6 head-scratching Packers references in pop culture

Posted by Tim Cigelske on July 19, 2010   Jump To Comments

It’s expected when Jack Nicholson sits courtside at a Lakers game or Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner show up at Fenway. But Green Bay doesn’t intersect naturally with the entertainment world, and Packers references in pop culture can feel like parallel universes colliding. Here then are the 6 surprising instances involving the Packers.

The Ramones rock Vince Lombardi High School

In the 1979 classic “Rock ‘n Roll High School,” P.J. Soles (“Halloween,” “Stripes,” “Carrie”) leads a teenage rebellion and brings punk godfathers The Ramones to her high school, randomly named after the legendary Packers coach. The name may be traced back to a story screenwriter Joseph McBride heard from his father — Milwaukee Journal rewrite man Ray McBride — who organized a walkout from his Superior Central High School in the 1920s.

Lil’ Wayne blogs for ESPN about being a Packers fan

You may know Lil’ Wayne as the multipatinum rapper currently serving a prison sentence for possessing a loaded handgun on his tour bus. But Weezy’s also a blogger who declared his love for the Packers — and called Aaron Rogers “wonderful” — in his first post for ESPN magazine in September 2008. The New Orleans native doesn’t explain why he likes the Packers, but he reveals he used to be a pee-wee football fullback.  He also has an eclectic taste for tennis, the Boston Bruins, and Nirvana.

Favre thinks there’s something About Mary

“Bret Fahvera…?” Much of the non-Packer nation couldn’t even pronounce Favre when he randomly showed up in the Farrelly Brother’s massive 1998 comedy hit. Even Packers fans had to wonder along with Matt Dillon’s character, ”What the hell is Brett Favre doing here?” (Watch the cameo here.) Ben Stiller thought Cameron Diaz should end up with No. 4, but she blows him off because she’s a Niners fan. This wasn’t Favre’s first foray into acting. In 1996, he and Mike Holmgren play janitors in the Reggie White (R.I.P.) project “Reggie’s Prayer.”

Tim McGraw rooms with Doug Pederson in college

The country music star studied sports medicine at Northeast LouisianaUniversity, and roomed with two-time Packer and Super Bowl ring holder Doug Pederson. This is fitting because Pederson is best known as Favre’s back up while McGraw is known to back up Faith. Pederson is currently an offensive quality control coach for the Eagles, while McGraw was last seen acting opposite Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side.”

Hollywood’s A-List spotted at Lambeau Field

Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are some of the musicians and actors who braved the Frozen Tundra. Maybe it’s because Wisconsin winters provide a natural defense against paparazzi?

Silicon Valley superstar Kevin Rose, grandson of former Packers player

Internet start-up poster boy and San Francisco resident Kevin Rose has repeatedly gone on record about his Packer love on his podcast Diggnation.  ”It’s insane,” he says. “People in Wisconsin know what I’m talking about.” His father’s family is from Wisconsin and he’s made reference to his grandfather playing for the Packers. Before last season’s Packers-Vikings game at Lambeau, he bought tickets for himself and his dad, and set up a Facebook event invite for fans to tailgate with him.

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