterback will consider signing with the Iowa Chops.”
We don’t know if Favre can skate or if he knows a hockey puck from a cement truck. Perhaps having once played for a club whose history is rooted in the meat packing industry (hence the name, “Packers”), Favre is a natural fit for a team with a porcine theme.
Perhaps Favre, who is the all-time NFL leader in pass attempts (8,758, for those who are interested) will make people forget Sidney Crosby as the best passer in professional hockey.
He has the NFL record for most consecutive games with touchdown passes (47), more than twice as long as the NHL record for consecutive games with an assist (23, Wayne Gretzky).
Then again, this seems like one of those “what the $#@&” moments…Favre – born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and who played most of his legendary career in Wisconsin, has no obvious tie to Iowa, hockey, or pigs for that matter (excuse me, “vicious boars,” according to the press release announcing the name change).
Since Favre has spent his athletic life hunched over behind a center, the Chops might think about someone to play that position, too…
…we hear Mats Sundin is still unsigned.
Enter the AHL's Iowa Chops (formerly, “Stars”). Having recently changed their team name, colors, and mascot to ‘illustrate Iowa’s agricultural heritage while also playing into the definition of ‘chops’, having nerve, resilience and staying power,” the Chops have turned down another road…
…signing Brett Favre.
That’s right, Chops’ President Steve Nitzel announced that the team “contacted and will be sending a contract to Brett Favre’s agent…in hopes that the quarterback will consider signing with the Iowa Chops.”
We don’t know if Favre can skate or if he knows a hockey puck from a cement truck. Perhaps having once played for a club whose history is rooted in the meat packing industry (hence the name, “Packers”), Favre is a natural fit for a team with a porcine theme.
Perhaps Favre, who is the all-time NFL leader in pass attempts (8,758, for those who are interested) will make people forget Sidney Crosby as the best passer in professional hockey.
He has the NFL record for most consecutive games with touchdown passes (47), more than twice as long as the NHL record for consecutive games with an assist (23, Wayne Gretzky).
Then again, this seems like one of those “what the $#@&” moments…Favre – born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and who played most of his legendary career in Wisconsin, has no obvious tie to Iowa, hockey, or pigs for that matter (excuse me, “vicious boars,” according to the press release announcing the name change).
Since Favre has spent his athletic life hunched over behind a center, the Chops might think about someone to play that position, too…
…we hear Mats Sundin is still unsigned.
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